A Slasher That’s All Heart: The Summer is Ended and We Are Not Yet Saved by Joey Comeau

by Ben Arzate

Martin goes to a Bible camp while his mom works on her dream gig of doing makeup for a
horror movie. What he doesn’t expect is that he’s going to face something there scarier than any
movie he’s ever seen. Meanwhile, his mother keeps sending him emails, weaving tall tales of her
stay in Toronto working on the movie.

The Summer is Ended and We Are Not Yet Saved began as a short novella called Bible Camp
Bloodbath. It was later expanded and published as a novel by ChiZine. With ChiZine’s collapse,
Joey Comeau has independently re-released the novel.

Joey Comeau, while probably best known as the writer of the webcomic A Softer World, is also
the author of several novels and short stories. Several in the genre of horror. The stories are often
weird, borderline surreal, and he often returns to the theme of families falling apart by forces
beyond their control. The Summer is Ended… is a mostly straightforward slasher story, though it
bends the genre tropes in unusual ways. It is, however, very heavily focused on the relationship
between Martin and his mother.

I’d actually read this book once before. At the time, I didn’t consider it Comeau’s best, but I
enjoyed it much more on the second read. While not as unique and inventive as some of
Comeau’s other works, especially now that there are many meta-commentary novels about
slashers, it’s still an interesting take on the genre.

The slasher elements actually don’t come in until late in the book. Much of it is the story of
Martin’s bond with his mother, and having to leave her for the first time in a while, so she can
work her dream job of doing makeup and effects for a sequel to one of their favorite horror
films. Martin volunteers to go to a Bible camp when he can’t find anywhere else to stay while
she’s gone, despite the fact that neither he nor his mom are religious.

Martin, despite not being the most socially adept child, does make friends at camp and even has
his first kiss with a girl he takes a liking to. It’s a touching story of childhood, up until the
murders begin. While the book doesn’t hold back on the gore, and even leans into camp (ha!)
with how the killer revels in his actions, the book still has a heavy sense of tragedy. In many
ways, the book is a twisted coming-of-age story rather than a slasher.

While there are references to horror films in the book, for the most part, it’s very subtle about its
references and commentary on horror and slasher formulas. Martin’s mother sends emails to him
that many would consider weird and terrifying. Martin, however, takes comfort with them when
he’s most frightened. It serves as an affecting look at how fictional horror can be cathartic and
comforting to those facing very real terrors.

The Summer is Ended and We Are Not Yet Saved is a horror novel with a lot of heart. It uses,
parodies, and turns slasher conventions into a story about family and childhood tragedy. I’m glad I had a second chance to read this novel, and I definitely recommend people pick up the new
edition.

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