DiWulf Publishing has released the untold story of “one of the cornerstone acts in the famed ‘Revolution Summer’ that defined punk rock for generations.” The new graphic novel Take It Back: Life, Anxiety, and Gray Matter is written by Gray Matter bassist and celebrated horror writer Steve Niles, illustrated by Brian Walsby, and lettered by Monica Richards.
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The story of one of Washington, DC’s most beloved bands comes to the page in a brand new graphic novelIt is the story of friendship and the strength needed to overcome personal challenges amidst the background of a vibrant DC music scene.
Writer Steve Niles is best known for horror comics 30 Days of Night, The October Faction, Frankenstein Alive! Alive! as well as his notorious monster hunter detective, Cal McDonald. But before he found his voice on the page, Niles cut his creative teeth in the fertile and influential 1980s Washington DC punk rock scene, where he played bass for years with the legendary Dischord band, Gray Matter. This book not only delves into Steve’s formative years, providing a candid look into his personal struggles, it also serves as a heartfelt tribute to the original DIY culture that inspired the DC punk and hardcore scene.
Brian Walsby is best known for his eyecatching artwork on t-shirts and album covers, including work with 7 Seconds, Descendents, The Birthday Party, Melvins, Die Kruezen, Big Star as well as illustrations in the essential underground We Got Power magazine and more.
“Of all the things I’ve written, Take it Back was the most challenging. It’s a very personal story about my time with Gray Matter and life in general,” said Niles. “It’s much harder to address mental health battles than it is to write about vampires and werewolves. I’m very thankful to everybody who helped put it together and to DiWulf for publishing.”
Take It Back: Life, Anxiety and Gray Matter is available now directly from the publisher. The Beat has an exclusive look below!
I got my copy a few weeks ago, it’s really good! I’m a punk rock kid just as much as comics so this was very cool. I knew some of Steve’s background but this was (obviously) much more in depth of his ups and downs and his life in general.