Frankenstein Underground #1 Review

It’s ALIVE!

Creative Staff:
Story: Mike Mignola
Art: Ben Stenbeck

What They Say:
Following the exploits of Frankenstein’s monster while he searches for a reason to exist, Mike Mignola takes us on another stroll into the dark corners of our dreams. Combining the Mary Shelly tale with the feel of Boris Karloff’s role in the classic Universal films, Mignola has raised a hit from the dead.

Content: (Spoiler Free)
With one hand on the keyboard and the other on the pulse of humanity, Mike’s uncanny ability to expose the humility of the inhuman continues to prove why he is the master of monsters.

The issue opens with Frankenstein’s monster on the run. As with the classic tale, the monster is shunned from society and scorned for his horrific features. However, this monster is no brute. In a nod to Mary Shelly’s classic, this monster has a thirst for knowledge and understanding; A burning desire to comprehend why he’s “alive” and how best to use that life. Mignola’s handiwork is made immediately apparent as the lines of fantasy and reality are blurred even further with the inclusion of ghosts, gods, and otherworldly beings. Make no mistake; this isn’t your mother’s Frankenstein.

Having dropped the artist role in order to focus completely on story, Mignola has entrusted Ben Stenbeck to echo his style. Stenbeck’s art pops off the page with the classic matte coloring and deep shadows that you’ve come to expect from a Mignola piece. Having worked on several other projects with Mignola (Baltimore and Witchfinder), Ben has truly adopted Mike’s style and taken it a step further. To quote Mr. Mignola, “He’s more me than me.”

In Summary:
Frankenstein Underground is the start of something wonderful. Its dark and Lovecraftian tone jells perfectly with the character of Frankenstein’s monster. With such an all-star creative team behind the project, I eagerly await what darkness our Franken-friend is poised to plumb.

Grade: A

Age Rating: Mature
Released By: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: 2015
MSRP: $3.50

Rob Severns

An aspiring writer and comic enthusiast, Rob loves everything about the medium and its varied stories.

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