Shaggy Inspires Supernatural Pirate Graphic Novel The Port by Rodney Barnes

Grammy-winner Shaggy (Orville Richard Burrell) is a named creative collaborator and the visible spark behind The Port, a new graphic novel by writer Rodney Barnes with art by Jason Shawn Alexander and published by Zombie Love Studios. The project folds Jamaican history into fantasy, recasting Port Royal as a haunted, pirate-filled setting where music and atmosphere drive the story.

The Port centers on Artemis Slay, a pirate captain whose on-page presence is explicitly modeled on Shaggy’s unmistakable swagger. The novel follows a ghostly crew bent on revenge in Port Royal after the 1692 earthquake, blending historical events with supernatural stakes and a Caribbean sensibility. Shaggy described the collaboration as "scary and fun," positioning the book as both a dark adventure and a celebration of island culture.

Rodney Barnes, known for genre work that mixes social context and speculative elements, brings narrative weight to the premise while Jason Shawn Alexander supplies gritty, atmospheric visuals. Publisher Zombie Love Studios has released artwork previews that highlight brooding sea-splashed panels and character designs steeped in nautical dread and island style. The project is also the first step in a creative alliance between Barnes, Shaggy and Martin Kierszenbaum of CherryTree Music Company, signaling a cross-disciplinary partnership between comics and music professionals.

For reggae readers and Caribbean communities, The Port matters on multiple levels. It reclaims Port Royal - a real Jamaican locale with a dramatic past - as a site of folklore and contemporary cultural expression, rather than a remote historical footnote. The use of musical sensibility in character and pacing reflects reggae and dancehall rhythms: the narrative moves with a skank-like pulse and dubwise echoes in its supernatural beats. That blending offers local artists and fans a new platform for storytelling that foregrounds Jamaican identity in a mainstream graphic medium.

Practically, fans can expect The Port to debut in 2026 and to be distributed broadly where books are sold. Comic shops, independent bookstores, and online retailers are likely outlets once release details firm up. The involvement of Shaggy and CherryTree Music Company also suggests potential tie-ins, soundtracks, events, or appearances, that would connect readers and listeners in the yard.

The Port represents a creative crossroads for reggae culture and visual storytelling: a place where island history, music-driven character, and genre comics meet. Watch for additional art drops and production updates through 2026 as Barnes, Alexander, Shaggy and partners move from preview to publication.