There is a certain familiarity with “Art Monster” that straddles the line between Reanimator and my own life. It’s a strange mixture of horror and finding your own artistic calling. This month Jeremy Holt pinpoints the moment where it all makes sense, except for Victor his moment of clarity is brooding in darkness that is sure to set him on a path to ruin.
WRITTEN BY: Jeremy Holt
ART BY: Francesa Ciregia
PUBLISHER: Monkeybrain Comics
PRICE: $0.99
GET IT HERE: http://www.monkeybraincomics.com/
I relate to a lot of what’s happening on these pages. It’s a lovely trip inside the head of a twisted creative. It’s no mistake that Victor’s last name is Stein, the connections to the famous story are there, but here Holt focuses on the path that inspired the creation of a monster rather than the monster itself.
Although you can make an argument that in his pursuit to reanimate life, Victor is becoming a monster himself. Yet, you can’t help but sympathize with his goals, as you understand his struggles. Everyone has a tough time finding their calling in life, their unique pursuit that fulfills them, and their voice within that pursuit. Victor is realizing his potential, and it’s dark.
That’s why “Art Monster” works so well for me. It rationalizes the motivations behind becoming a monster as the one thing someone could be good at. They have to do it to fulfill themselves, and that reality is actually more horrifying than the actions they commit.
Francesa Ciregia brings a certain bleak vitality to the whole world of this book. The panels are soaked in thick black contrast but they help to create a world of death and despair. The dark characters feel full of life despite having dark traits that would make them replusive to most normal people, but Ciregia makes them warm and vibrant in even the most challenging situations.
Together the team on “Art Monster” has created a book about the process of inspiration and creation, but has chosen to seed it in something sinister. It’s perverse but inspired and a joy to read. I’m constantly floored by how much I relate to someone so fucked up.
Which is to Jeremy Holt’s credit. He’s able to really tie in some real struggles into a story like Frankenstien or Reanimator that for me weren’t present in those stories. Instead of focusing on the plot or the story device, he focuses on character motivation for the horrible actions and the story elevates to another level because of it. I can’t recommend this book enough for anyone who’s ever struggled with their creativity, you’ll be frightened by what you see and just how much you relate to it.