RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello is getting into the comic book business. The musician unveiled a new publication called "Orchid" at the 2011 Comic-Con International in San Diego over the weekend, announcing that the debut issue will come out on October 12 through Dark Horse Comics. Morello said in a statement, "It's like 'Lord Of The Rings' meets 'Battle Of Algiers'. I wanted to craft a story that has the same visceral impact and political clout as the music I've been involved in."

The story follows a 16-year-old street prostitute in a dystopian future society who learns that "she is more than the role society has imposed upon her."

In Morello's vision of the future, the seas have risen and swamped much of the land, with human settlements surrounded by dense wilderness and strange new creatures. The wealthy live in fortress-like cities high above the rest.

The book will run for 12 issues and Morello has written a song for each chapter that will be distributed for free along with the comic.

Meanwhile, Morello will next appear onstage this Saturday (July 30) at the band's L.A. Rising festival, which will take place at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Morello told The Pulse Of Radio how the event will differ from other music festivals. "This festival is gonna be different from Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza," he said. "This is a festival that is run by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and it's going to reflect that. (laughs) You know, when you enter the site, it's gonna look very different than any other festival. There are gonna be causes and activist organizations and charities that we endorse, presented in a very different way."

The L.A. Rising bill will also feature full sets from MUSE, RISE AGAINST and others in addition to the headliners.

Morello will release his third solo album as THE NIGHTWATCHMAN, titled "World Wide Rebel Songs", on August 30. This will be the first of Morello's solo efforts to feature a full electric band.

Morello will support INCUBUS on a few of that band's upcoming August dates before heading to Europe with RISE AGAINST in the fall.
-blabbermouth.net