The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake

by Luke Pisano, James Werner, Stella Aykroyd

Genres: Graphic Novels, Music, Humor, Fiction, Comics

136 pages, Hardcover

Published November 18, 2025

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

"We're 27 miles from Chicago . . . We got a cigarette lighter, no plan, and our odds are terrible." -- Detective Robert Ztdetelick, inadvertently nailing the 'terrible' part

Notably featuring three writers, the graphic novel sequel The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake starts promisingly enough - escapee Jake has a long-lost son who is a police detective, while Elwood has become a priest during his incarceration - but then quickly wrecks like a patrol car during that memorably insane climactic chase sequence in the beloved 1980 musical-comedy film. In theory, an adaptation like this makes certain sense - fans lost lead actor John Belushi 44 years ago, as well as many of the featured soul / blues performers in the ensuing decades, so an illustrated story COULD potentially be some fast and furious fun. However, this plot increasingly rehashes the basic outline of original film's story way too much, but then simultaneously gets carried away using ridiculous sci-fi and/or fantasy angles (a nun with ninja capabilities!, a resurrected zombie of a blues musician!, an aggrieved woman w/ a robotic support suit a la Ripley in Aliens!) that derail this enterprise. Also, our title characters merely play supporting roles in this mess, as more page time is devoted to the less-interesting younger new leads. Finally, one other point bears mentioning - the absence of the music. The film was often (super)powered by the boys backing / performing alongside legendary folks like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and many backing musicians from the 60's-era STAX recording studio. The lack of such a lively soundtrack also does this book absolutely no favors.

[Robert Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a bedtime graphic novel, especially when it pulls me in!
As a lifelong fan of the Blues Brothers - it’s my favorite movie - this is full of the spirit of the original film with plenty of callbacks that keep the story moving and meaningful.

[Fiona Mclean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything Blues Brothers is going to be good and knowing the love and passion that has come from the Kin of the Brothers makes it so much more. it says mainly for the new generation but I'm in the middle of both and would love if the new generation would make some new blues music for the case 🩵🤞🩵

[gzifa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just needed a short book to read, story line pretty good

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art was great the story was clunky and disjointed.

[Darby McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is for intergenerational lovers of the original Blues Brothers film. It has Easter Eggs and references in it, and it plays with the world and lore of the story so future adaptations can have a door open to them. It has the blessing of Dan Akyroyd and the involvement of the children of both Blues Brothers.
It’s not a perfect story, but I didn’t need it to be. I wanted love and care and silliness, and I got it. It was a comfort read that made me smile and chuckle throughout. The limitation of this adaptation is the lack of auditory representation in the reading experience, but just throw on some blues - heck, the soundtrack of the movie - in the background and you’ve got yourself a good little atmosphere to bask in “the dreams of blue collar, working class America.”

In the interview at the end about creating this story, James Werner says the characters are working class people who have the talent of Aretha Franklin. “…there’s thousands, you know, millions of people out there who have that talent, who just sit around believing all day, and here’s just a smattering of them and this is their story.” I resonated with that interpretation of what makes a Blues Brothers character and a tale involving them worth telling.

I also think Elwood Blues becoming a priest makes sense in a funny way I never would have anticipated on my own.

Thanks for carrying on the legend. 💙

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

won't win any awards for art or story, but it's a fun, wholesome next-generation jam. Blues is punk rock 🤘

[Dusty Victors · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic continuation of the Blues Brothers story set in 1997 with plenty of callbacks to the original movie from 1980, this is a true successor of the Blues Brothers legacy. There are many references you wouldn't catch if you didn't know some Blues Brothers trivia beyond the movie either. Interestingly, the story does not mainly follow Jake and Elwood Blues, but rather a different set of new, yet somewhat familiar faces. Additionally, a Nunja! Yes, you read that correctly! A ninja nun! The art style is wonderful and the author knows his Blues Brothers well. Where Jake is featured, he truly looks and acts like you'd expect from John Belushi's Jake Blues. This honestly does them more justice than Blues Brothers 2000, which we still don't talk about. To top it all off, it contains a heartfelt forward by Elwood Blues himself, Dan Aykroyd. The entire thing was originally the idea of Judy Belushi Pisano, late wife of John Belushi A.K.A "Joliet" Jake Blues. This wonderful love letter to the Blues Brothers was completed by Judy's son, Luke Pisano, Dan Aykroyd's daughter, Stella Aykroyd, and the multi-talented Jamer Werner. Containing an interview in the back, it gives much insight to the project and all the effort that went into making it a reality. If you ask me, Luke Pisano, Stella Aykroyd, and James Werner are the legacy and next generation of Blues Brothers, but hey, that's just my 2 cents.

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea art and story wise for my graphic novels but it was fun revisiting the silliness. I need to rewatch the film for sure.

[Gene Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and anarchic love letter to the original movie and the musical act that inspired it. Any fan of the movie or the Blues Brothers in general will love it.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the art. It looked so good. I felt like there were too many panels at times, but it was such a comforting style.

A couple of jokes really got me. The "Hup" sfx on a wide shot of pursuers. The twirly finger motion in the air being unintelligible.

I didn't really care for the story. It's difficult to enjoy the Blues Brothers without the actual sound of the Blues Brothers. Still it was a fun romp.

[Lee Tyner · Rating 2 out of 5]

The core of the story is a decent idea. However, the way it was delivered as a story was a clunker. Numerous major gaps in the story. Hard to follow, things that weren’t explained nor introduced, and hard to follow. I’m a fan of their first movie and recordings, but this wasn’t very enjoyable.

[Jonathan Waugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to read this and not picture it as a legacy sequel pitch that hung around for years, only to become a graphic novel to help the pitch. It’s good though, but doesn’t feature Jake and Elwood until the third act. Not having the soundtrack really hurts it too.

[Ethan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very glad we won't be subjected to a legacyquel movie - the original sequel movie was bad enough.

Some really great visual gags, some good ideas (I love Elwood becoming a priest), but ultimately pretty inconsequential and forgettable.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was fun. But more of a Blues Brothers 2000 than the original movie. Much like the BB2k version this spent a lot of energy trying to hit the same notes the same gags as the original and less time making the story their own.

[Nick Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 a ton of great callbacks and some really fun ideas but definitely a shortage of Jake and Elwood. I also wanted to see all the original band members.:(

[Chalupa Batman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure what to expect but this wasn't good.

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, but forgettable.

[Alastair Munn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An effort to pass the torch to a new generation full of the trademark blues brothers slapstick and humour.

Great nostalgia trip for blues brothers fans and good artwork.

[Samantha Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Love me some Blues Brothers