DS Book Club: Z2 Comic’s adaptation of the film, “…And Out Comes The Wolf”

In punk rock’s history, a lot of albums haven’t hit as hard as Rancid’s … And Out Come The Wolves. Its effects are still being felt today. A lot of bands took inspiration from Rancid’s ska punk sound, but for filmmaker Danny Peykoff he used the record as the basis of his directorial debut. The aptly titled, …And Out Comes The Wolf. Z2 Comics has taken the reins on the official comic adaptation of the film.

The story follows Willy, a young punk rocker and drug dealer, who is counting on his best friend Brixton and his baseball skills to get out of Berkeley. Things go awry when Max, a drug dealer that Willy ratted on, is released from prison and forces him to sell his new product. Little bags of cocaine that have Val Kilmer’s hat and moustache ala his 1993 turn as Doc Holiday in Tombstone. After getting dumped by his girlfriend, Willy and Brixton meet two girls on the bus. It all goes downhill from there. While it’s not a difficult or unfamiliar web to untangle it is an interesting story nonetheless. The characters that inhabit the world are niche to fans of Rancid and East Bay punk or punk rock in general, but are unique enough.

Willy is our narrator and guide through his punk rock world. He rides this weird line of being this drug dealer punk rocker teenager who’s tough life seems to intersect and even ruin the others in it. This typically comes off with statements on what is or what’s not, but not here. It’s not too preachy. I think it can be hard to make a punk rock story without doing so. In general. I remember multiple people saying that about SLC Punk!, and I’d like to think time has been much kinder to it. What is and isn’t punk has evolved since it’s inception. This story doesn’t really focus on this rather than the plot itself which is a bit refreshing in a punk rock story.  

Kevin Mellon is a force to be reckoned with while pulling double duty as writer and artist. I’m not able to review if this is a good adaptation, as I’ve yet to see the movie. The comic Mellon has written based on Danny Peykoff, Jamie Neese, and Jason Neese’s script works well. The art almost has an Archie and the gang style to it, if Archie and Jughead sold drugs and jumped into pits. I loved Gab Contreras’s colors on Z2’s Blues Brothers comic and I think her game has definitely stepped up here. Given that Z2 does mostly music related comics, Contreras pivoting to a different genre does not seem to have any bearing on her quality. Tom Williams’s letters are the perfect amount of chaos for this story.

While there are a ton of Rancid easter eggs, a term I use loosely because some of them are glaring obvious, they don’t detract from the story. There are characters named after songs along with direct references to the band themselves. Willy has an unhealthy fixation on OG Rancid drummer, Brett Reed, while a female character named Ruby has been burned by a bass player named Matt. 

Despite being a drummer, we never actually see Willy play drums. He does show up to the Ivy Room to watch a band play and jump in the pit. While the scenes at the Ivy Room establish a lot more tone, characters and essentially the catalyst of the story. In general, I’m usually disappointed in comic book adaptations of movies. Sometimes things are left out. I remember a Shaun of the Dead comic adaptation that missed the best parts from the movie, but time makes that determination. 

…And Out Comes the Wolf functions well as a story, it’s a fun ride and has nods to the East Bay, Rancid, along with the landmark record this film/comic took its title from. If you’re chomping at the bit to see what this story is about and can’t find a theater to see the film, this could hold you over. On the other hand this may also be a great companion piece to what may be your next favorite punk rock movie.

…And Out Comes The Wolf is available through the Z2 website in a few different editiions.