Kiss and Courtney Love went toon first, but looks like Neil Young’s bad 2003 concept album/film Greendale‘s been made into what we can only image is a bad Neil Young graphic novel. We already knew about Avril Lavigne’s, well, manga, then discovered the first issue of My Chemical Romancer Gerard Way’s comic series The Umbrella Academy arrives in September. And since we knew you’d ask, we dug up the plot synopsis, in the MCR man’s own words. Via MTV:
In short, a [closeted] space alien has adopted seven extraordinary children to save the world. He never tells [them] from what. He’s a really bad father, and he dies of a heart attack, and they are all kind of stuck to figure out the rest.
Closeted space aliens are always a hoot, but why not just adapt The Black Parade? Could be aftershocks of the Simpsons movie, but this rock comic thing has us thinking about what other contemporary concept albums and concept-album makers might end up on the other side of an artist’s pen. There’s Yoshimi, of course, but here are a few more we deemed ripe for the comic treatment:
Mike Watt – Contemplating the Engine Room
Mr. Lif – I, Phantom
Liars – Drum’s Not Dead
MF Doom – MM..Food
Prince Paul – A Prince Among Thieves
T.I. – T.I. vs T.I.P.
Green Day – American Idiot
Dimmu Borgir – In Sorte Diaboli
Smashing Pumpkins – Machina/The Machines of God
Mars Volta – De-loused in the Comatorium
Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero
Truthfully, what we’ve been holding out for the day we see Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime come to life. Okay, not really, but if In The Aeroplane Over The Sea counts, we’re all over it.
You Might Also Like
 Hear A Reunited Neil Young & Crazy Horse Jam Session |  Arcade Fire Cover “Helpless” With Neil Young |  Neil Young Autobiography On The Way |  Download Bon Iver’s 10 Best Cover Songs |
 |
 |
what about dr. “there’s a horse in the hospital” octagon?
Gimme some bread!
Wasn’t Kid A Thom’s concept for the first cloned baby? That would make a pretty boss graphic novel.
It’s pretty obvious, given that this is Stereogum, that someone is going to suggest In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Someone already did it, though. Look for “I Am Listening to Hear Where You Are.” I’d look myself, but I’m not going to.
Did this just say greendale is bad? That is one of the most underrated neil young albums and one of the best ones he has put out in years, much better than Prairie Wind
‘Bad’ is pretty harsh. Misunderstood, maybe. The film / live show really helped give the album its proper context. And I could see the graphic novel being kinda interesting, actually.
are you kidding me – why would you say that Greendale was bad. Are you guys trying to be hip and indie again? Take another listen! This is a raw gem worthy of praise. Stereogum is wrong…again.
Ugh, you guys suck. Nothing Neil has released has ever been BAD. Not good, perhaps, but nothing close to BAD. And IMHO Greendale was a pretty good record. Then again, you guys think the Arcade Fire is like revolutionary or something, so I shouldn’t get my panties all in a wad over your stupid opinions.
Back in May (for Free Comic Book Day) stores gave out free copies of an Umbrella Academy story. Quite a piece of crap, as if that were up for questioning.
My copy of Boys and Girls In America came with a comic book… It was highly enjoyable.
I’d actually really like a “Tad Kubler Action Adventure” comic… maybe I’ll draw my own…
A comic for Tori Amos’s concept album Scarlet’s Walk could be really interesting, especially since she’s friends with Neil Gaiman so he could do it or set her up with better writers/artists than these projects usually get.
And I skimmed that Courtney Love manga. Not good, but not as horrible as you’d think it’d be.
“Greendale” was pretty great in my opinion. Even more so if you were able to catch one of the shows from the Greendale tour. You disappoint me Stereogum. Naughty naughty!
There *is* a Tori Amos comic in the works. Coming Summer 2008, mentioned in the new (upcoming) Jaunary 08 issue of SPIN