THE BLUES BROTHERS: THE ESCAPE OF JOLIET JAKE is a bold and deeply affectionate continuation of the Blues Brothers legacy. Forged from a collaboration between Dan Aykroyd’s family and the estate of John Belushi, this graphic novel seeks to pick up where the classic 1980 film left off, while honoring the irreverent spirit, frenetic energy, and soulful heart that made the original such a beloved cultural touchstone. The result is both a nostalgic homage and a fresh creative chapter, a story that leans on its roots while daring to ask: what happens next for Jake and Elwood after their wild ride through Chicago?
The narrative begins by revisiting the end of the original film: Jake “Joliet” Blues and his brother Elwood are jailed after their “mission from God” to save their childhood orphanage ends in arrest. From there, the graphic novel fast-forwards, exploring how the two brothers deal with confinement, legacy, and the restless pull of the blues. Rather than merely rehashing the movie’s plot, it speculates on what might come after the chaos, on how two men, defined by reckless freedom, confront the slow grind of prison time. Through flashbacks, musings, and conversations, Escape of Joliet Jake captures not only the physical landscape of Joliet Prison, but the emotional terrain of regret, loyalty, and identity.
Co-writers Stella Aykroyd (Dan’s daughter) and Luke Pisano (son of Judy Belushi Pisano) drive this story with genuine passion. Their personal connection to the original characters, both familial and creative, shows in the writing: they understand the Brothers not just as mythic performers but as wounded, complicated men. Their dialogue balances wisecracks with sincerity. Elwood’s characteristic deadpan humor returns, but he also unleashes moments of real introspection: about why he keeps driving the Bluesmobile, why he never gave up on Jake, and whether their “mission” was ever truly complete. Jake’s voice, meanwhile, is textured with regret and defiance; his memories of Joliet are tinged with both nostalgia and a raw awareness of what he lost, and what he might still fight for.
The art, by Felipe Sobreiro, is a standout. His illustrations pulse with motion, as though the very panels are grooving to a hidden bassline. Scenes in prison feel oppressive but alive: the bars and concrete are richly detailed, but the characters never feel trapped in lifeless environments. When the story shifts to memories or performances, the lines open up; colors grow warmer, figures stretch, and the spirit of the Blues Brothers’ musical past comes alive. Sobreiro’s pacing is excellent: some sequences are broken into rapid, almost frantic panels, while others broaden out, giving readers room to linger on expression, emotion, and regret.
Musically, the graphic novel is deeply rooted in the Brothers’ tradition. While it doesn’t have a score, it evokes the spirit of their performances in its rhythm: panels sometimes look like stage diagrams, with close-ups on instruments, facial expressions, and audience reactions. But Escape of Joliet Jake also leans into unreleased material: the deluxe edition announced by Z2 Comics comes bundled with The Lost Recordings, a previously unheard live album of 13 performances by Belushi, Aykroyd, and the classic band.
One of the novel’s most powerful themes is legacy, both personal and musical. Jake and Elwood did not just try to save an orphanage; they built something larger than themselves: a legend. Escape of Joliet Jake asks whether true legacy is preserved in memory, song, or action. What does it mean, for example, to spend years in prison when your public persona is that of a wild soul on the run? Can a legend survive time behind bars? And perhaps most poignantly: does the brotherhood that drove them once still hold, now that their lives have carried them far from the roaring car chases and pulsing concert stages?
The emotional core of the novel is in the brothers’ bond, which is portrayed with tenderness and complexity. Elwood remains the moral compass, stoic, pragmatic, driven by an almost spiritual calling. Jake is more volatile: haunted by the past, haunted by what comes next. Their brotherhood is not just shared history, but a source of salvation. When they talk, they do not sugarcoat the pain: there are moments of longing, regret, and apology. But there is also humor in the way they remember their old gigs, old friends, and the absurd situations they once stumbled through. This is not a romantic sanitizing of their story; it’s a recognition that two deeply flawed men built something lasting, and now they must reckon with it.
The plotting of the novel is brisk but deliberate. It alternates between prison life, flashbacks to musical gigs, and moments of planning. There’s no grand heist or cinematic car chase here (at least in the way the film had), but the emotional stakes feel just as high. A few subplots hint at new alliances and conflicts: old bandmates reaching out, prison officials with agendas, and possibly new opportunities to make music once Jake is free again. These threads promise a larger world, not just the brotherhood in prison, but a world that still needs their music, their fight, and their connection.
One minor weakness lies in pacing: certain segments, especially early prison scenes, linger a bit too long in introspection, which could challenge readers expecting non-stop action. Some of the flashbacks feel more nostalgic than necessary, and while they enrich character, they occasionally slow narrative momentum. But these are also purposeful choices: the novel isn’t just about movement, it’s about reflection, about what happens when the adrenaline wears off.
Where THE BLUES BROTHERS: THE ESCAPE OF JOLIET JAKE totally succeeds is in honoring the spirit of the Blues Brothers without becoming a museum piece. It doesn’t simply retread familiar ground; instead, it expands the mythology in meaningful ways. It gives readers (and long-time fans) new insights into Jake and Elwood’s emotional lives and shows how the blues, as music, memory, and mission, sustains them even when everything else is stripped away.
The graphic novel also feels like a loving tribute from those who inherited the legacy. Stella Aykroyd and Luke Pisano are not outsiders trying to cash in; they are stewards, carrying forward a story that shaped their families. Their commitment is evident in the authenticity of dialogue, the care in character development, and the respectful but bold expansion of the Blues Brothers’ universe. Under Dan Aykroyd’s editorial oversight, the story remains true to the characters’ roots while allowing them room to grow.
In conclusion, THE BLUES BROTHERS: THE ESCAPE OF JOLIET JAKE is a must-read for fans of the original film, lovers of blues-infused narratives, and anyone drawn to stories of brotherhood, redemption, and legacy. It’s a graphic novel that doesn’t rely solely on nostalgia; instead, it weaves new emotional and musical threads into the fabric of an iconic myth. The characters feel real, the stakes feel worthy, and the art feels alive. For those who have ever wondered what happened to Jake and Elwood behind bars, or what their mission might become next, this book offers a heartfelt, soulful, and exhilarating answer, one that sounds, in spirit, like a song you can’t stop humming.
THE BLUES BROTHERS: THE ESCAPE OF JOLIET JAKE is available today!
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