Skybound‘s line of books based on Universal’s classic monster movies has top-tier creators and unique approaches to these iconic films. But the currently running Universal Monsters: Frankenstein, which debuts issue #3 today, is heads and tails above the rest. Not only that, it stands as one of the best retellings of the Frankenstein story in any medium — not just comics.
Written and drawn by Michael Walsh, the book is like watching a high-wire act as the creator crafts a monster of his own. It weaves between the scenes of the 1931 movie to show how the monster got each of his parts, giving us the origin story of — so far — his hands, his brain, and his heart. But beyond that, it fleshes out (no pun intended) the plot of the film, and leans into the theme suggested by each body part. You don’t need to have seen the original movie to be enthralled by this on every page, but if you have it enriches the experience of viewing the film.
It’s also, as usual, beautifully drawn by Walsh. The monster, long ago relegated to the side of “silly lumbering giant with a square head” actually becomes scary again under Walsh’s haunting pencils. Frankenstein’s castle seems to — and often does — have danger lurking behind every shadowy corner. And in the midst of this, it brings forward the pathos that has been present since Mary Shelley’s original novel. This isn’t the philosophizing giant she penned, but it melds that sensibility with the horror of the Universal films.
Walsh also finds a different mode for the story each issue, based on the body part. “Hands” in issue one showed a young boy whose father died, and he wants to hold his hand one more time. Issue two’s focus on the brain was more cerebral. And today’s issue about the creature’s heart goes a long way to retroactively explain why it is, the way it is — particularly around women.
There’s still one issue to go, but if you’re looking for the perfect comic to haunt your waking hours, look no further than Universal Monsters: Frankenstein.
It’s spooky season, and you know what that means: time to curl up with a comic book or graphic novel that will scare your socks off. With that in mind, we’re posting a new horror book to check out every day of October, for our 31 Days Of Halloween Comics. Awoooo! Looking for the rest of our picks? Check them out on the Halloween tag.
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