Vertigo To Create Mad Max: Fury Road Tie-In Comics

DC Comics imprint Vertigo will be publishing a hardcover book and four prequel comics based on George Miller's upcoming film Mad Max: Fury Road.

Mad Max: Fury Road: Inspired Artists will be released May 6, which will include artwork from 65 artists. Mad Max: Fury Road: Nux & Immortan Joe #1 comes out May 20 and is the first of four prequel comics. They will provide backstory for four of the characters that appear in the film: Tom Hardy's 'Max,' Charlize Theron's 'Furiousa,' Nicholas Hoult's 'Nux' and Hugh Keays-Byrne's 'Immortan Joe.'

Official press release (via Slash Film):

Vertigo, the innovative, boundary-pushing imprint of DC Entertainment, will collaborate with Mad Max: Fury Road director, producer and co-writer George Miller on two upcoming projects based on the film. The first is a Deluxe Edition hardcover entitled MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: INSPIRED ARTISTS, in which sixty-five top artists will create art inspired by the world of Mad Max: Fury Road. The second is four comic book stories that follow four main characters of the film and tell their prelude stories leading up to the film's opening scene.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: INSPIRED ARTISTS will contain double-page spreads from 65 visionary artists bringing their own unique style to the world of Mad Max: Fury Road. Each of the artists' work will be inspired by Miller's post-apocalyptic wasteland. These spreads will range from spectacular action sequences to haunting character portraits. Artists participating include Lee Bermejo, Dave McKean, Cliff Chiang, Nicola Scott, Stephanie Hans, Tara McPherson, among others. This book is due to hit shelves on May 6, prior to the film's May 15th release.

In addition, George Miller, Nico Lathouris and Mark Sexton are writing four prelude stories that follow leading characters Nux, Immortan Joe, Furiosa, and Mad Max, whose story will be in two parts. This miniseries will release one issue a month, starting with MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: NUX & IMMORTAN JOE #1 releasing on May 20, followed by MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: FURIOSA #1 and MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: MAD MAX #1 & #2. Nico Lathouris served as a co-writer on the film while Mark Sexton served as storyboard and concept artist for Mad Max: Fury Road. Interior artists working on these projects include Riccardo Burchielli, Leandro Fernandez, Tristan Jones, and Mark Sexton, while covers will be illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards.

Check out the book covers in the gallery below.

Mad Max: Fury Road is scheduled for release on May 15, 2015.