“JOE BOB GOES TO THE DRIVE-IN” RETURNS TO PRINT WITH A NEWLY UPDATED AND EXPANDED EDITION

 

Featuring new artwork by Mike Norton, a new cover by Wallace McBride, and an introduction by Stephen King!

MILWAUKIE, Ore., (February 14, 2025)— Dark Horse Books presents Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In, an updated and expanded art book-sized hardcover edition of the long out-of-print collection written by cult film host, author, and actor Joe Bob Briggs (The Last Drive-In, Profoundly Disturbing: Shocking Movies that Changed History). This expanded and newly designed edition includes a new cover by Wallace McBride, interior artwork illustrated by Mike Norton (Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1957– From Below) and colored by Bill Crabtree (Subgenre), and an introduction by Stephen King.

 

Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In features Briggs’ first columns for The Dallas Times Herald, essays on beloved horror classics like Basket Case, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and The Evil Dead, his famous B-movie reviews, fan letters and his replies, and Briggs’ adventures as the world’s foremost expert on drive-ins. This hardcover book is presented in a prose format with illustrations based on the text interspersed throughout the text.

 

“I’m thrilled that someone still cares about these little pieces dashed off for a daily newspaper four decades ago and was amazed that they were reprinted in book form the first time,” said Briggs. “To have them now memorialized and illustrated by a prestige outfit like Dark Horse is mind-boggling. They come from a time when the mainstream media hated what I was doing and many organizations actively tried to cancel me, but today they seem so tame that nobody will believe that. I hope all the genre experts of the current day will regard them as the primitive pre-history of pop-culture film criticism.”

 

“It’s a real honor to be able to participate in a Joe Bob Briggs book,” added Senior Editor Daniel Chabon. “I grew up with MonsterVision when it was on TNT, have been an avid fan of The Last Drive-In since it debuted on Shudder, and went to see Joe Bob’s ‘How Rednecks Saved Hollywood’ when he was on tour. This long out-of-print book is truly something special and essential for all Mutant Fam and more! This editor says, ‘Check it out!’”

 

Even more horror aficionados and The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs special guests have joined in on the excitement:

 

“Joe Bob’s Monstervision was the gateway for so many of us horror hounds and monster kids, cinephiles and schlock junkies. Once fans peeled back the full-tilt fun of his presentation style and humor, there was an aptitude of film appreciation and philosophy that clobbered us all over the head with astonishment and awe. Having his words and history lovingly curated into this collection is a marvelous gift for movie lovers. Pairing it with Dark Horse is the icing on the bloody cake.”—David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil, The Life of Chuck)

 

“Joe Bob has been a hero of mine since his MonsterVision days. As someone who was practically raised at the Drive-In myself, I speak in the same celluloid soaked language as this book. I am very happy to say it is the ultimate guide to the world of cult film and the people who love it. It’s hilarious, intelligent, exhaustive and always eloquent in expositing the three B’s: Blood, Breasts, and Beasts! It is a must-read for anyone in ‘The Mutant Family,’ and for all the film freaks like me who have an undying love for pure Sinema. All Hail The Book of Briggs!”—Joe Lynch, Director (Suitable Flesh, Mayhem)

 

Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In (200 pages, hardcover, 9″ x 12″) will be available in comic shops and bookstores on October 15, 2025. It is now available to preorder at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Things from Another World, and your local comic shop and bookstore for $54.99.

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