There is no denying the connection between hormones and horror films. With several films focusing on teenagers and young adults experimenting with illicit and explicit activities such as sex and drugs, at times they often seem more like sermons and cautionary tales than simple popcorn cinema. You also can’t ignore that the genre’s gimmick exploits a portion of humanity’s basic genetics – fright causing fight or flight. Over at Dark Horse Comics, Cullen Bunn and Danny Luckert use a return to the universe established in their Beyond Mortal series to remind readers of Roosevelt’s famous phrase. Because if anything epitomizes fear itself it’s a good Jumpscare.
Jumpscare #1
Script: Cullen Bunn
Art: Danny Lockert
Letters: Joshua Reed
Allie Perry is like a lot of young adults: rebellious. The eldest daughter in a conservative household, Allie’s existence contradicts all her parents ideals. For evidence Jumpscare offers readers what even she admits is both the obligatory and overused flashback. Here we get to see an average Sunday morning in the Perry home. As the rest of the family prepares to head out for church service, Allie indulges in the breakfast of cannibals – a bowl of “Cereal Killer”. When pressed by her parents that her outfit – which consists of a black tank top, jeans and spike wristbands – isn’t what her family considers Sunday best, Allie is quick to admit that’s okay because she isn’t going to church. Luckert’s choice of attire for Allie’s younger sister Rebecca – all white and a cross necklace – is a contrast to the series heroine and adds to the child-parent conflict.
With this interaction Jumpscare highlights another scary movie scenario – the lack of freedom most teens agonize about while living under their parent’s roof. However, Bunn’s choice of abilities for Allie’s alter ego offer the heroine a great deal of agency. Jumpscare’s origin begins after an evening out enjoying a horror film with some of her friends. As she walks home – alone – Allie’s path leads her past a group of overly aggressive men.
What starts as another “horror cliche”, including Allie eventually running into a dead end alley, is transformed by the arrival of an Elder God. Not only does this encounter create a bridge between Jumpscare and Beyond Mortal, but it also imbues Allie with an extraordinary new ability. Allie can conjure any weapon she remembers seeing in a scary movie. Given the imaginative items that the masters of horror have placed into the hands of the many monsters and maniacs who have graced the silver screen, Allie now has an unlimited arsenal at her disposal.
With her choice of outfit, not to mention her attitude and antics, some audience members may associate Jumpscare with another vigilante/anti-hero. However, instead of breaking the 4th wall, this series finds its own identity by breaching the 3rd. Although Jumpscare #1 sticks with the traditional tools of destruction, such as a chainsaw and weed eater, Allie could just as easily summon a carrot, cotton candy ray or even Christine to battle ordinary and otherworldly evil alike.
Dark Horse’s new series not only extends Bunn’s story from Beyond Mortal, it is a commentary on some critical complaints and components of the scary movie. This includes using mash-up names of several real world films we’ve come to love to the saturated, red corn syrup splashes that Luckert uses to showcase Jumpscare in action. Similar to what Schwarzeneggers’s Last Action Hero did with that genre, Jumpscare #1 offers the horror film a fresh feel with a furious and funny final girl.
Score: 8.9