Dr. Henry Frankenstein and Fritz search a graveyard, looking for body parts. Unknown to them, they are observed by a small boy who hides in their wagon and is inadvertently taken back to the castle. He makes his way through the lab to a body. A body which he believes to be that of his recently deceased father. The experiment begins and with a dazzling light show the body moves. Later, in the darkness of the castle, the boy searches and finds the monster. At first he is scared but the monster does not harm him. He realizes the only thing the monster has of his father are his hands. The boy decides Henry Frankenstein is a devil and with a knife prepares to stab him but is restrained by Fritz.
It has been ages since I read Mary Shelley's book 'Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus' but this comic does seem to follow it more or less. Included here is the infamous 'It's alive!' from the James Whale film (1931). I felt that the arrival of Elizabeth Lavenza, Henry's fiancé, could have been better explained. But I assume this point will be dealt with in a future issue. Elizabeth is usually a fairly important character in most retellings. It is a minor nitpick really. Fritz is a creation of the film, I believe. In the book Henry did not have a lab assistant. The double splash of the monster being hit with life giving energy is really something. The art, by Michael Walsh, is very fitting. It almost feels like a more refined Mike Mignola. Very moody, lots of shadows. I very much enjoyed this issue and I look forward to seeing where it goes. How closely will it follow the novel? Will we get more movie influences? Will it do its own thing?
eight out of ten.
