Comics
Review: ‘Ex Sanguine’ #2
After a kick ass debut, Tim Seeley and his partner in crime, Josh Scott Emmons, pump out an awesome second issue of Ex Sanguine. This issue expands on the relationship between the Sanguine Killer and the local vampire Saul Adams; the budding of a bloody romance and more eerie vampire mythology. Tim Seeley brings the romantic vampire pop culture fad back to the blood infested darkness, right where it belongs!
WRITTEN BY: Joshua Scott Emmons and Tim Seeley
ART BY: Tim Seeley
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
RELEASE DATE: November 14th
PRICE: 3.99
This book kicks off with Saul Adams being interrogated over the fact that his journal was found at the crime scene of the latest Sanguine Killer victim. Clearly he isn’t getting the murder pinned on him because that would make for an abrupt end to the series. SPOILER What is interesting is that the whole time it looks as though Saul is using his magical abilities to get out of the murder but suddenly an alibi is procured for him by none other than the Sanguine Killer herself, Ashley.
This revelation sets the tone for the rest of the book; Ashley is enticing Saul into her plots through the use of her body and mind. This is where the romantic aspect of the story starts to come out. Ashley not only accepts Saul’s nature but more to the point she yearns for a partner who she sees as akin to her, a monster. Throughout the book this relationship develops as the new found couple go out on an awkward date. Very awkward. The date happens to involve a slaughter of the most fiendish kind.
On the flip side, this issue focuses on the law enforcement aspect of the story. The police continue to pursue Saul, who they believe is the killer, all while coming closer to the real killer. This is a clever mix of storylines from the writing duo.
“Ex Sanguine” allows Tim Seeley to showcase his skills as an artist, the use of hard lines gives the book a nice crisp look but background tends to take on a sketchier element giving a much darker appearance. Seeley also emphasizes the use of shadows whether they’re being reflective of Sauls inner monstrosity or simply adding to that dark atmosphere that is present throughout the book.
Though this book does centre around a love story (not my usual cup of tea) I’m really enjoying the direction it is going, as well as the different creative elements that set it apart from other vamp comics. Dark Horse is quickly solidifying their rep as the big boss in horror comics and this book is just another example of their dominance.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by- GreenBasterd
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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