Coming July 14, the 128-Page Graphic Novel Collects All Five Issues of the Acclaimed Series in One Must-Have Edition Featuring Wraparound Cover by Legendary Creator Bill Sienkiewicz
Following the breakout success of the five-issue series, ILLuminati, the supernatural thriller from Charlamagne Tha God and Artists Writers & Artisans (AWA), returns this summer in a definitive trade paperback edition. Arriving July 14, the 128-page collection unites the worlds of hip-hop, comics, and urban legend in one complete volume. Centered on a new female hero confronting the mystery of the Black Illuminati, the series blends cultural commentary, conspiracy, and supernatural suspense into a story that resonated with readers and critics alike. The collected edition also features a wraparound cover by Eisner Hall of Fame artist Bill Sienkiewicz (NEW MUTANTS, LEGION).
ILLuminati brings together acclaimed writer and filmmaker Bryan Edward Hill, Inkpot Award-winning artist Denys Cowan, and Eisner Award-winning artist Bill Sienkiewicz to craft an immersive thriller set at the crossroads of hip-hop, fame, and the supernatural in a Los Angeles fueled by secrets. Charlamagne served as producer and helped debut the project with a New York Comic Con panel exploring a dark conspiracy woven into the fabric of popular culture and power.
During its original run, ILLuminati featured a slate of covers paying tribute to five of the most influential hip-hop albums. Personally curated by Charlamagne, each cover reimagines iconic album art through the lens of comics, celebrating the cultural legacy of both mediums. These covers are spotlighted again in the collected edition and include:
- Hip-Hop Variant Issue #1: DMX’s Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood by Keron Grant (FANTASTIC FOUR)
- Hip-Hop Variant Issue #2: Ice Cube’s Death Certificate by Shawn Martinbrough (LUKE CAGE NOIR)
- Hip-Hop Variant Issue #3: Redman’s Dare Iz a Darkside by Irvin Rodriguez (BLACK ADAM)
- Hip-Hop Variant Issue #4: De La Soul’s Three Feet High and Rising by Kyle Baker (PLASTIC MAN)
- Hip-Hop Variant Issue # 5: Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Return to the 36 Chambers by Denys Cowan (BLACK PANTHER)
“The Black Illuminati remains one of the most compelling urban legends in modern culture,” said Charlamagne Tha God. “This story is about honoring Black creators and expanding where our stories can live. This collected edition celebrates that vision, bringing the full experience together for readers in one powerful volume.”
“From its first issue, ILLuminati was designed as a cohesive narrative that brought together a high-quality creative team,” said Axel Alonso, Chief Creative Officer, AWA. “The collected edition presents this in its most complete form. Bringing each issue together into a single edition allows readers to immerse themselves in the story’s emotional arc, bold visuals, and themes that tie back to the cultural zeitgeist. This relentless thriller truly captures the heart of how AWA and Charlamagne have sought to redefine urban legend storytelling through comics, and we’re proud to combine these issues into a single edition for fans to enjoy.”
ILLuminati follows the gripping story of a young hip-hop star who dies under mysterious circumstances, and her twin sister Lily – a young woman with psychic abilities – journeys to Los Angeles to uncover the mystery behind her sister’s death, and unbeknownst to her, gets caught in the web of the Black Illuminati. What begins as a search for answers quickly evolves into a captivating exploration that entangles Lily in the world of popular culture, fame, and power.
The ILLuminati collected edition will be available on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, both digitally and in stores wherever graphic novels are sold. For more information on ILLuminati and other projects, visit AWA Studios on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and AWAStudios.com.
Newsdesk