Take It Back: Life, Anxiety, And Gray Matter

‘Take It Back: Life, Anxiety and Gray Matter’ written by Steve Niles, Illustrated by Brian Walsby, and Lettered by Monica Richards, is in stock in the UK at Earth Island Books now.

The story of one of Washington, DC’s most beloved bands, Gray Matter told in a graphic novel. Written by bassist and renowned horror author Steve Niles and illustrated by Brian Walsby, with lettering done by Monica Richards. It is the story of friendship and the strength needed to overcome personal challenges amidst the background of a vibrant DC music scene. Revolution summer comes alive in the vivid drawings of Brian Walsby and the storytelling of Steve.

Steve Niles may be best known to readers of Razorcake as the bassist of the Washington, D.C. band, Gray Matter. But he’s had a longer and more successful career as a writer of comic books and graphic novels, primarily in the horror genre. Steeped in DIY culture from a young age, he began by creating his own self-publishing company and has continued to work through independent comics publishers.

He took the same approach with this book; when he was unable to generate interest from traditional comic book publishers, he turned to the world of DIY punk. Most comic book artists didn’t know the punk scene, so renowned punk artist, Brian Walsby, whose résumé includes artwork for a multitude of albums, illustrations for many fanzines (including MRR and Flipside), and playing drums in a number of bands, was brought on board. It was a very untraditional way to do a graphic novel.

Regardless of the title, the book is not really just the story of Gray Matter; it’s more of an autobiography. It’s an explanation of how Steve Niles became the person he is today. But rather than telling a simple linear narrative, the book jumps around through time, looking at glimpses of Niles’s life. Of particular note are vignettes that show formative experiences, such as falling in love with horror movies and comic books, learning about DIY, and discovering punk rock.

It’s all there, the good… and the bad. We see him meet the people who became his bandmates, and we see how crippling anxiety made it difficult for him to perform in public. We learn about the evolution of the band and the writing of their songs, and we also learn about experimentation with drugs that became an addiction. We see Niles at his lowest, but we also see redemption, with the help of an old friendship that blossomed into love.

Walsby’s artwork is absolutely perfect for this story. It has just the right feel for the D.C. punk scene. It feels a lot more approachable than typical superhero comic book artwork, and though the style is casual and a bit cartoonish, it just seems… friendly. In both the writing and the artwork, these are people who seem like the kind of people you would want to hang out with. The introduction, written by Gray Matter guitarist Mark Haggerty, also adds some interesting history and insights.

My only criticism is that the book seems too short. Maybe this is because the story is told via snapshots in time. Though it sometimes feels like a lot of the story is missing, the most important parts are there, giving a clear picture of the roller coaster that has been Niles’ life. And its ending left plenty of warm feelings and put a smile on my face. – Paul Silver (DiWulf)