Comics
Review: “Frankenstein Alive, Alive” #3
After nearly two years, “Frankenstein Alive, Alive!” is back* in all its literary, artistic glory. Niles packs a philosophical punch in issue #3 that falls in step with both the previous issues and the source material, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Niles’ appreciation for this classic work of literature is rivalled only by Wrightson’s obvious passion for the Monster, making it clear that there is no other pairing quite right to continue on with Shelley’s story.
WRITTEN BY: Steve Niles
ART BY: Bernie Wrightson
PUBLISHER: IDW
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: April 16, 2014
If you’re looking for the commercialized, violent, and cheaply horrific Monster that the 21st century has associated with Frankenstein, you’ve come to the wrong comic book. It’s not an easy job to recreate a literary classic, but Niles does this job exceptionally well. He provides us with a deep, thought provoking look inside the Monster’s psyche and additionally, a look into the collective psyche of Man. Much like the original, the Monster serves as a mirror to reflect our fears and prejudices.
One thing that really stands out in issue #3 is Niles’ ability to earn the reader’s empathy. The writing is so dizzying, causing us to feel the same sense of dread, fear, and hopelessness as the Monster. This issue is strong with emotion. We watch as the Monster plummets down from his high off the normalcy that was built for him in the previous issue. The kind façade of Dr. Simon Ingles that had given us hope for the Monster has been shattered and we are pulled into the emotional tidal wave.
Dr. Ingles, who appeared in issue #2 as a kind and gentle scientist working on a way to prolong life and help the body heal itself has been outed as a psychopathic and manipulative murderer. This realization is a blow to the confidence of the Monster, sending him into a frenzied tailspin, ultimately causing him to question his own purpose and reality.
The sheer amount of work that is put into the art for “Frankenstein Alive, Alive!” is astounding. The fact that this is a serialized comic is a treat, even if we have to wait a year or so for each issue. Wrightson is gifting us with a level of artistry that just cannot be achieved on a monthly basis. In addition to the pure skill that’s evident in his art, Wrightson’s take on the appearance of the Monster is reminiscent of the early, mid-1800s Frankenstein artistic interpretations. Especially the classic Theodor von Holst illustration.
This isn’t a comic that one reads for heavy, action-packed plot points. It’s existential. Self-reflective. Very literary. It’s shorter in length than the average monthly comic, so take time with it, indulge in it, soak it in. Treat it like the fine piece of art that it is.
*Dare I say “alive”?
Review by – Bree Ogden
Comics
‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics
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.
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Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)
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Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)
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Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover
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Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)
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Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)
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Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)
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Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)
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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.
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