Comics
[Comic Review] “Grindhouse: Drive In, Bleed Out” #4 Is Gore Soaked Mayham
“Grindhouse Drive In Bleed Out” returns this month with the rousing second and final part of “Blood Lagoon.” Part 1 may have been a bit on the tame side as far as De Campi’s Grindhouse comics go but that sluggishness has been made up for in full here. Part 2 is hardcore as its plowing forward at breakneck pace. Death and dismemberment are everywhere as the giant mutant ticks sweep through the town creating a wave of mutilation. These viscous ticks rip the locals to shreds like they were paper. The only hope of salvation for the townspeople are Garcia and her rag tag group of rebels.
WRITTEN BY: Alex De Campi
ART BY: Christopher Peterson
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: April 22, 2015
Our heroes begin the issue in dire straits, Garcia is covered in pint sized flesh eating ticks and Wayne’s homophobic human garbage father is berating him. Then in one of the multiple highlights of this issue Wayne stands up to his father. He lets him have it, everything he’s wanted to say his entire life. Everything I’m sure anyone with father issues stemming from sexual orientation has dreamed of. It’s glorious and sets Wayne down a path to hardcore badassery.
Blood Lagoon hits another insane high point during the climax that sees Garcia diving into the literal Blood Lagoon alone and in the buff to assault the cause of the monstrous ticks. Concurrently in a ravaged liquor store Wayne leads the rest of the crew against the endless hordes of ticks. Garcia’s mission in particular is a visual buffet, the rich colours of the Blood Lagoon are a treat. Everything is drenched in red, quite literally, with a beautiful neon blue glow coming from the monsters.
My only gripe from the issue is a plot thread that seems to go nowhere. It’s set up that Wayne’s father has a lot of guns and tracer rounds which Garcia states would be useful against the ticks, but then none of it ever comes into play. It’s awkward but doesn’t ruin the issue.
Blood Lagoon Part 2 is a Grindhouse book through and through. All of part 1’s borderline tedious build up pays off in spades, resulting in one of the most uplifting and fun Grindhouse tale to date. Seeing Deputy Garcia on the page again is an absolute treat, that offers a tantalizing taste of grindhouse sequels. Let’s hope De Campi has even more up her sleeve as the series continues.
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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