Yep, you read that right. Warren Ellis and Michael Allred, two of my favorite creators, have been brought together for the first time to create a graphic novel in conjunction with Bacardi. You know, the rum distillery. And although this is an obvious advertisement for Bacardi’s products, part of the new “BACARDÍ – Untameable Since 1862″ global advertising campaign, there’s so much more to it than that. The focus of the graphic novel is Emilio Bacardi, the son of Bacardi Rum founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó, and a highly compelling man in his own right. A freedom fighter exiled to Spain, a hero returned appointed mayor of Santiago, after a time becoming the first freely-elected mayor, and eventually winning a seat in the national senate, Emilio’s life is a fascinating subject. He was a Cuban rebel, industrialist, politician, and writer who managed the Bacardi Rum Company, the largest privately held, family-owned spirits company in the world, and became an icon in his native land.
Warren Ellis had this to say – “Storytelling requires great characters, and in Emilio Bacardí we have exactly that. Emilio was a patriot, passionate about his homeland of Cuba. My focus was to bring his drive and determination to life.”
The graphic novel is now free to read or download in .pdf format on the Bacardi website for those of you over 21 years old. Here’s the original trailer released back in July:
Bacardi AND FanboyNation encourage you to drink responsibly.
