Concrete Immortalz
Encyclopedia
Concrete Immortalz is an ongoing comic series by graffiti
artist Phetus
and the Elite Gudz
team. It is the first mainstream comic series to feature a graffiti artist as the main protagonist.
and graffiti culture.
The comic is set in New York City, where modern graffiti traces its roots. In the 1970s, New York's infrastructure was notoriously run down, and graffiti became a way for citizens to reclaim their presence in a city that continually ignored their needs. Like 1970s NYC, the dystopian future of Concrete Immortalz takes the need for trans formative art to epic proportions.
Other aspects of graffiti culture can be seen throughout the comic. The Wall Lord wears a respirator or bandanna and hood over the bottom part of his face, and loose clothes that are easy to move and work in to protect himself from paint fumes and hide his identity. In the backgrounds there are tags and designs. Like graffiti artists who gain a reputation by consistent and widespread tagging, The Wall Lord spends a year writing messages against Mortalem throughout the country to gain recognition for his cause. Both "Concrete Immortalz: Insurrection" and "Concrete Immortalz:Ruination" feature artwork from three generations of the world's most renowned and iconic graffiti artists, including some who were originators of the graffiti art movement.
artists like Cope2
, INDIE184, BRONX, Terrible T-Kid 170, and BAN2. On January 7, 2010, Phetus and street art
ist Such painted a mural image of the Wall Lord on a subway car installation outside of Tuff City Tattoos in Bronx, NY. Phetus was also joined by Cap, Cope2
, T-Kid, Ban2, Indie and Cheez who came through to destroy the piece once it was completed as a tribute to the real life actions that go on within the graffiti subculture. A billboard-sized mural for Concrete Immortalz was created by Phetus and Such across a block-long industrial complex at 5 Pointz in Long Island City.
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
artist Phetus
Phetus
Phetus is a New York graffiti artist and designer based on Long Island, NY. He has been creating graffiti under his Phat Phace logo since 1988, opened the first graffiti boutique on Long Island, and is one of the founders of creative multimedia studio Elite Gudz.- History :Growing up on Long Island...
and the Elite Gudz
Elite Gudz
Elite Gudz is an independent game and creative studio based in New York, NY. They are best known for their top-downloaded iPhone app, Graffiti Spray Can, and the top rated & top download Xbox Indies title Techno Kitten Adventure...
team. It is the first mainstream comic series to feature a graffiti artist as the main protagonist.
Overview
The series is built on the idea that art progresses with and chronicles human history, and "the graffiti movement is the artistic embodiment of current times." The series' main protagonist is The Wall Lord, a graffiti artist who writes messages of hope and defiance against a repressive government. The series is mainly influenced by street artStreet art
Street art is any art developed in public spaces — that is, "in the streets" — though the term usually refers to unsanctioned art, as opposed to government sponsored initiatives...
and graffiti culture.
The comic is set in New York City, where modern graffiti traces its roots. In the 1970s, New York's infrastructure was notoriously run down, and graffiti became a way for citizens to reclaim their presence in a city that continually ignored their needs. Like 1970s NYC, the dystopian future of Concrete Immortalz takes the need for trans formative art to epic proportions.
Other aspects of graffiti culture can be seen throughout the comic. The Wall Lord wears a respirator or bandanna and hood over the bottom part of his face, and loose clothes that are easy to move and work in to protect himself from paint fumes and hide his identity. In the backgrounds there are tags and designs. Like graffiti artists who gain a reputation by consistent and widespread tagging, The Wall Lord spends a year writing messages against Mortalem throughout the country to gain recognition for his cause. Both "Concrete Immortalz: Insurrection" and "Concrete Immortalz:Ruination" feature artwork from three generations of the world's most renowned and iconic graffiti artists, including some who were originators of the graffiti art movement.
The Wall Lord
The main character, The Wall Lord, fights the totalitarian powers in Imperium City. Although it is implied he was involved in a resistance movement before, he is changed forever when Dawn, the love of his life, is killed by Mortalem's construction forces in an expansion project. He fights against the lies and deceit of Imperium City's government by inspiring the public through anti-propaganda writing.Mortalem
Head of the Imperium City Counsel, Mortalem publicly claims his mission is to save the city from decay. He continually tries to suppress truth and art in the name of progress.Phantazma
Another graffiti artist, Phantazma works out of Chicago. He is completely invisible except for his clothes and his writing, and is thought to be part of the resistance movement against Mortalem. He also has a continuing beef with Cope.Sgt. Thomas Horus
A Sargent in Imperium City’s Police Force, Thomas comes from a decorated military background and rose quickly through the ranks of the Vandal Squad. A continuing challenge for The Wall Lord, he is armed with the most cutting edge technologies and resources.Lady Blaque
Trained by masters in mental and physical disciplines from around the world, Lady Blaque directly serves Mortelem. Her own objectives and motives are a mystery.Reviews
Concrete Immortalz has had critical acclaim from well-known graffitiGraffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
artists like Cope2
Cope2
Fernando Carlo is a graffiti artist from the South Bronx, New York. He has been writing graffiti since 1978-79, and has gained international credit for his work. Though he is now known worldwide, he didn't receive recognition in the mainstream graffiti world until the mid-1990s.Cope2's cousin...
, INDIE184, BRONX, Terrible T-Kid 170, and BAN2. On January 7, 2010, Phetus and street art
Street art
Street art is any art developed in public spaces — that is, "in the streets" — though the term usually refers to unsanctioned art, as opposed to government sponsored initiatives...
ist Such painted a mural image of the Wall Lord on a subway car installation outside of Tuff City Tattoos in Bronx, NY. Phetus was also joined by Cap, Cope2
Cope2
Fernando Carlo is a graffiti artist from the South Bronx, New York. He has been writing graffiti since 1978-79, and has gained international credit for his work. Though he is now known worldwide, he didn't receive recognition in the mainstream graffiti world until the mid-1990s.Cope2's cousin...
, T-Kid, Ban2, Indie and Cheez who came through to destroy the piece once it was completed as a tribute to the real life actions that go on within the graffiti subculture. A billboard-sized mural for Concrete Immortalz was created by Phetus and Such across a block-long industrial complex at 5 Pointz in Long Island City.
Contributors
- PhetusPhetusPhetus is a New York graffiti artist and designer based on Long Island, NY. He has been creating graffiti under his Phat Phace logo since 1988, opened the first graffiti boutique on Long Island, and is one of the founders of creative multimedia studio Elite Gudz.- History :Growing up on Long Island...
- Brian FerraraBrian FerraraBrian Ferrara is a writer and a musician who founded and runs the publishing and entertainment company Terminal Press since 2001. He recorded music under the alias CHOJIN since 1997 and has contributed soundtrack music to the Dreamcast games, Feet of Fury and 3D Invaders. Brian has gone on to...
- Mr. Den
- Narek Gevorgian
- Rodolfo Ledesma
- Cope2Cope2Fernando Carlo is a graffiti artist from the South Bronx, New York. He has been writing graffiti since 1978-79, and has gained international credit for his work. Though he is now known worldwide, he didn't receive recognition in the mainstream graffiti world until the mid-1990s.Cope2's cousin...