Comics
Review: ‘Abe Sapien’ #9
After having an incredible 2013 I’m not surprised that the 2014 debut of “Abe Sapien” continues the trend of greatness. The creative team is bringing together a unique story line in a diverse and vast universe that is accented by eye-gasmic art. Though this is only the first installment of a 3 part arc I’m already stoked.
WRITTEN BY: Mike Mignola and Scott Allie
ART BY: Max Fiumara
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
RELEASE DATE: January 8
PRICE: 3.50
Abe Sapien underwent some sort of mutation during his time spent recovering from a gunshot wound, he then proceeded to run immediately from the BPRD and has found himself in several dire situations since then. Abe now finds himself at a crime scene that stinks of more than blood and gasoline. As he begins to help the small town police, another plot crops up that could have dire consequences for everyone involved. On the flip side there is some serious discussion about Hell, that obviously involves the beloved Hellboy.
2013 was massive year for Mike Mignola and his creative partners as they’ve been able to weave several amazing stories that are intertwined, but after this issue my expectations are at new heights. Every issue that Mignola and Scott Allie have pumped out has been better than the last, this book is no exception as the story is infused with intriguing plot advancements and tie-ins.
Fiumara and Dave Stewart continue to blow my mind. I think both Max and Sebastián deserve a little praise here at BD for the outstanding work they’ve been doing for the Mignolaverse. From the cover to the closing panel the raw sketchiness of the art infused with a realistic gritty look keeps my face glued to the pages.
If the Hellboy family books keep coming like this, my Best of 2014 list will lose vacancies quickly. “Abe Sapien” is an outstanding book that sets the tone for the coming year at Dark Horse.
4.5/5 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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.