Cheech and Chong in New Comic Book Chronicles: A Brief History of Weed with Z2 Comics

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong today announced, exclusive to the High Times, Cheech and Chong’s Chronicles: A Brief History of Weed, co-written by the legendary duo and published by Z2 Comics. It’s their first graphic novel, released just before the duo’s 50th anniversary.

Cheech and Chong’s Chronicles: A Brief History of Weed will be released on Jan.

The comic is now also available as a softcover, hardcover and as an oversized slipcase in deluxe format with a wraparound cover artwork by Bob Fingerman as well as a matching slipmat and a print set with works by Rick Veitch (Swamp Thing), Jim Mahfood. available for pre-order (Spider-Man) and Jason Gonzalez. A third and hyper-limited platinum edition will also be available in a one-time signed edition with special packaging.

“I’m thrilled to see everyone seeing this amazing work by so many talented artists bringing the legend of Cheech & Chong to life,” Chong told The High Times. “I can’t wait to share this with all of my fans.”

Hardcover by Bob Fingerman. Photo courtesy of Z2 Comics.

The graphic novel presents the documented influence of a fictionalized history sharing pot on significant people and events over time – including Frida Kahlo, Muhammed Ali and Napoleon Bonaparte, to name a few. His Sgt. Pepper’s-like painted cover shows these heroes in their full glory.

The book was written in collaboration with comedian and comic book writer Eliot Rahal (A Robot’s Tale, Machine Gun Kellys Hotel Diablo) and the artist Noah Van Sciver (Grateful Dead: Origins, Fante Bukowski).

Totally broke and dry of the weed – Pedro de Pacas (Cheech Marin) and Anthony “Man” Stoner (Tommy Chong) – are in bad shape until they get a call that changes their lives. Cheech’s old friend, a casino manager in Reno, Nevada, is in dire need of an opening act for his stage show. If they make it into town, the job is theirs.

Print by Jim Mahfood. Photo courtesy of Z2 Comics.

“Hey man, how am I driving?” Cheech said.

“I thought I was going ?!” Chong replied.

The duo’s American road trip to get “a **, grass and cash” quickly turns into a “reefer-fired train through time”. This original graphic novel from Z2 Comics is the “real” story of cannabis from the eyes of Cheech and Chong. The two have made us laugh for a good 50 years.

Z2 Comics are providers of graphic biographies depicting pop culture legends such as The Grateful Dead, Beethoven, John Lee Hooker and Charlie “Bird” Parker. Z2 Comics has worked with the estates of countless other artists, resulting in graphic novels about Cypress Hill adorned with fan leaves and Sublime with an extra-trippy cover design. Z2 Comics is the first stop if you’re looking for music-inspired comics.

Comics and Chronicle with Cheech and Chong

Pot-friendly comics – like High Times’ Larry Flynt and Thomas King Forçade – have pushed the boundaries of what could be published in print. Most of this battle was won a long time ago.

They date several years before the first issue of the High Times comics – they have a special relationship with cannabis. Publishing comics about cannabis was a battle worth fighting.

Underground hippie comics hit the market in the late 1960s with works like The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers (recently revived in a series) with Gilbert Shelton and Zap Comix with Robert Crumb. A wave of pot-friendly comic artists emerged, including S. Clay Wilson, Robert Williams, and “Spain” Rodriguez, who blended with psychedelic poster artists Victor Moscoso and Rick Griffin.

Strip by Rick Veitch. Photo courtesy of Z2 Comics.

Comic books have crossed the line of censorship and taught a generation how to roll joints and grow weeds. Shelton’s 1968 Feds N ‘Heads, for example, featured exactly one creeping peyote trip and became a board game magazine insert. 1969 Zap Comix # 4 sparked a profanity case that reached the Supreme Court, with a comic book seller eventually winning.

Paul Kirchner of High Times continued this style with “Dope Rider” from the mid-1970s, which is still published in the magazine today.

Cheech and Chong’s Chronicles: A Brief History of Weed carries the torch of cannabis-friendly comics, updated for a new generation. It’s a great way to learn about the pot’s colorful history, including the plant’s influence on notable heroes.