If you missed the last one…
The Silver Age brought in the Comics’ Code and Horror comics became much tamer. Despite this, a classic like Frankenstein weathers such difficulties. The remainder of the 1950s (1956-1959) saw no additions but by 1961 the ball gets rolling again. The black & white comics of James Warren avoided the Code by being magazines. Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella of the 1960s used some Frankenstein material though Frankenstein’s Adam was just part of the crowd.
The other way comic publishers got around the restrictions was to make Frankenstein’s monster (and other creatures) funny. These Horror icons of the past were now safe enough to be used in children’s comics like The Flintstones. With Fred Gwynne playing Herman Munster every week (1964-1965), parents had no worries that Boris Karloff’s memory would cause nightmares.
“The Monster Gang” (Adventures of the Fly #8, September 1960) was written by Robert Bernstein. The Fly takes on a gang that includes The Mummy, a werewolf, vampire, ghost, witch, space creature and Frankenstein’s monster. They are all fake, of course.
“Bizarro Meets Frankenstein!” (Superman #143, February 1961) was written by Robert Bernstein. Bizarro, Superman’s less intelligent double, sees a Frankenstein show on TV and goes after the actor who plays him. Bizarro wants to be top creature. It is up to Superman to save the poor actor.
“Vandoom, the Man Who Made a Creature!” (Tales to Astonish #17, March 1961) was written by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber. This one is just a cameo. Vandoom is creating a new, better monster and has to rub Frankie and his pals’ noses in it.
“Herbie and the Spirits!” (Forbidden Worlds #94, March-April 1961) was written by Richard Hughes as Shane O’Shea. Another classic Horror comic brought to its knees with silly stories about Herbie. A group of monsters are released from an old house. They haunt Herbie, including Frankenstein’s monster. Herbie gets them back into the house and seals the magic door with a spell.
“The Coming of the Hulk” (The Incredible Hulk #1, May 1962) was written by Stan Lee. This is another one that isn’t really Mary Shelley but the Hulk started off grey and looking like Boris Karloff. In a few issues he would become green and all that followed, but he was originally conceived as Frankenstein (Bruce Banner) turning into his own monster, Jekyll and Hyde style.
“The Monster Lives..” (Frankenstein #1, March-May 1963) was written by Don Segall. This was the first adaptation since Classics Illustrated. After loosely adapting the 1931 movie, the publisher decided to bring the character back in 1966 as a superhero.Written by D. J. Arneson, it was drawn by Tony Tallarico and Bill Fraccio. Frankenstein disguises himself as normal human, defeating much of the point of the whole thing! It was this trend for Horror in superhero comics that gave us Dr. Strange, Swamp Thing and Dr. Spektor.
The Munsters #1-16, January 1965-February 1968) The Munsters premiered on television September 24, 1964. Their comic premiered January 1965 with stories written and drawn largely by Fred Fredericks. Story lines were similar to those used on the show.
“The Haunted Island” (Challengers of the Unknown #43, April-May 1965) was written by Bill Finger. The Challengers go to Skull Island and find a lab with extinct creatures including Frankenstein’s monster. The Challengers fight with him, thinking Adam is a chicken. The monster gasses them.
“Curse of Frankenstein” (Monster World #3, April 1965) was written by Russ Jones. An unusual comic in that it appeared in Monster World, a short-lived title change to Famous Monsters of Filmland. Famous Monsters was all about monster movies but not usually in comic form but Warren was still sorting out their Horror comic line. Short comics versions of movies became a regular thing in other magazines like Monster Times. This one was drawn by comic pro, Joe Orlando.
“Super-Hip, the Sickest Superhero of ‘Em All” (The Adventures of Bob Hope #95, October-November 1965) was written by Arnold Drake, introducing new characters into a long-running comic. Drake adds the rockstar, Tadwallader Jutefruce along with Franklin Stine, Dr. Van Pyre, Professor Heinrich Von Wolfman and Beverly Ghastly. For more on DC comics adding monsters, go here.
“The Footsteps of Frankenstein” (Eerie #2, March 1966) was written by Archie Goodwin. This was the first Warren black&white comic about Frankenstein. Dr. Sebastian recreates Frankenstein’s monster. The creature is pretty full of himself, unafraid of guns or mobs. It is struck by lightning and turned to ash.
“Frontier Frankenstein” (Tomahawk and His Rip-Roaring Rangers #103, March-April 1966) was written by Ed Herron. The Rangers are attacked by a giant Frankenstein monster. The creature goes on a rampage. Even the British can’t kill it. The formula that made the beast wears off. It is Big Anvil, one of the Rangers. His ego won’t let him believe the monster was stronger than him.
“The Flintstones Meet Frankenstein and Dracula” (The Flintstones #33, April 1966) has a prehistoric mad scientist use a time machine to bring Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Wolfman and the Mummy to the past. Fred thinks they are his cousins. After the scientist sends them back, we meet Fred’s real cousins. They all look exactly like Fred.
“Monsterwork” (Eerie #3, May 1966) was written by Archie Goodwin. The abused Igor collects the dead bodies for his version of Dr. Frankenstein. The scientist creates a monster, which attacks and kills him. The brain belonged to Igor’s cousin, a medical student the mad scientist killed.
“Monster!” (Creepy #10, August 1966) was written by Archie Goodwin. Frankenstein’s monster collects his creator so he can step into quicksand and kill them both.
“Dr. Griswold’s File” (Eerie #5, September 1966) was written by Carl Wessler. Dr. Griswold creates a monster to rob rich houses, taking their jewels to give to his beloved Lucille. Griswold recognizes the last jewel as one belonging to her….
Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles (January 1967)Â was based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Junior is not really a man made from dead flesh but an electric robot. This is a common mistake made because Frankenstein used electricity to bring his Adam to life.
“The Frankenstein Tradition” (Creepy #16, August 1967) was written by Archie Goodwin. Jack the Ripper supplies parts to a mad scientist to create a Bride of Frankenstein. The two men and the monster die in flames but Jack’s legacy goes on…
“The Mark of the Monster!’ (The X-Men #40, January 1968) was written by Roy Thomas. The X-Men take on Frankenstein’s monster only to learn it is an experimental android created by aliens. This is years before Wolverine…now that would have been good!
“Arch and the Teen-Stalk!” (Not Brand Ecch #9, August 1968) was written by Roy Thomas. Another parody using superheroes and Frankenstein’s monster. Archie does a version of “Jack and the Beanstalk” with Frankie playing the giant.
“Our Monster is Hip, Oh,Where Did we Slip?” (Archie’s Madhouse #64, October 1968) was written by George Gladir. Frankenstein creates a monster but he urns out to be peace-loving Hippie. The mad scientist and Igor can’t make him angry and destructive but like his musical tastes.
“The Castle of Frankenstein” (Eerie #19, December 1968) A one-page filler from Tom Sutton!
“Monstrous Mistake” (Eerie #19, December 1968) was written by Bill Parente. Once again a mad scientist creates a monster. This one turns into a werewolf!
“Frankenstein’s Monster is Toast” (Squa Tront #3, 1969) was written and drawn by Berni Wrightson. A one page gag but a hint of what Wrightson would do someday…
“Frankenstein Sixtsy-Nine!” (Not Brand Echh #12, February 1969) was written by Arnold Drake. Dr. Doom and the monster team up Marvel style.
“The Heir of Frankenstein” (The Silver Surfer #7, August 1969) was written by Stan Lee. The ancestor of Frankenstein recreates his experiments. The Surfer has to deal with the scientist.
“Vampi’s Feary Tales” (Vampirella #2, November 1969) was written by Forrest J. Ackerman.Wonderful Tom Sutton based on the Universal films.
Meet Angel #7, November-December 1969. Just a cover cameo.
Various Ads
What would the Warren Era be without the fascinating ads in the back of the magazines? I remember my cousin owned that Frankenstein model and it glowed in the dark. It freaked my little sister out much so she couldn’t sleep in that room.
Conclusion
The Bronze Age would see the return of Frankenstein Horror comics from mainstream publishers. (Thanks James Warren!) Marvel and DC would both offer series, though the days of the Monster being the bad guy are numbered. Too many of us sympathize with Frankenstein’s Adam. He is on his way to becoming … a hero!
Next time…the Height of Franken-comics!
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