In honor of what would be jazz icon Charlie “Bird” Parker’s 100th birthday, Z2 Comics is releasing a new graphic novel that will explore his life. Bird was a pioneering composer and improviser in jazz who influenced generations of musicians, writers, and artists. Now his fans and new generations can learn more about his journey.

Chasin’ the Bird is named for Parker’s 1947 standard, and adapts one chapter in his life, told by Dave Chisholm and colored by DreamWorks Animation Director Peter Markowski. The graphic novel tells the story of Bird’s time in L.A. starting in December 1945, where he and Dizzy Gillespie brought frenetic sounds of bebop from the East Coast jazz underground to the West Coast for a two-month residency at Billy Berg’s Hollywood jazz club.

“Charlie Parker is one of the most well-known figures in jazz, and to publish a chapter of his tragically short life story in comics is an honor,” Z2 publisher Josh Frankel said. “Jazz has always been a perfect complement to comic books, and certainly an inspiration to some of our greats as well. Robert Crumb would be proud.”

“I am so thrilled and incredibly honored to have gotten the opportunity to write and draw Chasin’ the Bird. My creative and professional life has basically consisted of a steady ping-pong between two obsessions of mine: music and comics,” Dave Chisholm said. “Needless to say, I’ve had the time of my life writing and drawing this book which has turned into an incredibly personal and meaningful project. I am beyond excited to share this with the world and help spread the word about Bird’s wonderful music.”

Chasin’ The Bird is available for preorder now from Z2’s website in both standard and deluxe editions. It will be released in September 2020, and will include an exclusive flexi disc record featuring a recording from Parker’s time in Los Angeles. The deluxe limited edition will include a vinyl 45 with two tracks to be announced ahead of release. In conjunction with the graphic novel, Verve Records/UMe are currently working on a new album spanning Bird’s L.A. period that will be released in September as well.