If you missed the last one….
The rest of the Bronze Age, 1975 to 1986, is a scattered and largely unimpressive collection. The Frankenstein boom is over, with singular examples, sometimes only cover art. We do get our final adaptation from Marvel, not reprinting the Pendulum Press version but creating a new one. We have record albums, parodies, movie adaptations and superheroes galore. None of this is really new but we do finally get Berni Wrightson’s Frankenstein, previewed in Epic Illustrated.
1975-1979
“The Story of Dracula, the Wolfman and Frankenstein” (Peter Pan Records, January 1975) was written by Neal Adams. This one was reprinted several times including Neal’s Echoes of the Future Past. Adams brings the three characters together in Castle Frankenstein. Franky and Drac get blown up but Victor gets to date the werewolf. Just your average kids’ record.
“Cover” (Arggh! #2, February 1975) A new cover for a 1953 reprint by Bill Everett.
“The Curse of Dracula” (House of Hammer #2-3, June-July 1976) was written by Donne Avenell. A two-parter adapting the Hammer film. The first comic to use the Christopher Lee monster since 1965.
“Once Upon a Time, in a Castle…”/”Snow Death!” (Marvel Team-Up #36-37, August-September 1975) was written by Gerry Conway. (Thanks, Arthur!) Spidey goes to the Balkans and ends up in Dr. Shtupf’s lab. The madman wants to create a race of monsters using the powers of Spider-man and the monster. In the second half, Man-Wolf shows up and everything goes to hell. Frankenstein’s monster shambles onto some other Marvel title….
“Frankenstein” (Marvel Classics Comics #20, 1977) was written by John Warner. Most of the Marvel Classics Comics were reprints from Pendulum Press. Pendulum did have a Frankenstein comic in 1971. It was written by Otto Binder with art by Nardo Cruz. For some reason the Marvel editors decided to do their own. The adaptation is pretty accurate though they chose to lighten the murder of Elizabeth, leaving it off stage.
“Subway Stop” (Haunted #31, January 1977) was written and drawn by Tom Sutton. I think this may be Tom Sutton’s masterpiece. A man on the subway experiences all forms of Horror from Edgar Allan Poe to Frankenstein’s monster. Visually amazing.
“Then Came the Monster” (Iron Man #101-102, August-September 1977) was written by Bill Mantlo. Iron Man encounters the Marvel Frankenstein Monster and some dwarves in the forest after losing an aerial battle.
“The Dragon at Castle Frankenstein” (Savage Sword of Conan #22, September 1977) was written by Don Glut. Another Glut tale without the monster. Robert E. Howard’s Solomon Kane faces off against a dragon in a castle that will one day house the mad scientist.
“Heil Frankenstein” (The Invaders #31, August 1978) was written by Don Glut. Neo-Nazi are led by Frankenstein’s monster, still alive all this time. The Invaders whoop Hitler-stein’s sewn-together backside.
The 1980s
The 1980s doesn’t have a long-running Frankenstein comic like the early 1970s, which had several. Frankenstein’s monster shows up here and there…
“The Monsters Among Us!” (Superman #344, February 1980) was written by Len Wein and Paul Levitz. Superman takes on two icons of Horror: Dracula and the monster.
“The Left Hand Knows”/”The Lair of Lady Frankenstein”(Secrets of Haunted House #34-35, April-May 1981) was written by Bob Rozakis and Jack C. Harris. Mister E solves a murder with the monster lurking around every corner. His quick thinking about stitches saves the day. For more on Mister E, go here.
“Frankenstein Invades the Universe” (Creepy #128, June 1981) was written by Budd Lewis. People in the future find Frankenstein’s monster frozen in ice. (They still doing that in the Year 3000?) The creature goes on a rampage, of course, and they have to kill it. Only there is a catch…the monster’s body is contaminated with a mutation plague!
“Cover Cameo” (Look-In #23, May 40, 1981) Just a cover.
“Cover” (Creepy #40, October 1982) Just another cover by the great Sanjulian.
“Dear Friend Frankenstein” (Pure Madness, 1984) Can really find anything on this except the cover. Very obscure with a small print run.
Marvel Classic Comics, 1984 has a cassette tape cover by John Bolton. It may have been accompanied by a comic book.
“The Illustrated Novel” (Epic Illustrated #22, February 1984) is a version of Mary Shelley’s novel with many illustrations by Berni Wrightson. Epic Illustrated did a preview. These illos later sold for over a million dollars.
“Frankenstein 1986” (Martin Mystere #53, August 1986) was written by Alfredo Castelli. Another modern update tale with a guy who looks like the monster. (I think. I don’t read Italian.)
Conclusion
Frankenstein comics don’t end in 1986. In fact, there have been many comics since including I, Frankenstein, which was made into a movie in 2014 and Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein, which was meant to be a TV show but wasn’t. (2004’s Van Helsing also had a version of the Monster.) I read most of the Koontz novels (largely written by others though the newer paperbacks hide this) and enjoyed his version of Adam who he calls Deucalion, a kind of superhero really. In comics I quite enjoyed DC’s Frankenstein, Agent of S. H. A. D. E. (I mean that sword is right out of Sword & Sorcery.)
Frankenstein’s monster is a classic icon and isn’t going anywhere soon. Mary Shelley gave us the pathetic Adam creature back in 1818. Since then his legend has only grown as a symbol of misguided technology. (How many SF stories have a line like: “It’s another Frankenstein!” Always confusing the monster for the maker.) But he is also a symbol of our innocence in the face of future change. We, like poor Adam, quail before the terrors of the unknown…
Bill Everett’s “Frank N. Stein” is a Golden Age story reprinted from CRAZY #1 (December 1953). It would have hit the stands pretty much the same time as EC’s “Frank N. Stein” in MAD #8 (December 1953/January 1954, so it was one of those cases of great minds thinking alike.
Thanks. I’ll move it.