REVIEW: 'MADE IN KOREA' #4 by Jeremy Holt and George Schall

 It's all led to this and everything will change for Jesse going forward. 

MADE IN KOREA #4

Writer: Jeremy Holt

Artist: George Schall

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: August 25, 2021

Cover Price: $3.99

PROXY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND OR RESPOND TO YOUR PROMPT

To fix issues with your Proxy not responding:

*  Make sure you're using the power adapter that was included with your child.

*  Check that your child isn't muted.

*  Speak naturally and clearly.

*  Rephrase your prompt.

*  Try, "Did you hear me?"

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

The last issue of 'Made in Korea' had readers holding their breath after seeing exactly what Jesse's new "friends" had planned. The two boys who surprisingly befriended her had ulterior motives unbeknownst to the naive and lonely Proxy android. Even a sentient A.I. being could feel the horrible isolation that comes with being made to feel different and foreign. It was that emotion the boys fed on and used to take advantage of her, pretending to be her friend, and training her to be a killer in a plot to engage in a school shooting. She had no idea this was the plan until it was too late. 

The reveal in issue three about the boys' plan to shoot up the school had a chilling effect. When Covid-19 cases began to ebb, and lockdowns were lifted many school districts across the country scheduled opening classes again. One of the realities of being remotely taught from home, kids didn't have to worry about being shot. Unfortunately, in a twisted sign of "normalcy," school shootings began as soon as schools opened up again. For the United States, the proliferation of guns and lax gun laws have made it the #1 nation in the world in gun deaths. So this storyline struck a nerve and a sense of anxiety and terror reading what was teased in the last issue. 

Indeed, those fears were realized in issue four although Jeremy Holt and George Schall were thoughtful enough to keep the students' deaths mostly off-panel. It was an eerie callback to attacks we've seen over and over again in the news with chilling dialogue taken from a real incident. It was all too familiar and so perhaps the issue should come with a warning because it could be sensitive to some people. Thankfully, Jesse realizes what's happening and tries to do the right thing. 

Schall does a good job of minimizing the violence on the panel and really focuses on Jesse's attempts to save the day. It's the saving grace of a dark and sobering storyline. All the drama between the parents and the programmer from Korea kind of goes by the wayside with the weight of the action. It'll be interesting to see what the fallout will be going into issue five. 

'Made in Korea' has been a smart and enthralling series thus far. This chilling chapter takes on some all-too-real violence that could divide readers but it is handled as delicately as possible. It certainly changes everything for Jesse, her parents, and the programmer. Holt doesn't shy away from telling a powerful, poignant, ugly aspect of American life through this story. It's sobering and painful to witness but ultimately hard to look away from.