COMICS WARLOCKS

I just wrapped up reading all five issues of In Bloom, and we have to say… this one hits differently.

In Bloom
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Michael W. Conrad
Artist: John J. Pearson
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Release date: December 2024 – June 2025

In Bloom is written by Michael W. Conrad, who’s also behind the terrifying Plague House series. He clearly knows how to build a horror world that’s deeply unsettling but still grounded in emotion. The stunning art is by John J. Pearson, who previously worked on The Infernals. His visuals here are intense, textured, and disturbing in the best way. Together, they created something that’s part horror, part sci-fi, and part deeply human.

After the mysterious event known as “the bloom,” people begin to transform. Some develop new physical traits, some seem to change from the inside out, and others claim to connect with strange new intelligences. It’s not a virus or a disease, it’s something stranger. Something more permanent. Agent Spears is brought in to investigate a series of murders where every victim has one thing in common: they’re all bloomed. While society struggles to adjust to this new reality, strange cults form, families make impossible choices, and even entertainment adapts. What starts as a murder investigation ends up being a much bigger story about transformation, connection, and whether being human still means the same thing.

I really loved this series. The concept is smart and terrifying. The idea of humanity slowly shifting into something else is scary in a quiet, creeping way. It’s body horror, but not just for shock; it’s deeply emotional. We especially liked how the main character struggles with what happened to his wife and daughter. The worldbuilding is amazing. Things like families “giving away” their elders to be destroyed, or reality TV about bloom mutations, are such great details. One highlight for us was a hilarious and horrifying TV show called The Bloom House where contestants get immunity in the competition if they’ve mutated… Dark humor at its finest. And those haunting panels of bloomed bodies? We’ll be thinking about those for a while. The ending also really landed for us. Without spoiling anything, the final issue is very heavy and quite emotional.

In Bloom is weird, gross, fascinating, and honestly kind of beautiful. If you’re into horror that makes you think as much as it makes you squirm, this is one to check out. The trade paperback will be out in November 2025!