About 20 years ago, when the 'I Really Like Scary Things' (무서운 게 딱 좋아) series was at its peak, the same publisher dropped a book called 'Devil's Virus.' The main plot is about humanity facing extinction due to the Ebola virus. Just looking at the cover, you can tell it's gory as hell, and the story itself was way too complex for kids to easily wrap their heads around. Looking back, I have no idea how this got a 'children's comic' label. Let's take a look at the content...
The story kicks off with a group of medical students arriving in Zaire for medical volunteering. They talk about how the area is dangerous so they should watch their backs, but they're there for a good cause so they'll do their best... stuff like that.
But then, Zaire rebels attack and the whole group gets brutally massacred. Only one guy manages to survive and runs for his life.
When the survivor reaches a certain point, the rebels get spooked and haul ass in the other direction.
Yup, that place was an Ebola outbreak zone. But since the MC doesn't know that, he starts searching the village for help.
The Ebola virus is depicted like a literal demon. Obviously, you can't see viruses with the naked eye, but it's drawn like that for the readers' convenience.
The MC assumes the victims were killed by the rebels' atrocities, not the virus.
The guy vows to expose their crimes to the world, totally unaware that he's already infected. A few days later...
Suddenly, blood starts gushing out of every single orifice on the man's body. The Ebola has fully kicked in and his organs are literally melting.
A reporter thinks he's caught a massive scoop and starts yapping away in front of the camera, but... nope. He gets infected immediately and his death is broadcast live to the world.
The comic basically follows this virus—which has a nearly 100% fatality rate and zero incubation period—as it spreads globally. Humanity is basically wiped out. They finally develop a vaccine at the very end... but on his way back, the MC gets infected by a sample left in the lab. Realizing he's doomed when he starts bleeding, he rushes on a motorcycle, hits a speed bump, crashes, and arrives covered in blood. When he finds the female lead and a large family, he holds out a syringe saying it's a 'one-person dose of serum.' The FL cries, asking why he even brought it instead of using it on himself. Meanwhile, the large family descends into chaos—one member steals the serum and the others chase after them to survive. The MC tells the FL he loves her and gives her the *real* hidden serum. She gives it to her granddaughter, and the MC and FL die together, hoping to meet in the next life.
The granddaughter, who got the shot, wanders the streets past her family members who died from the virus, ending with her looking at bright sunlight. Ironically, the virus only ends because humanity is practically extinct... Even the ending is zero hope, all gloom.
"Users are reminiscing about the collective childhood trauma caused by this 'kids' comic that was basically a gore-fest. While some are still shook by the 'everyone dies' ending, others are feeling nostalgic and want to find a place to re-read it."
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