Webtoon Spotlight

Spotlight#110: School Bus Graveyard

Ever wanted to get your pants crept off? If so, we've got a spicy new webtoon here today: School Bus Graveyard by Red.

Summary

High school is rough—ungodly amounts of studying, piles of work, and people. You have to meet so many new and frustrating people. Or at least, that's what Ashlyn has to contend with as she gets shacked up with five other students. Initially, she had nothing to do with them, but after accidentally entering a haunted house, the kids realize that they need each other now more than ever. Because for seven hours each night, the six are transferred to a hellish world plagued by demonic creatures. And if they don't find out the truth of this sickness, lest they get consumed by the hellish hands awaiting them.

Characters

Ashlyn: The group leader, Ashlyn, starts as tough, antisocial, easily annoyed, and resourceful. She seems to have a heightened awareness of the phantoms, implying a heritage that may be beyond her. Either way, through their shared experiences, Ashlyn realized whether she liked it or not, she had just obtained some friends.

Aiden: The resident wild child of the group Aiden is a rich kid who almost has a devilish smile. He's highly extroverted, always speaks what's on his mind, and is stubbornly annoying. He is an unchained thrill-seeker at heart, but he can get serious when he wants to.

Ben: Aiden's cousin, Ben, is the gentle giant of the group. Despite never speaking, he is a kind and helpful person who looks out for the people in his care. Unfortunately, his silence betrays a dark past.

Logan: The timid nerd of the group, Logan is the second most quiet next to Ben. He is observant, intelligent but easily scared and quick to panic. However, with the unfortunate circumstances, it seems those traits have to be quickly set aside if he's going to survive.

Tyler: The group's negative nancy, Tyler is often the quickest to challenge someone's path. He's very confrontational, often cutting away at other's people flaws. Though this trait of his gets better over time.

Taylor: Tyler's twin sister, Taylor, is the heart and soul of the team. She's quick to comfort and take responsibility, always saying the right thing in tough times to calm things.

Overview

It's been a while since an ongoing webtoon that barely clears the 30-chapter rule has managed to enrapture me this quickly. The closest comparison I have for this webtoon is if Stranger Things and Walking Dead had a very messed up baby. Which I think makes it one of the more unique webtoons despite being so new.

One of my favorite things about School Bus Graveyard is the character dynamics. While writing groups of characters, I've learned that being on the same team doesn't mean they are a hive mind. The series very much reminds us that the group is a bunch of confused and scared kids pushed to the limits of what they don't understand. Whether for plans or casual conversation, we get time for the groups to disagree, bicker or even argue about the best ways to go.

This makes the series' supernatural premise feel much more grounded. These aren't a group of hardened soldiers. These are a random assortment of kids that barely know each other but have to quickly. Which makes their interlocking dynamics and genuine moments of togetherness hit harder.

I also really like the art. The more muted colors and almost scraggly colors do well to make the characters look unique while still fitting the dark setpieces. The art is at its best with the phantoms, the unsettling creatures that serve as the main antagonistic force. They are creepy, mysterious and shocking deadly making them a prominent threat despite the character's growing adaptability towards them. The added horror music with certain tracks certainly doesn't help matters.

Speaking of them this is series is as much a mystery as it is a horror. The interestingly ethereal nature of the Shadow dimension instantly creates rules and complications the group has to plan around. The difficulty rises further when the kids try to mount an advantage underneath the eyes of their parents. Even only 36 chapters in, I'm already bursting for questions and theories, especially with a more malicious force clearly at play. Such mysteries and new factors I'll probably update when the times comes.

Finally, probably the last thing I want to mention is the humor. While touching on the thriller genre School Bus Graveyard can be pretty funny a lot of the time. However, I won't lie and say that mostly comes from Aiden. Either way, it does good to alleviate tension and keep the series from taking itself to seriously.

Epilogue

All in all, School Bus Graveyard should get put on your radar. It's a fun ride that hasn't even reached its peak yet as a story. A peak I will happily enjoy as I'll probably update this spotlight several times over. But if you wish to move on, don't worry, I'll have a very special spotlight planned for you.