Comics
The Supernatural Returns To BOOM! Studios With ‘The Returning’
Want original horror stories? Then start reading comics. Mark my words, horror will take over the comics industry in 2014. BOOM! Studios just announced a new supernatural horror miniseries from Jason Starr and Andrea Mutti that is being described as, “part Carrie, part Hellblazer, part Crossed”. If that doesn’t sound twisted, I don’t know what does.
The book is a possession tale of sorts as it follows people who have had Near-Death Experiences and come back showing some extreme changes. They become walking, violent nightmares.
“The Returning” #1 drops on March 12, 2014.
February 12, 2014 – Los Angeles, CA – Award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios is excited to announce the March debut of THE RETURNING, a four-issue limited series that gives near-death experiences a horrifying new twist. Writer Jason Starr (Wolverine Max, The Chill) and artist Andrea Mutti (Conan, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) create a world that’s part Carrie, part Hellblazer, part Crossed, and steeped in a mystery that will keep readers guessing until the end.
“Jason and Andrea have crafted a smart, beautifully drawn thriller in THE RETURNING,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “It’s dark, intense, and sets up a compelling mystery around near-death experiences. I’ve been a fan of Jason Starr for years, ever since I read his novels from Hard Case Crime. He and Andrea Mutti are terrific storytellers, and if you’re not already a fan of their work, I think you will be by the end of this series.”
WHY WE LOVE IT: We can’t get enough innovative mashups of some of our favorite genres: Fantasy, Horror, and Mystery. Plus, we’re fascinated with the science of NDE’s!
WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT: Award-winning novelist Jason Starr (Wolverine Max, The Chill) and artist Andrea Mutti (Conan, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) deliver a gripping but deeply human drama set in an uncertain world.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT: It’s the near future, and some people who have had Near-Death Experiences have come back “changed.” They exhibit extreme behavioral changes, becoming increasingly paranoid and violent, and no one knows why. People who have had NDE’s fall immediately under suspicion, and in some cases, are murdered by justice-seeking vigilantes. It is in this world where Beth, a quiet high school student with a bright future, will learn just how quickly friends and family will turn on her when she has the bad luck of surviving the worst night of her life…
THE RETURNING #1 arrives in comic shops on March 12th with a cover price of $3.99 under Diamond order code JAN140992. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one! It’s also available for order directly from boom-studios.com.
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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