Comics
[Comic Review] “Oh, Killstrike” #1 Channels 90’s Nostalgia
“Oh, Killstrike” #1 has an interesting premise, a 90’s superhero somehow enters our world with only vengeance on his agenda. The greatest obstacle standing before this comic is whether or not it’ll grow beyond 90’s superhero nostalgia. So far in the first issue it hasn’t overstayed its welcome but hopefully it can grow into something more in the coming issues.
WRITTEN BY: Max Bemis
ART BY: Logan Faerber
PUBLISHER: BOOM! Studios
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: 20 May 2015
Our protagonist, Jared, was a hardcore superhero fan in the 90’s. Happily gobbling it all up in its time but now he’s all about D.I.Y. indie comics and more importantly he’s a new father. So when his old #1 issue of the fictional 90’s comic gem Killstrike finally sells for $100,000 online he’s ecstatic. His wife doesn’t full understand at first, which acts as a great exposition device as he swiftly brings her and the reader up to date on superhero comics during the 90’s. Then the only step left is to go back to his mother’s house and collect his old issue.
This is where the fun beings and the issue really kicks off. As soon as Jared finds the issue Killstrike himself leaps out from the page screaming “VENGEANCE!” He looks wickedly 90’s, sporting grotesquely bulging muscles, teenie tiny feet, tribal tattoos and pouches for every season. While his look is spot on his dialogue and actions feel a bit at odds with the meathead they’re trying to sell him as. He comes off more like a lost puppy at times than the relentless killing machine we’re told he is.
Even though it comes off a little strange in its own way it makes him endearing. He’s in a world that’s totally foreign to him, one that requires a bit less vengeance in day-to-day life than he’s accustomed to. The promise of Killstrike in Manhattan for the next issue definitely has my hopes up as this issues he only really interacts with Jared. Seeing the world at large react to him will be quite the treat I’m sure.
Oh, Killstrike is a solid first outing for a book that’s true potential will take a few more issues to fully evaluate. I can see it becoming a rad late life coming of age story but it could also flounder under too much 90’s nostalgia.
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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