10 Real-Life Musicians Who Starred In Comic Books, Ranked

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It’s always great when a well-known artist shows they can truly perform live, not just in recordings or at concerts. But the real mark of success comes when they’re featured in a documentary.

As a huge fan of both comics and music, I always get a kick out of seeing musicians pop up in the pages of my favorite superhero books! It’s become a fun thing for publishers to do – giving famous artists cameos or even starring roles. Sometimes they’ll get the graphic novel treatment, with stories based on their lives. But I’m really interested in when musicians become *characters* in fictional worlds. I’ve put together a list of the coolest examples, ranking them from pretty neat to totally amazing!

Toadies Met The X-Men

Though best known for their 1994 hit “Possum Kingdom” from their first album, *Rubberneck*, the Toadies are remembered as a hugely influential alternative rock band of the 90s. And what could be a better tribute to their iconic status than a collaboration with the X-Men?

A 2016 issue of the comic *X-Men ’92*—which is set in the 1990s and draws inspiration from the *X-Men: The Animated Series*, but in its own separate storyline—features the X-Men providing security for a peace concert called Lilapalooza. The band Toadies performed as one of the headliners. Years later, the band was thrilled to be referenced in the movie *Captain Marvel*, marking a connection between them and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Gwar’s Mythological Lore Is Expanded In Their Comic Book Series

Given their outrageous costumes and stage show – Gwar members appear as alien barbarians – it’s easy to imagine the heavy metal band originating as comic book characters. However, the reality is quite different. Gwar actually formed in 1984, and didn’t release their comic book, *Orgasmageddon*, until 33 years later.

Published by Dynamite Entertainment, this story features the band Gwar being sent back in time by the villainous Mr. Perfect. They have to navigate their way back to the present while also correcting the timeline to ensure history unfolds as we know it. This sci-fi adventure, similar in style to *Bill & Ted*, was followed by another story in 2022, which tied into their album, *The New Dark Ages*.

Frank Sinatra Was In The DC And Marvel Universes

We often see DC and Marvel heroes and villains team up, like in a recent crossover planned for 2025. But it’s rare for a character to naturally appear in both universes at the same time, without needing a complicated story reason. Surprisingly, Frank Sinatra can claim that distinction.

Frank Sinatra, the legendary singer and actor known for leading the Rat Pack, was surprisingly friends with Jimmy Olsen, the young photographer from the Daily Planet. He actually appeared in Marvel Comics several times, starting with a 1944 issue of *Junior Miss*. His last appearance was in *Patsy Walker* #121 in 1965. Even after his passing, Sinatra remained a part of the Marvel Universe, with frequent references to him, particularly from the character Cable, who was a big fan.

The Flaming Lips Headlined A Mutant/Human Peace Rally

The band Toadies weren’t the only big alt-rock act at the Lilapalooza concert in *X-Men ’92* Vol. 2 Issue #7. Lila Cheney, a British rock star who can teleport across vast distances, also invited a pioneering neo-psychedelic band to play. She organized the concert to help promote peace between mutants and humans.

I’ve always loved how The Flaming Lips and comic books seem to go hand-in-hand, and their appearance with the X-Men is just one example! But did you know that Wayne Coyne actually created a graphic novel way back in 2000? It’s called *The Sun is Sick*, and it’s this really wild, 40-page fantasy where Death basically makes the sun *sick*. Honestly, it’s perfectly weird and over-the-top – exactly what you’d expect from The Flaming Lips and their incredible stage shows!

The Beatles Technically Showed Up In A Couple Of Marvel Comics

Whether The Beatles should be included is debatable, as their first appearance in Marvel Comics might not be what it seems. In Strange Tales #130, Ben Grimm (The Thing) and Johnny Storm (Human Torch) take their dates, Alicia Masters and Doris Evans, to a Beatles concert, but end up missing the show while chasing thieves who stole the ticket money.

For years, fans believed they were reading about the real Beatles in Marvel comics. However, a 2007 issue of *Wisdom* revealed a shocking twist: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr had actually been replaced by Skrulls – a race of shapeshifting aliens. This raised the question of whether Marvel readers ever truly “met” The Beatles during their 1964 debut. Despite this revelation, the original Beatles – in their authentic form – became a part of Marvel’s legacy with the 1978 publication of *Marvel Comics Super Special #4*, a comic that retold the story of their incredible journey to fame.

Billy Ray Cyrus Fought A Dragon

Most people now know Billy Ray Cyrus as Miley Cyrus’ father, but he was a huge country music star in the 1990s, famous for his song “Achy Breaky Heart.” The song was so popular, it even led to a single-issue comic book about him – and that makes his sometimes quirky behavior on Disney’s *Hannah Montana* seem pretty ordinary.

Back in 1995, Marvel briefly published a comic series called Marvel Music, and one particularly strange issue featured Billy Ray Cyrus and his band. The story, simply titled *Billy Ray Cyrus*, involved the group being unexpectedly sent back to medieval times, where Cyrus became a knight and had to fight a dragon. It would have been even more amazing if the story had crossed over with Dark Horse’s *Army of Darkness*, letting Cyrus battle some Deadites alongside Ash Williams.

Eminem Joined Forces With The Punisher

Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher, often teams up with unexpected allies. While his 2017 partnership was unusual, it pales in comparison to the truly surprising collaboration featured in the 2009 one-shot comic, *Eminem/The Punisher*.

At first, the story leads you to believe the famous rapper Eminem (Marshall Mathers) is being targeted by the vigilante known as the Punisher. However, it’s soon revealed that the Punisher is actually trying to protect Eminem from a threat posed by his own friend, who has been paid by the Parents Music Council to harm him. This team-up between Marvel Comics and XXL Magazine is definitely one of the strangest comic book crossovers ever created.

Elvis Presley Became A Recurring DC Character

Comics, like all major art forms, often reflect and embody key elements of our culture. Because Elvis Presley is considered a cultural icon – not just a music icon – it’s natural that he’s appeared in comics more than just a few times.

Elvis Presley appears surprisingly often in DC Comics, almost like a regular character. He’s shown up in everything from a historical flashback in the 1985 series *America vs. the Justice Society* to a dream sequence in Neil Gaiman’s *The Sandman*. Given his lasting popularity, it’s likely Elvis will continue to make cameos in comics for years to come.

Alice Cooper Escaped From A Frightening Fever Dream

Alice Cooper is a rock ‘n’ roll icon famous for blending catchy songs with shocking and theatrical performances. He’s extended his signature horror style beyond music, appearing in films and even headlining his own comic book.

First appearing in 1979’s *Marvel Premiere #50*, Alice Cooper was featured in a story inspired by his 1978 album, *From the Inside*, which centered around his escape from an evil mental institution. This wasn’t Cooper’s only foray into comics, however. He also starred in *The Last Temptation*, a three-part horror series from Marvel Music written by Neil Gaiman, and later headlined his own self-titled series published by Dynamite Entertainment.

Kiss Is The Ultimate Comic Book Rock Band

When people think of musicians becoming comic book characters, the band KISS is often the first that comes to mind. They’ve appeared in comics more than almost any other musical artist, starting with a cameo in a 1977 issue of *Howard the Duck*. They even starred as themselves in the first issue of *Marvel Comics Super Special*, battling Doctor Doom while in their stage personas.

So, after popping up in Marvel comics a few times, KISS ended up in their own ongoing series by Todd McFarlane – the guy who created Spawn – called *KISS: Psycho Circus* back in the late 90s. Then, in the 2000s, they were the stars of a bunch of different comics from companies like Dark Horse, Platinum Studios, IDW, and Dynamite. They even did a crossover with Archie! Honestly, it’s just one example of how much merchandise they’ve put their name on over the years. It’s kinda crazy – they’ve been as all over the place as a character like Batman!

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2025-10-12 00:49