Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1 review


Like Frankenstein's creation, this comic is the sum of many parts. Most obviously, there's the monster himself, from the Spawn of Frankenstein strip in Phantom Stranger via the more recent Seven Soldiers event. The Creature Commandos hail from Weird War Tales, which also hosted the GI Robot who shows up here. More surprisingly, Captain Nathaniel Adam (Captain Atom) and Robert Crane (the original Golden Age Robotman) play important parts. On the super-villain side there's Baron Blitzkrieg from Wonder Woman, looking as ridiculous as a Nazi in Spandex always will.

Throw these disparate ingredients together and you might expect an unpalatable hodge-podge, but that's not the case; this first issue of a Flashpoint mini-series is a beautifully balanced dish. Jeff Lemire's story takes us from the monster squad's 1943 creation through to their ending the war and the day the team received its marching orders. By issue's end they're in the present day, strangers in a world torn apart by a new war - the conflict between Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Along the way we've become acquainted with Frank and comrades Velcoro the vampire, Warren the werewolf and Nina the lagoon lady, and been reminded that comic book secret projects - even American ones - are not to be trusted.

This is a splendid debut, full of engaging incident and intriguing characters. I'm almost sorry the Creatures win the war, as Lemire's Forties sequence is such an absorbing read (click to enlarge images). 
And Ibraim Roberson's art, as coloured by Pete Pantazis, is spectacular, finding beauty on the battlefield. The creatures look as spooky as 'living embodiments of the century's classic archetypes of fear' should. And while Frankenstein (yeah, I know the creator vs creation distinction, but that's what he goes by) has a powerful frame, there's pathos in his body language. Pat Brosseau's lettering further helps convey Frank's emptiness.

Scariest of all is their human handler, Lt Matthew Shrieve, who races into battle wearing a red polo neck sweater. Hold me.

Oh, and there's one more familiar DC monster in here, but sadly he doesn't last long, proving mere cliffhanger fodder. It is a good cliffhanger, though.

This issue bodes well for the rest of the mini-series, and the Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE series to follow from Lemire. Meanwhile, if you like monster tales, war stories or 'just' beautifully crafted comic book fantasy, give this issue a try.



Comments

  1. I have to admit, this one left me cold. It was competently done, but I just couldn't work up any enthusiasm with it. (I suspect my eye will be a little more jaundiced as I have to make entirely new buying decisions in the next few months.) Then again, I'm not as enamored of Lemire as most other people are.

    That said, I wish the series a long and happy life, since it seems to bring something new to the DCU.

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  2. I'm with Rob S, I recognized the work was decent, but it didn't get me excited about the story. I also didn't realize that was Captain Atom showing up again!

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  3. I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. There's a post-Flashpoint Frankenstein comic coming, yes? I may have to give it a try.

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  4. I'm with Brian - of the Flashpoint comics I had last week, this was the one I enjoyed the most.

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  5. Rob, I'm not enamoured of Lemire either. Like most everyone, his work is judged on a case by case basis. Love his Superboy, didn't love his Atom, and all that ...

    Timbotron, I'm not surprised, this fella is more like General Sam Lane than Nathaniel Adam.

    Brian, yep, Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE is on the way. Glad you liked it too, Gary. We should form a Frankensteins of America (and elsewhere) fan club!

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  6. Bodes well for Frankenstein's September series, for sure. So does this mean that Frankie replaces the Frank G.I. of the original Weird War Tales? Makes perfect sense.

    I hope the new Shrieve will be in the upcoming series too. DC needs its own Bloodstone II.

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  7. Now that's a great idea. Get DnA on it!

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