Featuring new artwork by Mike Norton, a new cover by Wallace McBride, and an introduction by Stephen King!
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.
Praise for Joe Bob Briggs:
“Joe Bob Briggs is a lone hero, standing athwart cinema history, yelling, ‘Don’t forget about Al Adamson!’”—Patton Oswalt (Minor Threats, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire)
“Five hub caps to Joe Bob Briggs for his everlasting commitment to drive-in movies.” -Julie Corman, film producer (Chopping Mall, Summer School Teachers)
“I’ve been inspired by Joe Bob since subscribing to ‘We Are the Weird’ back in the 90’s. He’s always pointing toward insightful tentacles (or testicles) of entertainment and opening minds to an appreciation of unusual films. If you look closely, you can see the academic within his absurdity.”—David Gordon Green (Halloween Kills, The Exorcist: Believer)
“Joe Bob is the Henri Langlois of exploitation films. He’s already a cinema saint, and if I were you, I’d pray for his guidance.”—John Waters (Pink Flamingos)
“Our film entered the market at a time of booming home video products. There was no star name value so, both HBO and Showtime threw the films on in the middle of the night; but Joe Bob got the joke. There is hardly a star whose name is more recognizable throughout the world than Playboy Centerfold. As the Drive-In Movie critic, he interviewed Andy, me and eventually the Playboy centerfolds on his show. His support resulted in the next year, both Showtime and HBO were scheduling Sidaris films on or around prime time to compete with each other. Warner Bros picked up the films as ‘James Bond meets Baywatch.’ Licensing increased, sales increased and to this day, support has resulted in Synapse committing to 4K upgrade of the films. Thank you, Joe Bob.”—Arlene Sidaris (Hard Hunted, Day of the Warrior)
“The Last Drive-In is a place to celebrate the under-celebrated with like-minded folks who appreciate the popcorn-fueled fare that, more often than not, tends to be shunned by the mainstream.”—Fangoria
“Joe Bob Briggs champions horror fans.”—Horror Obsessive
“Joe Bob is obviously great. Even 20 years later, he still has that twinkle in his eye that shows how much he loves talking about what others would consider drive-in trash.”—Geek’d Out “Not only is Joe Bob Briggs an incredible horror icon, he has single-handedly brought the horror community together with his return as horror host on The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs.”—Pop Horror