Comics
Review: ‘Revival’ #12
After a strong recent issue that saw “Revival” focus on a strong, central story for an entire issue, the series manages to do a complete 180 with its latest offering. “Revival” #12 is, yet again, mired in a series of unrelated plotlines and too many characters. As a result, it may be the weakest showing in the series yet.
WRITTEN BY: Tim Seeley
ART BY: Mike Norton
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE DATE: July 17th, 2013
Whatever momentum “Revival” had coming off its previous issue, it immediately squanders in its latest. Storylines go nowhere, characters do one thing and are then passed by… nothing seems to have any significance in “Revival” #12. It’s an extraordinarily frustrating issue to read through, given the potential that this series has, but when it lacks a strong narrative – or even a mediocre one – it’s virtually impossible to care about the story or the characters. Recapping the issue is equally impossible, as it’s just a series of events that are, at best, loosely connected.
It’s not all bad. There are one or two minor character moments, and Mike Norton gets to experiment with a different type of visual format as he replicates the drawing of Dana’s son Cooper following his abduction in the last issue. But it’s not remotely enough to save this issue. “Revival” began as one of the more promising comics of last year. But every time an issue like this comes along, it begins to seem more like a wasted opportunity.
1.5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – GeorgeShunick
The supernatural world of Korean folk horror movie Exhuma grows larger with the arrival of prequel spinoff webtoon Maengjong this weekend, Variety reports today.
Naver Webtoon debuts Maengjong on May 30.
The series hails from Haemuri (Olgami) and will trace the high school origins of how shaman duo Hwarim and Bonggil, played by Kim Go-eun and Lee Do-hyun in the 2024 film, came together to face occultish threats.
The story is set to begin when “Hwarim, who has been concealing her identity following a childhood encounter with a snake spirit called Jin, crosses paths with Bonggil at their school.”
Variety notes that Exhuma director Jang Jae-hyun participated in the project’s early concept stage.
“We are presenting ‘Maengjong,’ a new series capturing the appeal of the horror-occult genre, ahead of the full summer season,” said Lee Jeong-geun, Naver Webtoon’s Korea webtoon content leader. “With the high school story of Hwarim and Bonggil, who left a strong impression in the film ‘Exhuma,’ enhanced by Haemuri’s characteristic tense direction, we expect it will be a welcome work for genre fans.”
“It is meaningful that the spin-off story of ‘Exhuma,’ loved by many audiences, expands by meeting the new grammar of webtoon,” said Lee Hyeon-jeong, managing director of the film business division at Showbox, which distributed the film. “We hope it will be a fresh experience for both film fans and webtoon readers.”
Exhuma was a breakout hit in 2024, becoming the first Korean occult film to surpass 10 million ticket buyers and the country’s highest-grossing film of the year. I wrote in my review that “the intricately woven Exhuma delivers one of the year’s biggest surprises in horror so far.”
The bond between Hwarim and Bonggil was one of the film’s highlights, making this prequel webtoon a must for fans.
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