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Review: ‘Criminal Macabre: The Eyes of Frankenstein’ #1

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Following the epic crossover event that laid to rest Steve Niles’ thrilling “30 Days of Night” series, Dark Horse Comics welcomes back our favourite hard-boiled anti-hero, Cal McDonald; in all his benevolent, pill-popping glory. Christopher Mitten’s fantastically loose and gritty artwork, coupled with Niles’ effortless ability to fabricate a perfectly engaging — and readily accessible — script, make “Criminal Macabre: The Eyes of Frankenstein” #1 an incredibly satisfying read. And if the outrageously gnarly opening pages are any indication for what’s to come, this is a comeback you don’t want to miss.

WRITTEN BY: Steve Niles
ART BY: Christopher Mitten
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: September 25, 2013

Steve Niles isn’t one to shy away from establishing dark humor in the face of twisted absurdities and extreme gore. Being that the first issue opens with some wickedly horrifying childbirth imagery, before ending on an undoubtedly hilarious — and deliciously grisly — note, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, it’s not unusual for the human psyche to interpret, and /or imagine, the simplest and most natural of things, in an exceedingly hysterical way. Given that my mind equates childbirth with scenes straight of out of “Xtro” and “Prometheus”, Niles and Mitten’s take is just another version to add to my irrational nightmares.

In “Criminal Macabre: The Eyes of Frankenstein” #1, the narrative follows Cal, as he struggles to cope with the life-changing aftermath of Los Angeles’ brutal battle between ghouls and vampires. Because of the undeniable chaos which befell the city, this arc will see a change of attitude in the police force, in regards to Cal and the supernatural. Niles’ “Criminal Macabre” universe is definitely changing, only our protagonist seems to be at a standstill, simply going through the motions, while trying to get his life back on track.

The recently turned ghoul becomes mysteriously ill, and must investigate the cause of death behind a large number of ghouls who are dying at an alarmingly high rate. He also has to help the distressed Frankenstein’s monster from going blind.

There’s no denying Niles’ deep affection for the monster considering the number of stories he’s weaved that feature the creature. Niles plays with a common interpretation of Mary Shelley’s 18th century Gothic novel, “Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus”, where Frankenstein’s monster’s name is concerned. In the most meta of ways, he establishes the creature’s name as Adam, literally referencing the original piece of literature in the process. The beast refers to himself as “the Adam of your labors” in Shelley’s novel, and Niles continues the trend in “The Eyes of Frankenstein” #1. He also writes his version of the creature to be exceptionally coherent and very articulate, another trait similar to Shelley’s original characterization.

Christopher Mitten is an artist who keeps evolving, and his work with Niles is evidence of that. While his visceral, scratchy, and frenetic art style may not be for everyone, his wonderfully dark and gritty renderings, along with his distinctively eccentric line work, are perfect for these types of moody tales. By offering a cohesively constructed visual adventure through panels which bring life to Niles’ story, Mitten really helps push the narrative along. He’s a natural fit for the series and his style suits the world of “Criminal Macabre” perfectly. His visual characterization of Frankenstein’s monster is the most interesting aspect of his work because, even though the character is so overbearing in stature and physical strength, there’s a sense of vulnerability in these illustrations. From murky to vibrant when the scene calls for it, Michelle Madsen’s colours are also strong in this issue. Her contribution to the opening pages is particularly fantastic.

Overall, “The Eyes of Frankenstein” #1 is a great addition to Niles’ “Criminal Macabre” universe, and the readers will be curious to see what he has in store for Cal and the iconic monster.

4/5 Skulls

Review by – ShadowJayd

Comics

‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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