Skybound has generally been killing it (in a good way) with their Universal Monsters series, reinventing the classic movies from wildly different perspectives, from iconic artists and writers. But Universal Monsters: The Mummy is in a class of its own, as writer and artist Faith Erin Hicks transforms the Egyptian baddie’s tale into an epic romance, with tinges of ghastly horror.
On the surface, Hicks isn’t the choice you would expect for this sort of thing — she’s had a wildly varied, and lauded career, but isn’t exactly the go-to horror writer. But that’s what makes her perfect for this material. Flipping the focus to Helen Grosvenor, the eventual damsel in distress who draws the titular character’s gaze, thanks to the reincarnation of his deceased sweetheart, means we get an entirely new and intimate look at the story. The horror comes not from a decrepit corpse stalking the streets; but from the combination of violation and yearning Helen feels, knowing that the former Pharaoh has set his sights on her.
Hicks’s art, too, may not seem on the surface to be made for horror… Her whimsical cartooning has often been used for YA romance, more than bodies ripping and guts spilling. But that, too, works swimmingly here, as at their hearts (pun intended), the Universal monsters are romance stories. Leaning into that aspect once again lets the story soar and find its true form, a classic reinvention from a modern eye.
From the surprising beginning to the inevitable conclusion, even if you’re scare averse, you’ll want to check out Universal Monsters: The Mummy this Halloween. Just make sure to read it before the holiday… Wraps up.
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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