Chapter 4: Spotlight #2: HIVE
I always viewed the worst wasps in the world to be Parasitoid wasps. They were always a nasty little thing. I'm not an expert on them, but I knew the basics. They would hover over their environment, and a little impulse in their head would help them target the juiciest, plumpest prey they could find. Then it stabs a target in the literal back, laying demonic little eggs that would soon hatch. The prey would have the unfortunate fate of bearing witness for the newborns to hatch inside of them. And after they do the prey experiences having every fiber of their being feasted on. As more and more gets devoured, the immune system gets shut down, leaving the poor unfortunate soul to lay there for hours or even days in lying anguish like a living corpse unable to die until all is consumed. And when the little larvae come out to live their lives, they know on some level that their very birth causes death. But then I read this webtoon, and I realized that the real deadliest wasps are the giant ones that turn you into hybrids. Welcome dear readers as we decided to spin the spotlight on the horror, sci-fi, fantasy series called HIVE by Kyusam Kim and his assistants Saemi Baek, Eunkwon Lee, Eunsuk Lee, Hyejin Ahn and Aijin Lee.
Summary
HIVE is a world where over the past couple of years, oxygen has been in high supply (hence the fantasy aspect). Contrary to popular belief, a powerful military organization known as Xanadu viewed this as the slow collapse of humanity. So naturally, to only way to stop such a plan was to unleash a species called the Black Wasps on every major city in the world. Yes, their endgame to save the world was in actuality to let loose a species of giant intelligent killer wasps to let humanity evolve into something new. And now that I say this out loud, I have to say is really? This is the only plan that could save the world as we know it? Not doing what we've been doing and fucking up the environment or an ark like Noah? Just jump to giant-ass bugs? Okay, then.
With the bugs taking over an ordinary man named Eun sung lee attempts to find his family across miles of post-apocalyptic South Korea.
Characters
Eun sung Lee: a determined man with a sharp ingenuity and a background in the military Eun sung might be built for this bug eat man world, but he certainly doesn't like to live in it. His goal is simple: survive the bug apocalypse and find his family while being as moral as possible. Many people in the fan base criticize our post-apocalyptic protagonist for his choices. But I respect him for having the courage to keep his morality and still keep his group safe from all the dangers they encounter. Much of his struggle is trying to keep the hope of his family being alive as they are the only thing that keeps him going.
Dog-man: Easily the audience favorite the Dogman or Gramps for short is a man who gives absolutely zero fucks. And I'm talking about the lives of his enemies or from taking shit from just about anybody. Gramps is ironically an agile badass that hangs around eun sung Lee so that he can use his ingenuity and determination to help become kings of the new Korea. Merciless with an intellect anyone who crosses this old dog will learn the new trick of suicide.
Ji eun Seong: A co-worker of Lee who always harbored a crush on him Seong often a character of contradictions. She loves Lee for his determination and kindness but will still let her morality shine through. Her arc is all about gaining power and how she battles against her morality.
Overview
I have a mixed opinion on the art style of Hive. It's very good at giving a grungy feel to the world around it. However, I find that to make certain characters and locations look flat. Still, though, it is incredibly effective at what hive does best, and that is god questioningly graphic horror.
Every new addition to this nightmare hellscape has me screaming no. You thought zombies and mutant madmen were bad, naw man bugs got you beat. The wasps of HIVE can reproduce incredibly fast, highly intelligent, and can turn humans into terrifying bug hybrids. Combine that with humans, and we have a perfect cesspool of trials for, however, our heroes to overcome. As far as villains go, most of them are essentially guys who are slimy enough to do anything to survive alongside the bugs though I do wish that there were more Negan-esqe villains in the show.
The Good Stuff
The Characters and how they work with the constant shitty situations thrown at them our one of the webtoon's greatest aspects. Plus, I find the action to be hilarious at times with the fact they would spend hundreds of bullets and grenades and never run out. Plus, the way that the bugs adapt to new horrors always interests me. The story always knew how to build up this new world and bring some other interesting characters I don't mention here.
Epilogue
HIVE is a really good thriller that might have a sequel/prequel in its near future. I hope I get to shine a light on it again someday, and I hope you check it out. Next time I am going to sink my teeth in the vampire WEBTOON Noblesse.
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