Comics
Monkeybrain Monday Review: “Art Monster” # 1
While Monkeybrain comics may not specialize in horror, they do specialize in quality comic books. For those of you looking to expand your palette this is “Monkeybrain Monday” showcasing some of the digital titles this smaller publisher has to offer.
Jeremy Holt is about to become a household name with numerous exciting projects in development. “Art Monster” is one of the few horror books the publisher offers. So naturally it’s the perfect fit for today’s feature. The story follows Victor Stein, a listless art college student who has been lost in his educational institution for seven years. Through a macabre voiceover Victor ponders the question of artistic innovation to ghastly results.
WRITTEN BY: Jeremy Holt
ART BY: Francesa Ciregia
PUBLISHER: Monkeybrain Comics
PRICE: $0.99
GET IT HERE: http://www.monkeybraincomics.com/
Anyone who has been to art school knows the place is filled with weird people. This strange place gathers a society pulled from different houses of inspiration. The effect can be alienating for those who don’t have it all figured out. Which is exactly Victor’s problem. He ponders the line of innovation: the difference between not going far enough and going too far.
This is all brought to life by a grim voiceover that amounts to a very telling analysis of the artistic process. Brought to life by Francesa Ciregia’s dark and bold art. Contrast is this black and white books best friend. The blacks motivate most panels and special attention is paid to shadows. They are often closing in on the subject of a frame and create a claustrophobic look that adds to the vulnerability of the narrative.
Naturally the reason Holt ponders the question of going too far is so he can take Victor into a dark place with a moral high ground. It’s the type of excellent character premise that fueled stories like “Re-Animator.” To push the boundaries, to try something different, to enrich the medium we must break down taboos.
There is an assortment of supporting players who briefly introduce themselves in this debut. Holt takes the little time he has to suggest who they are and how they will ultimately influence Victor.
While the book only ponders this question the real disgusting stuff has yet to come. The hints of the horrific art on the horizon are enough to fuel this exciting read. For anyone who has even been lost as an “artist” or has contemplating how to contribute to the ever-expanding canvas of art history than this book will surely resonate with you. It’s a wonderfully written look into being lost in art brought to life in a dark and brooding style.
Rating: 3.5/5 Skulls.
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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