IDW Publishing 2015
Written by Brandon Seifert
Illustrated by Menton3
Years ago, scientist Seth Brundle had a horrific accident when he tried to use his newly invented teleportation device and became a human/fly hybrid. His almost-human son, Martin, has continued the search for a cure, but those efforts may have led to something much, much worse than the original tragedy with several dozen people exposed to the diseased blood of a hybrid. Now, Martin and the others are under quarantine, and some are showing signs of infection…
We just don’t get horror stories like this anymore and that’s the shame of it all. Nowadays it seems that the more gore they can deliver the more they want to achieve instead real horror comes from the unknown and something that is in the realm of possibility even if it seems fantastic in nature. Brandon has done something special here and taken the movies and evolved it to the here and now and with Menton3’s illustrations have made the worthy of any midnight horror showing or drive-in movie.
Martin is such a classic good looking movie star type guy with all the insecurities that come with what his father did and what he is without ever feeling smart enough or good enough to reverse the process and remove the stain from his system and instead he’s been infecting others and spreading this plague now in a wholesale manner. Even while quarantined pretty much everyone including the guards are being transformed into something new and deadly.
Like with any virus each generation seems to grow, mutate and expand upon what it once was and we see that here in many ways. Menton3’s vision of what these creatures look like is horrifying and the stuff of nightmares which is damn perfect considering the nature of the story. This goes so far beyond what was and into a new realm of what is. We’ve come such a long way in imagining what a hybrid or infestation into our DNA would look like that in all honesty is some of the creepiest stuff around. With all the genetic manipulation being done around the world today forget the zombie virus i’m gonna be on the lookout for these fly people.
Part of me is incredibly fascinated by Martin and his innocent looks surrounded by these men in the full body suits with the Doctor Who style face masks and the whole idea that he’s just still trying to cure everyone. His attitude however is one seemingly of defeat and surrender and doesn’t know how to really handle what’s happening around him. Part of me thinks they want him to work his magic to create a hybrid type soldier and are reticent to destroy them though with the events of this issue that may be their only option.
All I know is Brandon has brought back a very classic old school horror feel story enveloped in Menton3’s unique style of artwork creating something special. This is how horror can be most effective through the audience's mind and imagination not by showcasing nonstop terror or gore. The boys have nailed this and taken the franchise to a whole new level of awesome!