Connect with us

Comics

Review: ‘Criminal Macabre: The Eyes of Frankenstein’ #2

Published

10 years ago

on

Thoroughly engaging and easily accessible, “Criminal Macabre: The Eyes of Frankenstein” #2 is a rarely mastered genre hybrid of crime-horror and seamless comedy. Moreover, Steve Niles and Christopher Mitten deserve the objective mind’s everlasting gratitude for providing readers with the charmingly ludicrous image of Frankenstein’s overgrown monster, donning a pair of hipster glasses. I mean, what else is there to say?

WRITTEN BY: Steve Niles
ART BY: Christopher Mitten
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: October 30, 2013

With only two more issues left in the miniseries, Niles and Mitten keep the story zooming right along, creating a sense of purpose and connectedness to a greater overall narrative that seems to lead back to the brutal childbirth scene that opened the series. In this installment, the Frankenstein monster’s vision continues to worsen; Cal maintains his love affair with pills, alcohol and projectile vomit; and Mo’Lock sets in motion the next stage of the book with his suggestion to enlist the help of alleged supernatural expert — and distinguished surgeon — Jason Hemlock. This ostentatious occultist is able to save the Frankenstein monster from going blind, and potentially solve the mystery behind the dying ghoul dilemma. But of course, there’s a catch.

The character dynamics, and the welcomed familiarity of the “Criminal Macabre” universe, really make up the essence of the story. Behind the serious aspects of their relationships, there’s a lightness to the overall tone that shines through Niles’ humor, and Mitten’s pencils. As expected, Cal and Mo’Lock are as fully developed and engaging, as they are aggressively compatible. But it’s Frankenstein’s monster who really steals the show this time around. His sullenly polite and intellectual interactions with Cal, as well as his incredibly delightful dynamic with a few enamoured children are arguably some of the best moments the issue has to offer. There’s a specific scene in which Mitten illustrates the most wonderfully cheesy grin to ever grace the face of the beast, and it’s almost impossible to imagine readers not adorning the same expression in that instance.

That said, there’s some naturally dark and mysterious imagery to be enjoyed, as always. Specifically in Hemlock’s dungeon-esque office, and the final splash page at the L.A. Eye Bank where Cal and Mo’Lock go scavenging for new eyeballs for the monster. Unfortunately, what they find is another horrific obstacle standing in their way, and a perfect lead-in to next month’s issue.

Niles writes these characters, and presents the naturally paced narrative in a way that’s not overbearingly expository, but thoroughly engaging; and Mitten’s art continues to produce a perfectly gritty atmosphere to his entertaining script. They feed of each other’s talents really well, and deliver another commendable installment to the “Criminal Macabre” repertoire.

4/5 SKULLS

Reviewed by – ShadowJayd

Related Topics:
Advertisement
Click to comment

Comics

‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

Published

5 hours ago

on

April 17, 2024

By

Witchblade cover

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.

  • Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover

  • Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)

  • Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)

  • Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)

  • Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)

  • Cover H (1/250): Line art by Marc. Virgin Cover, Inks (B/W)

Witchblade #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Witchblade comic panel Witchblade #1 cover image

Continue Reading