Poet Anderson by Tom DeLonge, Ben Kull & Djet.

Based on the award-winning animated short film, and inspired by the Angels & Airwaves album ‘The Dream Walker’ by multi-platinum recording artist TOM DELONGE (cofounder and front man of the world-famous punk-pop band Blink-182), this graphic novel collects the critically acclaimed mini-series written by DeLonge and co-writer Ben Kull (Father of the Pride, Mission Hill) and illustrated by animation sensation Djet.

The prequel adventure chronicles young Jonas Anderson’s first foray into The Dream World, where he discovers his destiny to become Poet Anderson, a guardian Dream Walker who protects innocents while they sleep from the horrors their own dreams could pose in the Waking World.

This beautifully-illustrated adventure is supplemented with an in depth interview with DeLonge, exploring the many facets of fringe culture, dream theory, and the philosophy behind his various storytelling avenues. Also included are dozens of concept and design illustrations created during the development of the animated short film and current feature film pre-production. The hardcover edition will also include a CD mounted inside the back cover containing a soundtrack of previously unreleased instrumental and b-side tracks by DeLonge and Angels & Airwaves. >> GOODREADS <<

   *   *   *   *   *  My Thoughts  *   *    *   *   *

When I saw this on Net Galley the teenager inside of me got all giddy at the name Tom DeLonge. I was a little bit obsessed with playing Blink 182 out of my stereo as loud as it would go as a teenager.

Page 1-71 is the three-part graphic novel (comic) and Page 72-92 is the interview with DeLonge and concept art gallery.

We follow Jonas Anderson as he discovers this whole other Dream World created by mankind’s shared unconscious thoughts, as well as his destiny to be a “Poet” and Dream Walker. Jonas has his big brother along for the ride, but the catch is with Alan not having any special abilities he doesn’t remember anything when he wakes up. Because of Jonas natural gifts in the Dream World he is a target for REM (the evil villain) and his Night Stalkers.

This comic arc is set at the beginning of the Poet Anderson’s Dream World adventures so we learn of REM’s evil plans to break through and take over the Waking World using Jonas. We see REM start to facilitate his plan with the murder of both Jonas’s parents.

There is a lot of detail packed into the 71 pages, but I don’t want to spoil your fun by going into it further.

I found the interview with DeLonge interesting and intend to look further into the other Dream Walking projects. The multi-media storytelling of Poet Anderson’s world already includes an album by Angels & Airwaves, an animated short film (with a full length feature in production), one Novel and this three-issue comic arc. From what I gather while the stories are linked, they can all be enjoyed on their own without any previous Poet knowledge.

Poet Anderson …Of Nightmares by Tom DeLonge & Suzanne Young

From the critically acclaimed transmedia project Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker, comes one of the most anticipated collaborations in YA literature this year: a thrilling, edge of your seat story written by award-winning musician, producer and director Tom DeLonge and New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young.

Poet Anderson…Of Nightmares follows the epic journey of two orphan brothers, Jonas and Alan, who are Lucid Dreamers. After a tragic car accident lands Alan in a coma, Jonas sets out into the Dream World in an attempt to find his brother and wake him up. What he discovers instead is an entire shared consciousness where fear comes to life as a snarling beast called a Night Terror, and a creature named REM is bent on destruction and misery, devouring the souls of the strongest dreamers to get closer to the Waking World. With the help of a Dream Walker—a guardian of the dreamscape, Jonas must face his fears, save his brother, and become who he was always meant to be: Poet Anderson. >> GOODREADS <<

DeLonge on Twitter, Booktopia & Book Depository