Graphic novelist John Jennings has become well-versed with novelist Octavia Butler’s dystopian worlds with two previous award-winning adaptations. The latest project by the illustrator and his creative partners hits close to the current state of the world.

The hardcover graphic novel “Parable of the Talents,” adapting Butler’s Nebula Award-winning 1998 novel, was released April 22 by publisher Abrams ComicArts.

Jennings, a professor of media and cultural studies at the University of California, Riverside, created the graphic novel with his longtime collaborator, Damian Duffy, and artist David Brame.

A sequel to “Parable of the Sower,” which Jennings and Duffy also adapted, the story is set in a dystopian future where an authoritarian is president, infrastructure is crumbling, Christian nationalism is rising, and drug use is rampant.

“Parable of the Talents” is set in an economically depressed and fire-ravaged Southern California city that Jennings described as an analogue to Altadena, where Butler lived and is now buried.

“It’s kind of wild,” Jennings said of some of the real-world parallels. He noted that they adapted the first book as a cautionary tale after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016.

Butler originally wrote the two books in response to President Ronald Reagan’s policies and took one of his campaign slogans, “Make American Great Again,” — later made famous by Trump — for the fictional president in her novels.

“She basically postulated if those policies stayed in place what kind of future would happen in America,” Jennings said.

With stories that centered around Black characters, Butler was an important author for Jennings when he began reading science fiction at a young age. He praised her knack for character development and language that he described as “almost supernatural.”

“I am in awe at her level of characterization,” he said. “Her research acumen is next level.”

The story is told through the journal entries of Lauren Olamina from age 15 to 80, read by her daughter, tracing her journey to establish her faith and guide humanity to the stars.

“It’s a roller coaster,” Jennings said. “The drama and the pathos are really compelling. I think you’ll be rooting for Lauren to survive and thrive.”

Jennings and Duffy first adapted Butler’s classic novel “Kindred” in 2017, which won the Eisner Award, the comic industry’s top prize, for best adaptation. They won the science fiction community’s Hugo Award for their “Parable of the Sower” graphic novel.

The team, who have been working together for 20 years, typically plot the story and plan out the world together, with Duffy writing the script and Jennings handling the artwork. For the latest book they brought in Eisner-nominated comic artist Brame to help with the artwork during a busy time for Jennings, who recently had a son with his wife.

When adapting a book, Jennings said it’s not just about replicating the novel but approaching it in a way that takes advantage of the medium of comic books.

“It’s a labor of love,” he said. “It’s also a labor of a creative team. You need many hands to make sure these books come together properly.”