If you missed the last one…
Continuing our look at classic Horror icons in the comics… it is time to dive into the legend of Frankenstein’s monster. Like Dracula, Mr. Hyde or the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, the original material is public domain. This means anyone can use the Monster without worrying about permission or royalties. In the Golden Age this wasn’t really an issue because nobody worried about it anyway. That’s the plus to be being below the notice of “serious” creators that nobody cares.
Let’s remember that Boris Karloff’s classic portrayal of the monster in 1931 is ten years gone by the time the comics begin to use his image. In fact, Karloff has played the monster three times by 1939. The 1940s featured Glenn Strange and Lon Chaney Jr. in the role.
First…
“The Son of Frankenstein” (Movie Comics #1, April 1939) from a screenplay by Willy Cooper. Boris Karloff’s last performance of the monster in comic book form. Hollywood will dominate so much of what follows…
The 1940s
The 1940s offers the Monster as an opponent for robots and superheroes alike. We also got our first series based on the character with Dick Briefer’s often sweet and cartoony monster, though you’d never guess it from the covers. We do get a proper adaptation of the novel from Gilberton so those who relied on their memories of the film have no reason to make excuses. As with most Golden Age material, authors are often not known, but indicated where possible.
“The Monster of the Graveyards” (Smash Comics #14, September 1940) was written and drawn by George Brenner as Wayne Reid. This one is interesting because some people think Frankenstein’s monster is a robot. In this one, the mechanical man proves the better.
“The Curse of Frankenstein” (U. S. A. Comics #13, Summer 1944) has the first famous superhero take on the stalking figure of Adam. (That’s if we don’t consider Bozo in the same class of ‘famous’.) Cap destroys the monster by leading it into quicksand.
Frankenstein/The Monster of Frankenstein #1-33 (Prize Comics 1945-October-November 1954) was written and drawn by Dick Briefer. Briefer’s monster is cartoony at times then it surprises me that a little Horror still hangs on. His monster faced off against plant monsters, werewolves, sorcerers, ghosts, dinosaurs…thirty-three issues is a lot! For more covers, go here.
“Frankenstein” (Comics Classics #26, December 1945) (reprinted in Classics Illustrated #26, October 1969) was adapted by Ruth Roche. The first of several direct adaptations, this one is pretty faithful. It includes scenes from the novel that usually get lost in films like the polar ending.
“The True Story of Frankenstein” (Detective Comics #135, May 1948) was written by Edmond Hamilton. The second famous superhero to take on the monster, this one is written by a famous Science Fiction writer. To defeat the bad guys, Batman blows up the castle on top of them. Not very sporting! (In the silly Marvel vs DC Wars, Marvel can claim first blood against Frankenstein.)
The 1950s
“The Spirit of Frankenstein” (Adventures Into the Unknown #5,6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, June-July 1949-February 1951) was the second series about the monster, though it did not get top billing but ran in the first true all Horror comic, ACG’s Adventures Into the Unknown. Their design for the monster did not borrow from Hollywood. For more on this series, go here.
“The Return of the Monster” (Marvel Tales #96, June 1950) is a pretty generic retelling of Frankenstein though the artists chose to give the usual block-headed beast pointy ears and fangs just for extra scariness. A young Gene Colan got his first experience drawing Horror here. Later he would headline The Tomb of Dracula.
“The Monster in the Ice!” (Vault of Horror #22, December 1951-January 1952) was written by Bill Gaines and A. Feldstein. I’ve done several posts on frozen cavemen, dinosaurs and Vikings. This time it is the monster they dig out of the ice. I have to congratulate the writers for this idea since the novel ends in the Arctic. It makes sense that somebody should find the creature. The whole trend began here.
“The Monster” (Marvel Tales #106, April 1952) has a film crew making the movie Frankenstein go to an ancient castle to film and finding the real monster. I vaguely remember Robert Bloch using a similar idea in a Pulp story.
“The Beast-Man” (Suspense #20, July 1952) was written by Stan Lee. A new Frankenstein has moved into the castle and the villagers are up in arms as usual. They storm the castle and find the monster saving the lost boy they seek. They shoot the monster dead anyway. The boy wonders why they killed him. The first sympathetic monster comic.
“The Carpenter’s Cursed Creature” (Web of Mystery #12, August 1952) was written by Robert Turner. A terribly scarred man creates a living statue of wood. The statue kills innocent people until his creator sets him on fire. Think Frankenstein Meets Pinocchio!
“The Body-Maker” (Black Cat Comics #39, September 1952) combines the characters of Victor Frankenstein and Igor. The hideous murderer collects body parts for his monster. While escaping with a woman’s beautiful long blonde hair, he hangs himself by mistake with the locks.
“Graveyard Monsters” (Tomb of Terror #4, September 1952) has a hideously scarred scientist named Simon Lorens kill his rivals to build a monster. The bodies that he took organs from rise from the grave for revenge but Simon outwits them. Unfortunately the monster he has created out of haunted parts also seeks revenge and kills him.
“Ghost Rider vs. Frankenstein” (Ghost Rider #10, December 1952) has the Rex Fury take on Frankenstein’s monster and defeats him with his whip. Like any good Scooby-Doo episode, the mask comes off and it is Harry Bennett.
“Mirror, Mirror On the Wall” (Tales From the Crypt #34, February-March 1953) was written by Bill Gaines and A. Feldstein. Frankenstein’s monster is created, goes on a rampage until he sees his own reflection. Horrified, it runs away but ends up in a Hall of Mirrors and dies from fright. Frankenstein Meets Lovecraft. Lovecraft’s “The Outsider” lurks behind this one.
“I Made a Monster!” (Journey Into Mystery #9, June 1953) has a mad scientist create a monster but he doesn’t look like a shambling horror but an accountant. He still ends up choking his creator to death.
“Baffling Mysteries #28 (Baffling Mysteries #17, September 1953)
“Your Name is Frankenstein!” (Menace #7, September 1953) was written by Stan Lee. The monster has escaped and seeks out human contact. It is chased and burned and finally killed. The woman he chased delivers Stan Lee’s message: “No, The only real monsters on Earth are…we humans!” Lee makes the sympathy for the monster front-and-center here. This theme will dominate by the 1970s.
“No Grave to Hold Him” (Web of Mystery #21, November 1953) A scientist creates a monster but it is brutish and cruel. In the end, the medical man has his own brain put inside so he can continue to help society through medicine. Brain quality is important!
“Frank N. Stein!” (Mad Comics #8, December 1953-January 1954) was written by Harvey Kurtzman. Plenty of bad German accents, madcap frames that inspired the later magazine, and a clincher that has a famous personality. (I won’t ruin the surprise.) Most of the plot involves the doctor and his assistant. The monster only shows up at the end. My favorite gag is Dr. Frankenstein sewing the creature together on a sewing machine.
“Frank N. Stein” (Crazy #1 December 1953) was written and drawn by Bill Everett. Great minds think alike. Bill Everett and Harvey Kurtzman on the same page. (Thanks, Martin!)
Conclusion
It’s appropriate that the Frankenstein’s Monster in Golden Age Comics ends with a parody. As we move into the Silver Age, we will see Frankenstein’s monster more frequently become a vehicle for humor. No longer an icon of terror, the shambling man made from dead parts becomes a buffoon. This process started with films like Abbott and Costello Meet the Wolfman (1945) and will end with Frank, Drac and Wolfy becoming playmates for Bob Hope, Scooby-Doo and a host of others. On TV he will be Herman Munster. The Horrors of adulthood have been relegated to the nursery. (For more on this, go here.)
Next time…The Silver Age!
