NCT 127, Z2 Comics, and UMG Team Up for K-Pop Sensation’s Inaugural Graphic Novel, Limitless

The nine-member group and SM Entertainment segue into sequential art for the first official K-Pop graphic novel

Preorder:

https://z2comics.com/products/NCT127

New York City—SM Entertainment, Z2 Comics, and Universal Music Group are excited to announce Limitless, the new graphic novel from K-Pop megastars NCT 127, and the very first officially licensed K-Pop graphic novel. The comic will introduce a brand new fictional chapter into the lives of all nine members of the global phenomenon.

Presented in the manhwa (South Korean comic) format, Limitless follows NCT 127 in the midst of their world tour as they approach New York City. The members soon experience a world of shared and enigmatic dreams. By solving these subconscious mysteries that seem to be intersecting with reality, they overcome their inner fears.

“NCT was designed as a project of unlimited potential, unrestrained by geography and formal boundaries. We’re overjoyed to unite with Z2 Comics to witness NCT 127 expand beyond the boundaries of music into graphic novels,” says SM Entertainment.

The band made its debut in 2016 with the mega-hit “Fire Truck” and has since found great success with such massive singles as “Cherry Bomb,” “Kick It,” and “2 Baddies”. They became a triple-million seller in a row as their third full-length album Sticker and its repackage Favorite, and fourth full-length album 2 Baddies and repackage Ay-Yo sold more than 3 million copies. NCT 127 recently completed their second world tour, NEO CITY – THE LINK, which drew approximately 700,000 spectators throughout 17 major cities.

“I am thrilled to partner with NCT 127, SM Entertainment, and UMG to deliver the first K-Pop centered graphic novel of its kind,” said Z2 Comics Chief Executive Officer Kevin Meek. “We’re beyond excited to bring NCTzens and K-Pop fans around the globe a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of art that will be core to the NCT universe.”

“It is truly great to see how music and artist IP expand without boundaries,” says BJ Yang, CEO of Universal Music Group Korea. “From our existing partnership with Z2 Comics, and together with SM Entertainment, Universal Music Group has successfully managed to crossover K-Pop intellectual properties to the graphic novel industry. Together we have created a unique way to enjoy graphic novels, music, and the K-Pop genre all-in-one. We can’t wait to see this project come to life, and land in the hands of music fans all around the world.”

Z2 Comics, SM Entertainment, and Universal Music Group present NCT 127: Limitless in standard hardcover and deluxe hardcover editions, set to release in late summer 2023. The standard hardcover will come with nine variant covers, each featuring members of NCT 127. The deluxe hardcover will come hand signed with nine art prints illustrated by Kayla Felty as well as a group-shot custom trading card and certificate of authenticity.

Preorder now at https://z2comics.com/products/NCT127

About NCT 127

NCT 127, debuted in July 2016, is NCT's Seoul team. The number '127' is the longitude of Seoul, symbolizing the group's home base and of K-pop as they continue to actively promote all across the world. The group is known for their impressive stage performances and trendy music, releasing hit songs like "Kick It," Punch," "Superhuman," "Highway to Heaven," "Regular," and "Cherry Bomb."

NCT 127 has also performed on major US TV shows including Good Morning America, The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Today Show, with the group successfully completing their first World Tour 'NEO CITY—The Origin' in 2019 with stops across North and South America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

In September 2021, NCT 127 released their 3rd album Sticker, which became their 3rd consecutive album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's Album Sales chart and ranked No. 3 on Billboard 200, becoming the longest-charting K-pop album of the year. In addition, the group scored their first Top 40 album on UK's Official Albums chart, and debuted in the Top 20 on Australia's ARIA Albums and Germany's Offizielle albums chart, while making marks on charts in Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Japan, China, Malaysia, Korea, and more.

Additionally, NCT 127 achieved Triple Million Seller status with cumulative sales of their 3rd album and 3rd album repackage Favorite. The group went on to release their 4th album 2 Baddies in September 2022, charting again at No. 3 on Billboard 200, proving themselves a global powerhouse to be reckoned with.

About Z2 Comics

Recently dubbed the "Hottest brand in music" by Forbes, Z2 Comics has quickly become the premier destination for authentic graphic novels and collectibles, created in partnership with top-tier artists, musicians and pop-culture icons. Distributed globally via Simon & Schuster, Z2 has produced 50-plus unique graphic novel properties, collaborating with Gorillaz , Blondie, Elvis Presley, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Pantera, Tori Amos, The Last Podcast On The Left, Emily Hampshire, Balmain Paris, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Jason Derulo, The Grateful Dead, Machine Gun Kelly, Sublime, Beethoven, RZA, Mötley Crüe, Vince Staples, Cheech & Chong, The Doors, Anthrax, Public Enemy, Ronnie James Dio, King Diamond, All Time Low, Ivan Moody, Yungblud, Cypress Hill, Babymetal, Major Lazer, RZA, Alter Bridge, Sturgill Simpson, Poppy, John Lee Hooker, and Charlie “Bird” Parker. Learn more at Z2comics.com, and follow us on Instagram (@z2comics) and Twitter (@z2comics).

About UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP

At Universal Music Group, we exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audio-visual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalog of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. For more information on Universal Music Group visit www.universalmusic.com