Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Rebirth of the Monster

With the March 1952 issue of Frankenstein #18, legendary comics creator Dick Briefer threw out the cartoony humor stylings of the previous kiddy oriented Frankenstein adventures and brought "The Monster" back to his more realistically grim and violent horror roots. Most collectors prefer the latter, but I think both series' are great. Todays THOIA story, coinciding with Pierre's "Boris Karloff Blogathon" over at Frankensteinia presents the first "rebirth" story from what was then called the "new origin" series.











+++++++++++++++++++++++++

And if you missed the update, Kitty LeClaw has another story from Boris Karloff Thriller #1 posted at Killer Kittens From Beyond the Grave too! Click HERE for it!

13 comments:

Mr. Karswell said...

For another great Dick Briefer Frankenstein story from this issue, check the THOIA Archives for "The Monster and the Statue" here:

http://thehorrorsofitall.blogspot.com/2008/09/monster-and-statue.html

Mykal Banta said...

Karswell: Great story! I have the Dick Briefer Frankenstein stuff in the b&w recent release in paperback (man, I wish they would have done that up right with a color hardback edition). It sure is nice to see it in glorious 4 color.

I love the sheer size and power Briefer gave his monster - breaking small mortals like kindling, his mammoth hands dwarfing their puny bodies. I also love how this monster wants his creator to live, to increase the suffering. -- Mykal

Kitty LeClaw said...

Wow, this one totally blew me away! "And some men die as the others try vainly to extinguish with fire the spark of life within the monster." -- Brilliant, brilliant stuff!

Kitty LeClaw said...

Cover is awezum, tew!

The Vicar of VHS said...

I'll say it too--GREAT STORY! I love they way the artist holds off showing the monster until page 4, which really adds to the suspense and cinematic feel of the comic. And that monster is indeed horrifying--the backbreak over the knee is just so full of power and fury, it's almost chilling.

I also like the neat touch of the maimed villagers showing all their wounds as they discuss what to do--particularly the man laid out on the table, obviously dead. It's a great way to tell the tale of the monster's devastation visually, and nicely done.

Thanks for the great story, Karswell!

The Vicar of VHS said...

"showing the monster's FACE", that is. :P

sfdoomed said...

I'll third or fourth the opinion that this story was great.

The later issues of this title are so much better. Not only is Frankenstein back to form, but the filler stories are good, too. But I wasn't sure when the transition happened, so thanks for the info on this.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Anonymous said...

BRIEFER WAS A GENIUS, THIS STORY PROVES IT. AWESOME STUFF, AND SCARY TOO UNLIKE MOST COMIC BOOKS CALLING THEM SELF HORROR.

jpmorgan said...

Aiee! On the cover! It's Michael Jackson! Yaaaah!!

Prof. Grewbeard said...

the more Briefer, the better!

Mr. Karswell said...

>Briefer's Frankenstein kicks all kinds of ass!

Indeed! And since I've already posted another story from this issue I've decided that the next THOIA post will be the third and last Frankenstein tale from #18 too, so you completists can now celebrate! I'll even give ya the non-related filler story about a leopard girl. It's coming next, thanks for the comments!

THE APOCOLYTE said...

Great stuff. That cover is great -what beautiful color!!

Runs.with.Ferals said...

Briefer got better & better with the passage of time. And~ HEY~ ! The new Kitty LeClaw t-shirt pic is the shizzle !