I am pleased to announce that Z File has completed contracts to produce two wildly different titles for two new clients. Zenith Books has commissioned a nonfiction graphic history of the famously secretive Area 51. And North River Press has commissioned a graphic adaptation of its longtime bestselling business analysis book, The Goal. Written twenty-five years ago by Eliyahu Goldratt, The Goal has over 5 million copies in print, is taught in business schools, at seminars, and given to young executives-on-the-rise at business retreats by such people as Jeff Beezos, who recently recommended the book during an on-air interview.
Many people confuse Area 51, which is in Nevada, with Roswell, New Mexico. That’s because of the unsubstantiated belief that one or more UFO crashed at Roswell in 1947 and the remains of the alien craft—and its crew—were taken to Area 51 for further investigation and storage. Some say—and have written—that the alien spacecraft was being, and continues to be, reverse engineered to reveal the secrets of its superior science. Over the decades, the U.S. government has released three “official” explanations of the Roswell Incident. That fact alone has juiced conspiracy theories. All I can say about Roswell is the old Dylan line from his song, “Mr. Jones”: “[We] know something’s happening, but [we] don’t know what it is . . .”
Area 51, on the other hand, is America’s testing facility for next-generation super-planes. The U-2, the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Night Hawk stealth fighter, the B-2 stealth bomber, etc. have all been test flown there, along with the Predator Drone and a whole passel of next-gen drones we haven’t seen yet. And some other secret weapons, too. Area 51 is adjacent to the Nevada Test Range, where in the middle of the twentieth century the government exploded atomic bombs.
The history is fascinating, more than a bit scary, and centered on wonderfully All-American can-do historical figures like Kelly Johnson—test pilot extraordinaire.
Scripting the graphic history of Area 51 for Z File is Dwight Jon Zimmerman, who has written more nonfiction books on the military, combat, and military history than you can shake a UFO at. Illustrating the book is former Marvel and DC artist Greg Scott. This is going to be one hell of a ride. The current schedule calls for publication later this year. Stay tuned for further information. The art accompanying this blog is an early tease from the book’s Prologue/Introduction by Greg. I think you’ll agree that it kicks some major butt.
Enjoy. There’ll be much more later.