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Universal Monsters (Image Comics)
Frankenstein
Avant de donner vie à sa créature, le docteur Henry Frankenstein a profané bien des tombes, exhumé bien des cadavres, rassemblé bien des membres. De ces dépouilles est né un nouvel être, mais celui-ci est-il véritablement nouveau ? Se pourrait-il que ces jambes, ces bras, ces mains se souviennent de leur ancien propriétaire, des individus qui ont, sans le vouloir, contribué à la création du monstre de Frankenstein ?
120 pages, Hardcover
First published February 13, 2025
About the author
Michael Walsh
170 books9 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Michael Walsh is an Eisner and Shuster nominated Canadian comic-book creator, based out of Hamilton, Ontario.
In 2013 Michael co-created the IMAGE comic book series COMEBACK, soon to be a major motion picture. Since then he has worked primarily with MARVEL COMICS on properties such as Star Wars, Spider-Man, The Avengers, and the X-Men. His publishers also include DARK HORSE, VALIANT, Archie Comics, TITAN, DC Comics, BOOM and IDW.
Michael is currently drawing the Dark Horse x DC Comics crossover event Black Hammer/Justice league.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Michael Walsh is an Eisner and Shuster nominated Canadian comic-book creator, based out of Hamilton, Ontario.
In 2013 Michael co-created the IMAGE comic book series COMEBACK, soon to be a major motion picture. Since then he has worked primarily with MARVEL COMICS on properties such as Star Wars, Spider-Man, The Avengers, and the X-Men. His publishers also include DARK HORSE, VALIANT, Archie Comics, TITAN, DC Comics, BOOM and IDW.
Michael is currently drawing the Dark Horse x DC Comics crossover event Black Hammer/Justice league.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
April 26, 2026
I've heard excellent things about these Universal Monsters comics from Image and this was fine. Walsh's art and Griffin's colors are excellent. The story came across disjointed though. It adds a new character, an orphan whose father's hands were used in making the monster. It's best read after rewatching the movie because it's heavily referenced throughout the story.
May 30, 2025
Good story, 3.75 stars.
November 1, 2025
PT Estou a gostar bastante destas adaptações dos Monstros da Universal. Em casos como este, costumo ter algum receio de que seja apenas um money grab, mas, para minha surpresa, esta série tem superado as expectativas. Nota-se uma verdadeira preocupação em criar obras de qualidade.
A única adaptação de Frankenstein que tinha lido até agora foi a de Junji Ito. Esta, no entanto, é bastante diferente — e a própria sinopse já deixa claro que se procura oferecer uma abordagem distinta da história original. O essencial continua lá, mas essa nova perspetiva torna a leitura mais interessante, sobretudo para quem já conhece o clássico.
As ilustrações, embora não estejam ao nível de Drácula, da mesma série, continuam a ser boas e adequadas ao tom da obra. No conjunto, é uma leitura sólida e mais um lançamento consistente dentro desta linha.
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EN I’m really enjoying these adaptations of the Universal Monsters. With projects like this, I usually worry they might just be a money grab, but to my surprise, this series has exceeded my expectations. You can clearly see there’s a genuine effort to create quality works.
The only adaptation of Frankenstein I had read until now was Junji Ito’s. This one, however, is quite different — and even from the synopsis, it’s clear that it aims to offer a distinct take on the original story. The essential elements are still there, but this fresh perspective makes the reading experience more engaging, especially for those already familiar with the classic.
The artwork, while not quite on the same level as Dracula from the same series, is still solid and fits the tone of the book well. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read and another strong entry in this line.
A única adaptação de Frankenstein que tinha lido até agora foi a de Junji Ito. Esta, no entanto, é bastante diferente — e a própria sinopse já deixa claro que se procura oferecer uma abordagem distinta da história original. O essencial continua lá, mas essa nova perspetiva torna a leitura mais interessante, sobretudo para quem já conhece o clássico.
As ilustrações, embora não estejam ao nível de Drácula, da mesma série, continuam a ser boas e adequadas ao tom da obra. No conjunto, é uma leitura sólida e mais um lançamento consistente dentro desta linha.
--
EN I’m really enjoying these adaptations of the Universal Monsters. With projects like this, I usually worry they might just be a money grab, but to my surprise, this series has exceeded my expectations. You can clearly see there’s a genuine effort to create quality works.
The only adaptation of Frankenstein I had read until now was Junji Ito’s. This one, however, is quite different — and even from the synopsis, it’s clear that it aims to offer a distinct take on the original story. The essential elements are still there, but this fresh perspective makes the reading experience more engaging, especially for those already familiar with the classic.
The artwork, while not quite on the same level as Dracula from the same series, is still solid and fits the tone of the book well. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read and another strong entry in this line.
December 18, 2024
What a great series! As a big Frankenstein guy I really got a kick out of this, it really added a new layer to new original movie. And also gave Elizabeth an actual character, and showed more of Frankenstein (the guy) being more of the monster. It was cool to see the story told through the eyes of a child, a character created for the series who fits in really well. Also the addition of seeing who the parts of the monster came from is neat. Something you don't really see in adaptations.
And the art looks amazing, the lighting and coloring oough. It just looks so good.
However the last issue. I was waiting so long for it and upon finally reading it I was like huh that's it??? It felt way too fast. It kinda brings down the whole series. However since 3/4 of the issues were really good I'd give it more of a 4.5/5 if I could. It's just... idk what was the ending?
My schools comic club got a chance to talk to the creator of the comic so that was cool, really respect his work that went into making so great out of a tie in comic.
And the art looks amazing, the lighting and coloring oough. It just looks so good.
However the last issue. I was waiting so long for it and upon finally reading it I was like huh that's it??? It felt way too fast. It kinda brings down the whole series. However since 3/4 of the issues were really good I'd give it more of a 4.5/5 if I could. It's just... idk what was the ending?
My schools comic club got a chance to talk to the creator of the comic so that was cool, really respect his work that went into making so great out of a tie in comic.
September 21, 2025
"I will hold you in my heart… until the end of time."
The art was amazing, when it came to the monster that was my absolute favorite. The shading, the coloring, and everything about it made me think of the monster from long ago.
The story was really good. It was interesting and kept me glued to these pages.
These Universal Monsters GN’s are fantastic and I can’t wait to read the others.
The art was amazing, when it came to the monster that was my absolute favorite. The shading, the coloring, and everything about it made me think of the monster from long ago.
The story was really good. It was interesting and kept me glued to these pages.
These Universal Monsters GN’s are fantastic and I can’t wait to read the others.
December 24, 2025
Man, the Universal Monsters comics from Image just go from strength to strength...I've never heard of Michael Walsh before, but he is an amazing talent, both as a writer and artist. This "between the scenes" retelling/reworking of Universal's Frankenstein film is both horrific, and amazingly heartfelt. Highly recommended.
May 14, 2025
The third book in the "Universal Monsters" series that revisits the classic horror movies.
Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives! was a direct sequel to "The Creature From the Black Lagoon", while Dracula was more of a re-telling of the story that really highlighted the "otherness" of Dracula while taking some liberties with the film.
This is closer to "Dracula" in that it's also a re-telling of the 1931 movie "Frankenstein", while adding some additional characters to give the story a different point of view. I like that we are given a more direct look at where each of the body parts came from and how they affected the Creature's personality. I also like that it makes Doctor Frankenstein into the villain, whereas in the film he's more of a conflicted anti-hero.
While I liked the story, it was really the art that stood out for me, it's a great mix of a more traditional "comic-book" art mixed with horror that works perfectly for the story.
Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives! was a direct sequel to "The Creature From the Black Lagoon", while Dracula was more of a re-telling of the story that really highlighted the "otherness" of Dracula while taking some liberties with the film.
This is closer to "Dracula" in that it's also a re-telling of the 1931 movie "Frankenstein", while adding some additional characters to give the story a different point of view. I like that we are given a more direct look at where each of the body parts came from and how they affected the Creature's personality. I also like that it makes Doctor Frankenstein into the villain, whereas in the film he's more of a conflicted anti-hero.
While I liked the story, it was really the art that stood out for me, it's a great mix of a more traditional "comic-book" art mixed with horror that works perfectly for the story.
May 18, 2025
I enjoyed this take on the classic tale and how it managed combine elements from the novel with the film’s version of the story. Also, I really enjoyed how this showed the parallels between Frankenstein and his creation. Plus, the art in this is really good and has some incredible sections that I kind of want as art on my wall. However, I wish the conclusion was more satisfying and felt more like an actual resolution to the story they were telling.
June 6, 2025
All the adaptations/re-workings of classic movie monster stories from the Universal Studios catalog have been exceptional. FRANKENSTEIN is the title that stays the closest to the original film. Some of the panels look like still from that classic black-and-white movie and evoked favorable memories.
Michael Walsh is the writer/artist, and there's a definite benefit to that. He is able to illustrate the panels exactly as he visualized them in his mind. His art is exceptional, and the choice of colors and backgrounds really take the presentation to the next level.
While the plot, conflict and resolution mirror what happens in the movie, Walsh puts a unique spin on the proceedings by telling the story through the eyes and point-of-view of a new character, a young boy who has a front row seat to every incident.
The story opens with the boy visiting the cemetery where his father is buried, only to discover grave robbers digging up bodies for mad scientist Victor Frankenstein's experiments. The Frankenstein monster ends up having his father's hands grafted to his body.
The young boy sees it all unfold, deems Victor Frankenstein and evil man, and plots revenge. Naturally he bonds with the monster, who is portrayed here as misunderstood and sympathetic.
Walsh depicts several scenes straight out of the movie, which anyone familiar with the film will recognize. I love the panel with the operating platform being raised to the sky to capture some lightening during an electrical storm. There's a famous scene in the movie where the monster befriends a young girl playing beside a lake. It's heartwarming, but a later scene shows a grieving father walking out of the water with his drowned daughter in his arms. Walsh is able to take liberties with this that the film wouldn't dare back then, and shows the monster hurling the little girl into the lake.
Fans of the movie will remember how it ended, and the conclusion is faithful to how that unfolded. The rare exception is some final words from Victor Frankenstein, who realizes it is he who is the real monster. Recommended.
Michael Walsh is the writer/artist, and there's a definite benefit to that. He is able to illustrate the panels exactly as he visualized them in his mind. His art is exceptional, and the choice of colors and backgrounds really take the presentation to the next level.
While the plot, conflict and resolution mirror what happens in the movie, Walsh puts a unique spin on the proceedings by telling the story through the eyes and point-of-view of a new character, a young boy who has a front row seat to every incident.
The story opens with the boy visiting the cemetery where his father is buried, only to discover grave robbers digging up bodies for mad scientist Victor Frankenstein's experiments. The Frankenstein monster ends up having his father's hands grafted to his body.
The young boy sees it all unfold, deems Victor Frankenstein and evil man, and plots revenge. Naturally he bonds with the monster, who is portrayed here as misunderstood and sympathetic.
Walsh depicts several scenes straight out of the movie, which anyone familiar with the film will recognize. I love the panel with the operating platform being raised to the sky to capture some lightening during an electrical storm. There's a famous scene in the movie where the monster befriends a young girl playing beside a lake. It's heartwarming, but a later scene shows a grieving father walking out of the water with his drowned daughter in his arms. Walsh is able to take liberties with this that the film wouldn't dare back then, and shows the monster hurling the little girl into the lake.
Fans of the movie will remember how it ended, and the conclusion is faithful to how that unfolded. The rare exception is some final words from Victor Frankenstein, who realizes it is he who is the real monster. Recommended.
May 8, 2025
Well, it's certainly a Frankenstein book. The big lug is brough to life, bullied, and beaten over the course of the volume. Mostly, we follow the figures around Frankenstein; in particular, a young orphan whose father's grave has been robbed for use in ol' Frank.
Some odd storytelling gaps and time jumps make for disjointed reading - characters are seemingly killed, then reappear in later scenes. Perhaps my lack of familiarity with the original novel/film hurt my appreciation of this adaptation. The artwork is the real star of the show here, well worth a perusal.
Some odd storytelling gaps and time jumps make for disjointed reading - characters are seemingly killed, then reappear in later scenes. Perhaps my lack of familiarity with the original novel/film hurt my appreciation of this adaptation. The artwork is the real star of the show here, well worth a perusal.
January 1, 2025
Read digital issues. The artwork is good and the story is a nice mix of the original story with some new elements and characters. But it was confusing at times regarding the chronology of events and, ultimately, nothing to write home about. Surprising, as I'd heard good things about it.
May 16, 2025
Inspired by the classic Universal movie, not necessarily the novel. This version leans really hard on the Doctor as the true monster. It starts that line of thought by humanizing the people who Frankenstein stole body parts from, something that most Frankenstein retellings see fit to ignore entirely or gloss over. It felt like a fresh approach to me, particularly the chapter that shows the animation of Frankenstein from the perspective of the orphan boy whose father's hands are part of the monster. There are a couple of places where the chronology gets a little confusing, and I wonder if separating the issues might have helped with that.
December 15, 2024
Following
Dracula
and Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives!, the third entry in the Universal Monsters series is an adaptation of the 1931 James Whale directed film, which itself is an adaptation of a play that was a loose adaptation of the acclaimed Mary Shelley novel. Written and drawn by The Silver Coin creator Michael Walsh, this entry in the revived Universal Monsters comic series is the most faithful yet. Walsh main change in the addition of a young boy who serves as the protagonist of the story, and it's through his eyes we witness the growing madness of Dr. Henry Frankenstein who seeks to reanimate a corpse to further the scientific understanding of life itself. The corpse chosen belongs to that of the young boy's father, which adds the emotional stakes for the story.
Each issue is titled after a specific body part that Frankenstein needs: the hands, the brain, the heart and the eyes, all leading towards the tragedy that unfolds for everyone in a small village near the Bavarian Alps. Those who have seen the movie will see numerous references and homages paid, which makes this a pretty fun read for fans of the film. The new protagonist is not the most meaningful change to the story, since for significant chunks of the narrative, he simply observes and does not participate in the way the story unfolds. One could consider the use of a young child as the protagonist, who also happens to be related to Frankenstein's monster, to be a cheap appeal to emotion. It really is just that, but that doesn't mean it also isn't effective. The tragedy of Frankenstein's monster is heightened when you can see a true loved one being affected by the blatant disregard towards humanity Henry Frankenstein shows in his pursuit of scientific achievement.
Walsh's artwork is great, and the colors by Toni Marie Griffin are inspired. Griffin often uses monochromatic compositions that craft a moody, ethereal tone to the story, but she never settles for a single color palette. Bouncing between subdued purples, inky reds and shocking greens, there is plenty of variety and they're all used appropriately for each scene. Frankenstein is a great looking book and a fun adaptation of a classic monster film.
Each issue is titled after a specific body part that Frankenstein needs: the hands, the brain, the heart and the eyes, all leading towards the tragedy that unfolds for everyone in a small village near the Bavarian Alps. Those who have seen the movie will see numerous references and homages paid, which makes this a pretty fun read for fans of the film. The new protagonist is not the most meaningful change to the story, since for significant chunks of the narrative, he simply observes and does not participate in the way the story unfolds. One could consider the use of a young child as the protagonist, who also happens to be related to Frankenstein's monster, to be a cheap appeal to emotion. It really is just that, but that doesn't mean it also isn't effective. The tragedy of Frankenstein's monster is heightened when you can see a true loved one being affected by the blatant disregard towards humanity Henry Frankenstein shows in his pursuit of scientific achievement.
Walsh's artwork is great, and the colors by Toni Marie Griffin are inspired. Griffin often uses monochromatic compositions that craft a moody, ethereal tone to the story, but she never settles for a single color palette. Bouncing between subdued purples, inky reds and shocking greens, there is plenty of variety and they're all used appropriately for each scene. Frankenstein is a great looking book and a fun adaptation of a classic monster film.
April 21, 2025
Absolutely brilliant. Loved this so much. For once, the dramatic quotations from industry legends on the front and back are not hyperbole. The art is insanely good, and the conceit of involving the orphan in the narrative turns out to be the complete opposite of jumping the shark. Highly recommended.
June 12, 2025
Hmm, this wasn't quite as good as I was hoping.
A little while ago, I read "Universal Monsters: Dracula" and really enjoyed that, so I had high hopes for this too.
The story of Frankenstein is quite a sad one, I've always thought. Amongst the horror of Frankenstein creating his 'monster' from previously deceased body parts, the story is deeply sad due to Frankenstein's rejection of the thing that he has created. Personally, I didn't get this from this particular interpretation. And, I may be stupid, but why is the creator Henry Frankenstein and not Victor Frankenstein?
The reason that I have awarded only two stars is because this story just didn't seem to come together (no pun intended, for a tale in which a being is made up of various different parts) the way that I had hoped it would. The story seemed to be a little confused, in the sense that people came to Henry, to try and reason with him and stop him from his experiment, for them to go away, and then to come back to him again. This meant that the tale really came across as a superficial telling of Frankenstein's story. There was also little examination of his creation. For the original, the creation is named Adam, but here there is no name given, and no real sense of what was happening for him.
In the end, this tale fell a little flat for me; I didn't really sense any kind of horror either, and this was a real shame. As a lover of the original Frankenstein tale, I would suggest you looking elsewhere for a new interpretation on it.
A little while ago, I read "Universal Monsters: Dracula" and really enjoyed that, so I had high hopes for this too.
The story of Frankenstein is quite a sad one, I've always thought. Amongst the horror of Frankenstein creating his 'monster' from previously deceased body parts, the story is deeply sad due to Frankenstein's rejection of the thing that he has created. Personally, I didn't get this from this particular interpretation. And, I may be stupid, but why is the creator Henry Frankenstein and not Victor Frankenstein?
The reason that I have awarded only two stars is because this story just didn't seem to come together (no pun intended, for a tale in which a being is made up of various different parts) the way that I had hoped it would. The story seemed to be a little confused, in the sense that people came to Henry, to try and reason with him and stop him from his experiment, for them to go away, and then to come back to him again. This meant that the tale really came across as a superficial telling of Frankenstein's story. There was also little examination of his creation. For the original, the creation is named Adam, but here there is no name given, and no real sense of what was happening for him.
In the end, this tale fell a little flat for me; I didn't really sense any kind of horror either, and this was a real shame. As a lover of the original Frankenstein tale, I would suggest you looking elsewhere for a new interpretation on it.
December 17, 2025
A fairly faithful adaptation of the classic 1931 Universal talkie, told largely from the point of view of new characters.
It's a great story, and wonderfully illustrated, but it lumbers awkwardly. Individual moments and panels are evocative, but it's often unclear who the characters are and the transitions and narrative would be confusing if I weren't familiar with the film. It's a clunky implementation.
It's a great story, and wonderfully illustrated, but it lumbers awkwardly. Individual moments and panels are evocative, but it's often unclear who the characters are and the transitions and narrative would be confusing if I weren't familiar with the film. It's a clunky implementation.
October 19, 2025
Maybe I'm biased becasue I like Frankenstein, but I thought this was the best Universal Monsters adaptation of the three that are out. Michael Walsh's Art fits the story so well, and the colors by Toni Marie Griffen are stunning. The new framing of the Frankenstein story around the pieces of the monster, and a young boy who's father is part of it is so smart.
June 8, 2025
5☆'s
July 13, 2025
An amazing graphic novel that really dives deep into the 1931 Frankenstein film to offer a unique perspective.
April 30, 2025
Excellent. Maybe the best of the new Universal Monster line.
June 4, 2026
Second foray into the Universal Monster comics, and they’re such a nicer offering than the movies they’ve been putting out in the last decade.
Aside from that amazing cover, the art for Frankenstein is a step down from Dracula, but the framing concept is awesome. I had a similar idea a while back to connect an anthology of short stories, and shocked to see that’s sort of the glue that holds this one together. I was relieved to see it’s not exactly the same, so I may still try it out in the future.
There aren’t as many (any?) deviations from the 1931 classic. Instead, we see the movie from the POV of a new character. It’s kinda silly to imagine that there was a child witnessing every important scene in the movie from just off-screen, but it’s really a touching story, and ties together so nicely in the end. Kinda beautiful!
Aside from that amazing cover, the art for Frankenstein is a step down from Dracula, but the framing concept is awesome. I had a similar idea a while back to connect an anthology of short stories, and shocked to see that’s sort of the glue that holds this one together. I was relieved to see it’s not exactly the same, so I may still try it out in the future.
There aren’t as many (any?) deviations from the 1931 classic. Instead, we see the movie from the POV of a new character. It’s kinda silly to imagine that there was a child witnessing every important scene in the movie from just off-screen, but it’s really a touching story, and ties together so nicely in the end. Kinda beautiful!
October 25, 2025
Just finished this and really loved it. Walsh delivers a dark, emotional take on the classic story that feels both familiar and new. His art is incredible — moody, cinematic, and full of texture. You can almost feel the chill in the air as the story unfolds.
This version leans hard into the tragedy of Frankenstein and his creation — more about guilt, grief, and consequence than simple horror. The monster feels genuinely human, and the ending hits harder because of it. This Frankenstein isn’t about jump scares — it’s about obsession, guilt, and the need to create meaning in the face of loss. The creature is both terrifying and heartbreakingly human, a mirror for the doctor’s arrogance and loneliness.
It’s a beautiful and haunting read — Walsh captures what makes the old Universal movies timeless while giving it his own modern edge. ★★★★½
This version leans hard into the tragedy of Frankenstein and his creation — more about guilt, grief, and consequence than simple horror. The monster feels genuinely human, and the ending hits harder because of it. This Frankenstein isn’t about jump scares — it’s about obsession, guilt, and the need to create meaning in the face of loss. The creature is both terrifying and heartbreakingly human, a mirror for the doctor’s arrogance and loneliness.
It’s a beautiful and haunting read — Walsh captures what makes the old Universal movies timeless while giving it his own modern edge. ★★★★½
January 23, 2026
I'm sorry, was there a story here I missed?
This wasn't a story, much less a story about Frankenstein and his monster. This was a collection of scenes of dialogue that barely connected together.
Come on, Image, is there not one writer in your stable that can do something interesting with the Universal Monsters? Three for three now, all not good. Pretty pictures, lousy story.
This wasn't a story, much less a story about Frankenstein and his monster. This was a collection of scenes of dialogue that barely connected together.
Come on, Image, is there not one writer in your stable that can do something interesting with the Universal Monsters? Three for three now, all not good. Pretty pictures, lousy story.
Read
October 27, 2025so far, this universal monster sticks most closely to the original, at least from what I've read so far. the art is good but not groundbreaking, the story would have been better if it took more risks, but it's still a pretty good comic.
January 23, 2025
Thought this one was the best of the three so far. Art and colour really matched the Frankenstein story. Didn't feel rushed or too distant from the original story either.
September 3, 2026
Great art and I love the concept of telling stories in and around the events of the movie. The Dracula comic from this series did the same thing, though I liked that one more because the new stories involved characters from the film.
Frankenstein mostly invents new characters around the various body parts used to build the Creature, but those stories don't get enough resolution for me. There's a young boy whom I was eager to follow, but his tale ends undramatically (though in an appropriately melancholy way).
One of the movie characters who gets explored is Elizabeth, which is great. I loved the focus on her. Fritz gets some attention too. I wish Victor and Waldman got more.
Frankenstein mostly invents new characters around the various body parts used to build the Creature, but those stories don't get enough resolution for me. There's a young boy whom I was eager to follow, but his tale ends undramatically (though in an appropriately melancholy way).
One of the movie characters who gets explored is Elizabeth, which is great. I loved the focus on her. Fritz gets some attention too. I wish Victor and Waldman got more.
October 26, 2025
While it is hard to capture the depth of the story in only 4 issues, I enjoyed this adaptation overall. Particularly, there are several tweaks that give it a fresh feel: the POV of a child, a primary focus on the action *around* the monster, and a timeline that is spliced together (Frankensteined, if you will).
September 8, 2025
Con las sensibilidades modernas, la disección de cada elemento del monstruo y un homenaje visual y literaria impactante, Michael Walsh construye una de las versiones definitivas de la obra de Mary Shelley.
October 10, 2025
This was a quick, entertaining read. The artwork really suits this story well. It's not my favorite of the Universal Monster series but I really enjoyed it and would recommend...will definitely read this again in the future.
September 13, 2026
This is a fun extension of the Universal Monster version of Frankenstein. Beautiful art and some additional side and back stories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews