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Puffin Graphics: Frankenstein
Victor Frankenstein, a Swiss scientist, has a great ambition: to create intelligent life. But when his creature first stirs, he realizes he has constructed a monster. Abandoned by its maker and shunned by everyone who sees it, the monster turns on its creator and haunts Dr. Frankenstein with murder and horrors to the very ends of the earth. Artist Frazer Irving's cinematic and moving portrayal of the doctor and his creation is sympathetic and powerful.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2005
3 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Gary Reed
323 books11 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Gary Reed was a prolific comic book writer and publisher. He was formerly the publisher of Caliber Comics and Vice President of McFarlane Toys.
Also wrote under assumed names (including Brent Truax, Kyle Garrett, Randall Thayer).
Gary Reed was a prolific comic book writer and publisher. He was formerly the publisher of Caliber Comics and Vice President of McFarlane Toys.
Also wrote under assumed names (including Brent Truax, Kyle Garrett, Randall Thayer).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 16, 2015
I thought it was a very adventures. I truly loved the book. There was a lot of action and some sad parts. But overall I think it is a great book to read
March 1, 2018
Good, but the grins on the characters' faces were a bit horrifying!
October 28, 2021
"So master... a bride for a bride. Now you can suffer as I have suffered".
Frankenstein! This classic doesn't need much introduction. I am so glad to get around this book, even if it was the graphic novel. The images in this puffin edition were incredible, black and white images never looked this good.
Many people deal with tragedy in different ways, Mary Shelley's life was surrounded in tragedy. Her life was less than fairy tale, loosing her mother at birth, surrounded by a step mother who despises her and an absent father. Her husband, a famous writer of the 1800's, motivated her to write horror stories and thus she created one of the most memorable stories ever told.
This novel is one of those novels were we can discuss for days on end about what it means to be alive and how humans mold the creature into a heartless killing machine. Even with all the injustice the creature endures, he has seen beauty in people, but the damage was already done. It's hard not to feel sorry for the creature, he never asked to be brought into this world and let alone being left abandoned by it's creator Dr. Victor Frankenstein.
Growing up, I've always watched the different adaptations of the book, from Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, and Robert De Niro. They all made the creature their own and they will forever be immortalized.
Frankenstein! This classic doesn't need much introduction. I am so glad to get around this book, even if it was the graphic novel. The images in this puffin edition were incredible, black and white images never looked this good.
Many people deal with tragedy in different ways, Mary Shelley's life was surrounded in tragedy. Her life was less than fairy tale, loosing her mother at birth, surrounded by a step mother who despises her and an absent father. Her husband, a famous writer of the 1800's, motivated her to write horror stories and thus she created one of the most memorable stories ever told.
This novel is one of those novels were we can discuss for days on end about what it means to be alive and how humans mold the creature into a heartless killing machine. Even with all the injustice the creature endures, he has seen beauty in people, but the damage was already done. It's hard not to feel sorry for the creature, he never asked to be brought into this world and let alone being left abandoned by it's creator Dr. Victor Frankenstein.
Growing up, I've always watched the different adaptations of the book, from Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, and Robert De Niro. They all made the creature their own and they will forever be immortalized.
April 30, 2021
A good adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic. The illustrations were pretty good and done in a way that was rather german expressionist and was appropriate for the gothic nature of the tale. The story is basically to the point, but keeps true to the mystery of how Victor made his creation. Very enjoyable.
March 27, 2019
It shows the story of a man named Victor Frankenstein and his life story along with the monster he created and his search of it after some events. I liked the book a lot because it was easy to follow and the imagery was very good and you could feel the main character's emotion. It had very good imagery and the words helped with it.
March 6, 2023
Frankenstein is one of my favourite books ever. This adaptation was perfect, it was quick and got to all the important parts. The illustrations really captured the darkness that is this story. This is great to read if you don’t want to go through the length of the original novel. It was still very impactful. Mary Shelley is literally a girl boss queen slay with her romantic literature oh my god i will never shut up about this book.
October 20, 2019
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein:The Graphic Novel
Adapted by Gary Reed
2005
Puffin Graphics
4.0/5.0
This graphic depiction stay true to Shelley's story withoutvthe epistolary storyline. The graphics are good, but the faces are creepy.
Recommended
#teamslaughter #scarathon #theme suspense
@clwojick
Adapted by Gary Reed
2005
Puffin Graphics
4.0/5.0
This graphic depiction stay true to Shelley's story withoutvthe epistolary storyline. The graphics are good, but the faces are creepy.
Recommended
#teamslaughter #scarathon #theme suspense
@clwojick
May 28, 2020
For someone who only gave the original version 2 stars, I’m rather surprised at how much I loved this adaptation. I think it’s because of how the adaptation succinctly portrays Frankenstein for the monster that he is! The Monster’s humanness really shines.
July 22, 2018
A very quick read. Beautiful, tragic and just amazing. Illustrated well.
July 4, 2019
3.5 stars
June 18, 2020
3,5 stars rounded up to 4.
It is a faithful and good summary of the original story. The art style with the exception of the monster was weird.
It is a faithful and good summary of the original story. The art style with the exception of the monster was weird.
October 13, 2022
I thought that the book was awesome and that it deserved a lot of good ratings because the book was great.
April 4, 2024
I'm rounding up, it's really a 3.5
The art style is definitely an acquired taste.
The art style is definitely an acquired taste.
November 19, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ definitely want to read the classic version of frankenstein!!
August 9, 2025
This was definitely a quick and easy way to read the story of Frankenstein. The art style was definitely creepy and unsettling which works well alongside the storyline.
May 31, 2014
Summary:
The story begins with captain Robert Walton who is on a journey to explore the North Pole. Across the thick ice he finds a man laying, he takes him aboard ship and nurses him back to health. The story shifts and the man, Victor Frankenstein, becomes the narrator. When the man wakes up he tells Walton about his creation.
Victor was a smart man who studied Chemistry in college and seeked knowledge about life. He spends months creating a creature out of old body parts and one night his creation comes to life. When he looks at the monster he created he was horrified. Victor tries to escape his terrible mistake and returns home, only to find out that the creature killed his young brother.
The story shifts once more and the creature becomes the narrator. He encounters Victor and asks him to listen to his side of the story. When the creature awakened his own creator run away from him, wherever we went he was treated badly and was called a “monster” even when he tried to do nice things. No matter what he did he just couldn’t fit in, he was shunned and lonely. The creature decided to treat humans just as bad and one day he encountered Victor’s brother, who called him a monster and tried to hurt him, which angered the creature and made him kill the boy instantly.
Then the creature asks Victor to create him a bride so that he is not lonely, and promises that he will leave Victor alone. Victor couldn’t allow the “monster” to breed and create more of him. As a result, the monster kills Victor’s bride on his wedding night. After losing everything, Victor goes after the monster and swears to kill him.
The story shifts back to Robert Walton, as Victor was telling him the story. Sadly, Victor was too weak and died, and the creature came to see Victor on his deathbed then disappeared into the ice.
Reflection:
The story of Frankenstein is very fascinating. I really liked the shifts in the novel, it made it more interesting to read from different point of views. The artwork was also very good; it brought the story to life. I really enjoy reading graphic novels because I get to see great illustrations and actions taking place, it is almost like watching a movie. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes reading fantasy books.
The story begins with captain Robert Walton who is on a journey to explore the North Pole. Across the thick ice he finds a man laying, he takes him aboard ship and nurses him back to health. The story shifts and the man, Victor Frankenstein, becomes the narrator. When the man wakes up he tells Walton about his creation.
Victor was a smart man who studied Chemistry in college and seeked knowledge about life. He spends months creating a creature out of old body parts and one night his creation comes to life. When he looks at the monster he created he was horrified. Victor tries to escape his terrible mistake and returns home, only to find out that the creature killed his young brother.
The story shifts once more and the creature becomes the narrator. He encounters Victor and asks him to listen to his side of the story. When the creature awakened his own creator run away from him, wherever we went he was treated badly and was called a “monster” even when he tried to do nice things. No matter what he did he just couldn’t fit in, he was shunned and lonely. The creature decided to treat humans just as bad and one day he encountered Victor’s brother, who called him a monster and tried to hurt him, which angered the creature and made him kill the boy instantly.
Then the creature asks Victor to create him a bride so that he is not lonely, and promises that he will leave Victor alone. Victor couldn’t allow the “monster” to breed and create more of him. As a result, the monster kills Victor’s bride on his wedding night. After losing everything, Victor goes after the monster and swears to kill him.
The story shifts back to Robert Walton, as Victor was telling him the story. Sadly, Victor was too weak and died, and the creature came to see Victor on his deathbed then disappeared into the ice.
Reflection:
The story of Frankenstein is very fascinating. I really liked the shifts in the novel, it made it more interesting to read from different point of views. The artwork was also very good; it brought the story to life. I really enjoy reading graphic novels because I get to see great illustrations and actions taking place, it is almost like watching a movie. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes reading fantasy books.
Read
October 1, 2008victor learn the secret of life and creates a human-like monster using different organ form differnthuman dodies.
Alphonse his father writes to victor telling him to come home immediatly,since an unkown person mudered his youngest brother,William JustineMortiz,their housekeeper is falsey accused of the muder of William,and she goes to the jail.Victor knows who the killer is but cannot tell his family or the police.He journey ou to Geneva to meet his girlfriend.when he sees the monster, coming towards victor 'make mea mate of my own' said the monster,but victor refuses.Then the monster toldhis Story. It starts his story from a Small hut on the mountain where he saw A girl and fell in love wither, the monster has taught himself to read and understand language so that he can marry'De Lacey's hisgirlfriend while the monster wanders around the mountains, he comes upon a Jacket with a notebook inside, from the notes, the monster learn of his creation. After reading the notes the went to Propose to his girlfriend, but she rejected him. He has now know the reasons why mankind rejected him and he has decided to take revenge on his creator's Family. As vitor refuses to make a second monster, but hewas convinced when the monster assures victor that he will leave Europe and move to south America Victor agrees to begin his work and makes plans to go to England, with Henry Clerval. Beforehe leaves 'Geneva, victor agrees to marry Elizabethbut for unknown reasons, the monster killed Elizabeth. Victor destory his project anta goes up for a revenge on the monster, he searches all the Places, when he end up in Ireland and was exhausted. when a passing by ship saved him form his near death From exhaustion. The monster enters the Cabin of the shipana kills victor. Then ais appears in the waves and darkness,and never to be seen again.
Alphonse his father writes to victor telling him to come home immediatly,since an unkown person mudered his youngest brother,William JustineMortiz,their housekeeper is falsey accused of the muder of William,and she goes to the jail.Victor knows who the killer is but cannot tell his family or the police.He journey ou to Geneva to meet his girlfriend.when he sees the monster, coming towards victor 'make mea mate of my own' said the monster,but victor refuses.Then the monster toldhis Story. It starts his story from a Small hut on the mountain where he saw A girl and fell in love wither, the monster has taught himself to read and understand language so that he can marry'De Lacey's hisgirlfriend while the monster wanders around the mountains, he comes upon a Jacket with a notebook inside, from the notes, the monster learn of his creation. After reading the notes the went to Propose to his girlfriend, but she rejected him. He has now know the reasons why mankind rejected him and he has decided to take revenge on his creator's Family. As vitor refuses to make a second monster, but hewas convinced when the monster assures victor that he will leave Europe and move to south America Victor agrees to begin his work and makes plans to go to England, with Henry Clerval. Beforehe leaves 'Geneva, victor agrees to marry Elizabethbut for unknown reasons, the monster killed Elizabeth. Victor destory his project anta goes up for a revenge on the monster, he searches all the Places, when he end up in Ireland and was exhausted. when a passing by ship saved him form his near death From exhaustion. The monster enters the Cabin of the shipana kills victor. Then ais appears in the waves and darkness,and never to be seen again.
November 4, 2016
If one like stories about a monster, especially one that is made by a scientist who tries to kill it, then this book is for this reader.
To begin, the plot of Frankenstein focuses on a man named Victor Frankenstein and the monster. The first major event occurs when Victor Frankenstein creates the monster and brings him back to life. Victor said, “I heard a deep breath a gulping breath and my creation my perfect creation was alive”(p27). Another major event focuses on Victor coming face to face with his creation. A final important event occurs when Victor is the only one left in his family that the monster has not killed yet, so he tries to hurt down the monster. And, the plot becomes even more interesting!
Next, the major conflicts in Frankenstein are Victor’s brother dies, Victor create’s a wife for the monster, and Victor’s wife dies. The conflict begins when Victor’s brother, William, is killed by the monster. The conflict continues because Victor creates a wife for the monster, but he decides to destroy it so there will not be a race of monsters. One of the most important moments in the conflict occurs when the monster kills Victor’s wife, Elizabeth, at the wedding night. The monster say, “ so master a bride for a bride now you can suffer as I have suffered”(p122).
Finally Frankenstein does not have weaknesses,but it had strengths. There is no weak point in the book. One major strength of the novel is the artwork in it. The picture are in black and white, and that sets the mood for the story and the way the pictures are arranged in the book that give it a comic book look .
Thus, Frankenstein is a great book for readers who like monsters, horror, and a book that tells the past of someone in the present time.
To begin, the plot of Frankenstein focuses on a man named Victor Frankenstein and the monster. The first major event occurs when Victor Frankenstein creates the monster and brings him back to life. Victor said, “I heard a deep breath a gulping breath and my creation my perfect creation was alive”(p27). Another major event focuses on Victor coming face to face with his creation. A final important event occurs when Victor is the only one left in his family that the monster has not killed yet, so he tries to hurt down the monster. And, the plot becomes even more interesting!
Next, the major conflicts in Frankenstein are Victor’s brother dies, Victor create’s a wife for the monster, and Victor’s wife dies. The conflict begins when Victor’s brother, William, is killed by the monster. The conflict continues because Victor creates a wife for the monster, but he decides to destroy it so there will not be a race of monsters. One of the most important moments in the conflict occurs when the monster kills Victor’s wife, Elizabeth, at the wedding night. The monster say, “ so master a bride for a bride now you can suffer as I have suffered”(p122).
Finally Frankenstein does not have weaknesses,but it had strengths. There is no weak point in the book. One major strength of the novel is the artwork in it. The picture are in black and white, and that sets the mood for the story and the way the pictures are arranged in the book that give it a comic book look .
Thus, Frankenstein is a great book for readers who like monsters, horror, and a book that tells the past of someone in the present time.
November 19, 2013
I was discussing with a regular library patron that I used to read the comic book versions of classic literature as a child. He loaned graphic novel version of Mary Shelley's classic story. I liked it, but only because I am very familiar with the story anyway. Otherwise, I don't think it's a very good graphic novel. While I know it's hard to adapt a long novel to a short story but to tell the story you shouldn't mention a character, in this case Justine, without giving any clue who she is to the narrator. There are some typographical errors and the illustrations lean toward the caricature at times.
March 8, 2015
A horrifying tale brought to visual clarity, this retelling stays fairly true to the original story with little variation, although it is in a briefer form. Irving's portrayal of the monster's desiccated flesh and pitiable attitude convey the story swiftly to the reader. This is a good edition as a quick re-reading of the tale, the black and white illustrations increasing the gothic feel of the story. I would not, however, recommend this as an initial introduction to M. Shelley, since there are many deeper story themes that may be lost by a reader with only a perfunctory knowledge of the story.
November 16, 2008
While Victor Frankenstein's narrative easily becomes melodramatic at instances, especially in his times of sorrow (which are rather repetitive, truth be told), I still enjoyed this book greatly. The wording is beautiful and told with a wonderful style that can only be found in books of older age. I definitely recommend reading this book to anyone who enjoys classics.
May 8, 2015
I love the story of Frankenstein, but this graphic novel really didn't do it justice for me. Yeah, it had the words of the story, but the artwork didn't work for me. It was pretty darkly colored, and it wasn't very detailed which made it hard to enjoy. i get it's a gothic story, but the art could have been dark without ruining the clarity.
October 13, 2008
One of the three boys reading this in my class today shouted, "He killed Elizabeth!" and almost got beat up. This is a great way to introduce the classics before they can read those intricate sentences. Huzzah for Puffin.
February 24, 2010
Wow! Love this book. Too bad the movies have completely ruined the story. This book asks the question which is the monster and which is the man in no uncertain terms. It makes one look at ones self and wonder.
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August 9, 2011Una más que aceptable adaptación del clásico de la Shelley al formato de la historieta, bien sintetizada e ilustrada en blanco y negro con gusto y expresividad por Frazer Irving. Contiene un making of, donde nos enteramos, sorprendidos, que los dibujos han sido realizados con Photoshop.
July 1, 2016
A great introduction to a classic story! Leaves the reader wondering who the monster is: the creation who wanted peace and friendship, or the humans who denied him at every turn? The black and white art reminds me of woodblock prints or engravings.
February 24, 2010
Not the graphic novel, I read the real book.
August 3, 2011
Decent retelling of the story, but some of the illustrations were off. Many had big heads and one guy looked exactly the same in all of the pictures.
September 19, 2015
Not the greatest graphic novel I've read.... I was not a fan of the black and white graphics. I know the story is "dark" but really this took dark to a whole new level. Super sad/depressing story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews