New York, NY (September 22, 2026)— Z2, the leading publisher of music-driven graphic novels and illustrated books, and CBGB & OMFUG – Home of Underground Rock are announcing a new partnership that will bring one of the most iconic names in music history into the world of comics and graphic storytelling. Z2’s partnership with CBGB builds upon the cultural footprint of creating new opportunities to preserve the stories of the past while imagining the future of underground music through the visual language of comics.
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The partnership will explore CBGB’s extraordinary history, its larger-than-life characters, the artists who passed through its doors and the cultural movements that grew from its stage, while also examining the club’s continuing relevance to new generations of musicians and fans. Through Z2’s signature blend of music, visual art and storytelling, the collaboration will transform the mythology and history of CBGB into new formats designed for both longtime devotees and those discovering its legacy for the first time.
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“CBGB has always represented something bigger than a club or physical space,” says Josh Berstein, President of Z2. “It was the pulsing heart of The Bowery where artists could take risks, where scenes were born, and where generations found their voice. That spirit is incredibly aligned with what we do at Z2. We’re thrilled to partner with CBGB to explore this history through the language of comics and graphic storytelling, while also looking forward and aligning with the CBGB FESTIVAL and what means to artists and fans today.”
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The announcement comes as CBGB continues its evolution as a living cultural brand, with the return of the CBGB Festival on September 26 at Under the K Bridge Park in Brooklyn, NY, presented in partnership with The Bowery Presents. The festival’s 2026 lineup features Morrissey, Patti Smith, Interpol, Sex Pistols (Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Glen Matlock) featuring Frank Carter, Bikini Kill, Mannequin Pussy, Circle Jerks, The Return of Jackie and Judy, Buzzcocks, Agnostic Front, Militarie Gun, High Vis, Bad Nerves, Haywire, Panic Shack, Upchuck andViolet Grohl, among others.
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“In everything we do under the CBGB banner, our priority is to not just reconnect with longtime fans, but to also create a connection with a new generation.” said Phil Sandhaus, CBGB Brand Manager. “CBGB has always represented a spirit of creativity, independence and self-expression that continues to influence music, fashion and visual arts. Z2 Comics is totally aligned with blending our nostalgic roots with a modern musical identity with attitude in a visual format.”
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The festival embodies the same ethos that has defined CBGB for more than five decades: connecting the originators of underground music with the artists carrying that spirit forward. As CBGB has evolved beyond its original home at 315 Bowery, its mission remains rooted in the same question that drives the festival: Who would be playing at CBGB today?
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From the Ramones and Blondie to Patti Smith and Talking Heads, from Agnostic Front and the Cro-Mags to the countless artists who found community and creative freedom within its walls, CBGB helped establish New York City as a global epicenter of underground music. Its iconic logo, aesthetic and DIY ethos have since transcended music to influence fashion, art, publishing and popular culture around the world.
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Arriving in 2027, The Illustrated History of CBGB will be written by Daniel Kohn, (Spin, Vice) and Josh Bernstein (Loudwire, Revolver) and will cover the unbelievable TRUE stories that happened inside one of the most notorious and iconic venues in Rock & Roll History, CBGB!
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To celebrate the new partnership, Z2 & CBGB have teamed up to release an official CBGB FestivalPoster, illustrated by HeCreative Studios in the UK. The 11”x17” art prints are for sale now on Z2comics.com/CBGB and limited numbers of the poster will be available on-site to purchase at the CBGB Festival. Sales while supplies last!
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