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Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #1:
Writer: Michael Walsh
Artist: Michael Walsh and Toni Mari Griffin
Cover by: Michael Walsh
Publisher: Skybound Entertainment and Image Comics
Dr. Frankenstein is a madman possessed with the idea that he can play god and bring the dead back to life. He and his assistant Fritz have sought to rob graves to build the perfect specimen.
However, unbeknownst to them, they have chosen to rob the grave of father who left behind a grieving son who will not let them go so quietly.
The Art:
The cover of this comic instantly jumps out to the reader’s eye, bursting with colors and welcoming entry into this classic franchise. However, Michael and Toni craft a dark and mysterious journey by turning into a dark, rainy, and gloomy world. The panels are wrought with black, purple, and deep blues as the details of a graveyard and then transition into Dr. Frankensteins experimental dungeon.
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The lettering crafting cracks of lightning bolts helps bring this artwork to life in an astonishing manner. There are two one page shots that could not be more opposite of one another yet, both hit equally as hard in terms of artistic storytelling.
One final note is how impressive Frankenstein’s Monster is drawn. As we meet the creature you see him behind the shadows with a sadness to his eyes and is drawn with powerful emotions. The comic ends in an unsettling way with the yellow teeth of Fritz left haunting us.
The Writing:
This story is one of loss and grieving, as the main perspective is from a child mourning his father’s death. It sets the story up in a powerful way, with a child as the driving force behind this take on Frankenstein.
Michael writes Fritz and Dr. Frankenstein with a clear line in the sand as the Doctor is clearly mad in his journey to play god. Leaving this story on a cliffhanger instantly makes me need the second issue.
Overall:
Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #1 is a powerful entry into this world of classic monsters that Image has been crafting. This story is full of intrigue and emotion that will surely leave the reader left in awe.
9.5/10
I’m Matt, one half of the podcast Hops ‘Geek’ News, where we discuss comics, movies, and TV shows. For more reviews and links to our episodes head to http://linktr.ee/hopsgeeknews
