From fat guy in a little coat to legendary comedian in a graphic novel. The life and times of the late, great Chris Farley is getting the biography treatment–in the form of a new graphic novel with the help of Farley’s younger brother, Kevin Farley.
Co-written by Kevin, Growing Up Farley arrives courtesy of Z2 Comics (The Illustrated Al: The Songs of “Weird Al” Yankovic, The Last Comic Book on the Left) sometime in Fall 2023. Interior artwork is by Ryan Dunlavey.
Growing Up Farley’s synopsis: “Told in collaboration with his brother, stand-up comedian Kevin, Growing Up Farley is an intimate glimpse into Chris and Kevin’s adventures; from performances at Red Arrow Camp, to improv sets at the Arc Theater in Wisconsin, all the way to Second City in Chicago. Growing up Farley is a heartfelt dive into laughter and love.”
Chris Farley was one of the most energetic, captivating and raucous comedians of his time, tearing up the Second City stage before breaking out on Saturday Night Live as part of the famed Bad Boys of SNL, which weren’t always seen favorably. Farley of course also starred in fan favorite Tommy Boy, as well as other SNL-adjacent fare like Billy Madison, Airheads and Coneheads. Chris Farley died tragically–yet seemingly inevitably–in 1997 at just 33 from a drug overdose.
His life has been explored numerous times, including a terrific 2008 book and the 2015 documentary I Am Chris Farley.
Growing Up Farley will be available in three editions: a standard hardcover edition; an oversized deluxe edition (with art prints, a trucker hat, drink coasters and an ink pen); and an oversized platinum edition (with the aforementioned, plus a bookplate signed by Kevin Farley).
How do you feel about Chris Farley’s life getting not just a new biography, but it coming in the form of a graphic novel? Will you pick up Growing Up Farley when it hits shelves next fall?