On April 21st, Infantoms arrives, a youth horror graphic novel by Jim Bishop. The premise is unsettling: entities called Infantoms feed on the vital energy of children. To achieve this, they possess their parents, transforming them into monstrous versions that chase their own children. The story follows a group of young people who must unite to survive.
Monster design and the visual narrative of trauma 😱
From a technical and developmental point of view, the interest lies in how the author constructs the visual metaphor. The design of the parent-monsters seeks not only to scare, but to physically represent the rupture of the family bond. The narrative uses the language of horror to speak about vulnerability and resilience. The page composition and use of color likely intensify the feeling of a domestic nightmare, a graphic resource aimed at connecting with a teenage audience.
Is your dad scolding you? He could be an Infantom 👀
After reading the synopsis, one reviews parental behaviors with new suspicion. Is your dad grumbling because you left dirty dishes? Normal behavior. Does your mom sport tentacles and red eyes while whispering that she wants your vital essence? Then you might have a problem. This work reminds us that, deep down, adolescence was already a survival genre. Now, with monsters included.