Comics
BOOM! Goes Bipolar With Hipsters, Car Crashes, And Superpowers
BOOM! Studios announced a brand new series, Polarity, from Max Bemis and Jorge Coelho that dives into the world of bipolar, struggling artist living in Brooklyn. After a brutal car crash, he finds out his mental issues weren’t so clinical after all. Every issue will come with a free digital download of a new song from Bemis himself. More below.
Official Press Release:
January 21, 2013 – Los Angeles, CA – This April, BOOM! Studios is pleased to launch POLARITY, an all-new four issue limited series, from SAY ANYTHING frontman Max Bemis. The highly anticipated series will be written by creator Bemis and illustrated by up-and-coming artist Jorge Coelho.
Timothy Woods is a bipolar artist stuck in the world of hipsters, meaningless sex, and vain art — better known as Brooklyn. But after he survives a near fatal car accident, Timothy discovers that his mental instability is more than just a disorder, and that his bipolar medication hasn’t just been subduing depression and uncontrollable mania…it’s been suppressing his super powers! Now it’s time for Timothy to stand up to his disease alongside an onslaught of wretched human villainy as he finally finds his place in the world.
“In perhaps what is the most exciting development to me in my artistic life since I formed Say Anything, I’m thrilled to announce that my first comic series, POLARITY, will be debuting in April through the wonderful folks at BOOM! Studios. I am an obsessive comics fan to say the least so this is the actualization of a long time dream, and I foresee myself continuing to write A LOT in the future, so this will, hopefully, be where it all begins,” says Bemis.
“I think fans of my music in particular will be excited that the roots of POLARITY lie in the story that I created for the musical that never was, but became the blueprint for our first record …IS A REAL BOY. In many ways, this is that same story, told through a different medium,” added Bemis.
SAY ANYTHING music fans will also want to note that every issue will come with a free download for a new original song written and performed by Bemis! Each song will not be available anywhere else and will be written specifically to accompany the comic project.
“Max Bemis is one of the most exciting new voices I’ve worked with in comics,” said Matt Gagnon, Editor-in-Chief of BOOM! Studios. “He’s an astounding creative force who has inspired many with his music and has expertly, remarkably transitioned his artistic vision to comics. I can emphatically tell you that Max is a legit comic book fan and a student of the medium. Get ready for one of the breakout talents of 2013.”
POLARITY #1 ships in April with a cover by Frazer Irving (UNCANNY X-MEN, HIGHER EARTH), along with retailer incentive covers by W. Scott Forbes (FORGETLESS, 27) and Irving. The first issue is a 32 page, full color issue that retails for $3.99 and is available for order under Diamond Code FEB130853.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.