Written By: Sam Santiago
The snarling world of "…And Out Comes the Wolf" is no longer confined to the screen. Big Newport Studios and Z2 have officially teamed up to unleash a full-blown graphic novel universe tied to the upcoming RANCID-inspired feature film, pushing its brutal East Bay punk story even further into the shadows.
The film, written, directed, and produced by Danny Peykoff alongside Jamie and Jason Neese of "The Umbrella Academy", is already making noise ahead of its film festival run this spring, with a theatrical release slated for summer. Now that same blood-soaked vision is being reimagined, panel by panel, in a companion graphic novel adapted and illustrated by Kevin Mellon, best known for his work on "Archer".
Rather than a simple retelling, the graphic novel is positioned as an expansion of the film’s universe, adding depth and new texture to a story rooted in the violent underbelly of the 1990s East Bay punk scene. At its core is a grim portrait of survival. Two best friends search for a way out of a city rotting from the inside, surrounded by poverty, drugs, and constant threat. Every escape route is narrow, every opportunity dangerous, and the looming question never goes away. Who gets free and who gets torn apart when the wolf finally shows itself.
From The Press Release:
…AND OUT COMES THE WOLF Writer, Director, Producer Danny Peykoff proudly states,
“Our film has always felt tailor made for a graphic novel adaptation, so we were stoked at the chance to stretch our collective vision with Josh and the team at Z2.”
Both the film and graphic novel are rooted in a gritty story of dreams colliding with the limitations of reality in a world of violence and desperation. Surrounded by poverty, drugs, and danger, two best friends hunt for an escape in a city blighted with decay. But the paths are narrow and littered with predators and temptations that threaten them at every turn, and the unspoken question haunts them. Who manages to get away, and who will be devoured when the wolf comes out?
WATCH THE TRAILER FOR "...AND OUT COMES THE WOLF" BELOW
“I’m so excited to see the boundaries of this universe we created together expand into a whole other arena with our partnership with Z2 to bring …And Out Comes the Wolf alive in a new way,” says co-creator Jason Neese. His twin brother and longtime collaborative partner Jamie Neese added, “Growing up comics were my entry point into my eventual obsession with cinema. So to now have the opportunity to watch Z2 take our film and metamorphose it into a graphic novel is beyond exciting.”
The graphic novel series will feature multiple variant covers by underground art standout Travis Knight, adding another layer of punk credibility to the release. Z2 is also going all in on collectors. The 100 page graphic novel will be available in a slipcased Deluxe Edition that includes four art prints, a set of collector cards, and an exclusive WOLF temporary tattoo flash set. That edition, along with all others, will be available exclusively through Z2’s website for pre-order in Spring 2026. A standard edition will follow in early fall through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, independent retailers, and comic shops worldwide.
Z2 President, Josh Bernstein shares:
"Partnering with Big Newport to build a full graphic novel universe from ...And Out Comes the Wolf is a genuine honor. With Danny Peykoff and the Neese Brothers driving this vision with Kevin Mellon, we're positioned to create something both culturally sharp and commercially explosive. And at the heart of it all is one of the greatest punk albums ever made by Rancid a record that defined a generation and now inspires an entirely new storytelling frontier on the screen and on the printed page!"
We're excited to check out the film as well as the graphic novel soon, and we highly recommend you get your pre orders in fast, as Rancid fans are known to be pretty rabid when it comes to exclusive merch.