Stuff of Nightmares: The Monster Makers

Stuff of Nightmares #1

by R.L. Stine, A.L. Kaplan (Illustrator)

A Modern Retelling of the Horror Classic Frankenstein, Perfect for Fans of Fear Street, Jekyll, and The Invisible Man!

The master of horror returns to comics with this fresh reanimation of a horror classic! The iconic R.L. Stine is joined by artist A.L. Kaplan (Maw, Jim Henson's The Storyteller) in this twisted retelling of Frankenstein. You might be familiar with the story of a mad scientist hell-bent on creating life, but what these two demented brothers have made is something else entirely! Horror lovers won’t want to miss this imaginative retelling with more than a few twists, as R.L. Stine takes on one of the most iconic stories in horror history! Collects Stuff of Nightmares #1-4.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Horror, Comics, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Halloween, Adult

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2023

About the author

Robert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.

R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.

Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.

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Reviews

[Austin Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adult horror comic by R.L. Stine. I was excited going into this as a massive Stine fan and also being somewhat new to comics. That said, I don't have much to compare this to or a standard to hold it against, so seasoned comic book readers might want to take this lightly; I really enjoyed this.

This is essentially a campy and gory modern retelling of Frankenstein. Two brothers try to create life from dead bodies, and what ensues is a lot of fun and carnage. I loved the bloody illustrations, and the story, while a bit jam-packed into this short four-issue comic, was engaging.
I also really enjoyed The Nightmare Keeper; Stine's version of the Crypt Keeper.

The ending was a bit abrupt and overall I wished it would have been longer, but this was fun to read and I REALLY hope Stine brings back The Nightmare Keeper with another story in the future, maybe with an anthology format this time.

3.5⭐ rounded up to 4⭐

[Matthew Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgia. Wildly fun. Grossly entertaining. R. L. Stine. This book probably doesn’t deserve 4 stars, but it gets it from me anyway! This book was a time machine for me that hit me hard with nostalgia in a way that took me back to my nerdy Goosebumps loving days. This book wasn’t perfect, but it was very much R.L. Stine writing a quick horror story that kept my attention and had me predicting and guessing the next thing to happen along the way. There were times where I was actively thinking how this book would’ve been better if they did this or this book felt a little too rushed here, but I’m still very much here for adult horror comics written by my absolute favorite childhood author! Give me a million issues of R.L. Stine doing his kind of horror comics thing (and give Frankie from this volume his own solo mini also) and I’ll continue to read them! It’s quite possible I could read some future books of his and realize my excitement at this first book was just that, but until that happens, bring ‘em on! And again, let’s go Frankie!

[Dávid Novotný · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite disappointing. Covers and art somehow promised old school pulp horror story. But instead of it, we get shallow rip off of Frankenstein. Where original story was contemplation about humanity, this one is just mindless brain transfer between dead bodies that doesn't make sense and it is full of plot holes. Start was promising, but unfortunately with each issue it was worse and worse.

Concept of narrator, who is Nightmare Keeper and collector of various bizarre items is interesting, but wasn't used to full potential. I would rather to read short story about things from his collection than one we actually did get...

Art was amazing, I really liked rough shapes, work with shadow and sometimes crazy coloring, I think it really embodied the pulp feeling, unfortunately visual side is not enough (although here really helps) and whole book would benefit from better script...

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic new horror story by the master of horror himself. This one is NOT for kids. Lots of gore and gnarly monsters ripping people to shreds. A delightful re-imagining of Frankenstein, with a Stuart Gordon bent a la Re-Animator.

[TIFFY ⭐️🥂 · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the lol 😂 it was okay for the scary graphic novel that it was the art was fun though the story idk bizarre for my liking lol

[ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

frankie is a big monster!!

[Mehsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the actual fuck did I just read. XD

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually am a big Stine guy but the Frankenstein story is a bit overdone.

[Jenn Palomino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet but make it spooky.

[Magda Beret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo przyjemny horror z nawiązaniami do klasyki. Mały Frankie był uroczy.

[Joey Vich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and fun and gruesome , but don’t pick up thinking you’re going to get super enriched characters

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

Stuff of Nightmares: The Monster Makers was a fun and extremely gory, Frankenstein inspired, story. However, it felt too skippy which let this story down.

[Ondřej Halíř · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5
Steinův Re-Animator, kde místo dvou spolubydlících tu máme dva bráchy co se snaží z částí těl tvořit monstra a nechat se zvěčnit v dějinách. No a je to prostě několikrát viděný námět ale s fajn kresbou která vyloženě vystihuje osmdesátkové horory, je tu i obdoba Crypt Keepera a ujetá atmosféra spolu s lehčím gorém z toho dělají fajn žánrovku. Nuda to nebyla a fakt jsem se bavil, jen to mohlo ve všech aspektech přitlačit na pilu. Takhle jen jde o pohodovku která ale ničím nepřekvapí.

[BannedBibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

Genre: Adult Horror (Graphic Novel)

Themes: Science Gone Wrong, Rival Siblings, Dangerous Ambition

Premise:
The Nightmare Keeper presides over a mysterious library, but instead of books, he collects strange, macabre items and the stories associated with them. Eager to share sordid details with his audience (the reader), he's currently showcasing a small, mummified corpse and discussing the Cameron brothers' tale. In the same vein as Frankenstein , Jordan and Isaac Cameron are scientists inspired to generate life using body parts from animals and the deceased, and as with the original narrative, the creators get more than they bargained for when their creations react in ways they could've never expected.

My Thoughts:
A lot of people my age have nostalgic memories associated with R.L. Stine, whether it be from his Goosebumps or Fear Street series, but I regrettably got into his work long after I aged out of his target audience. The Monster Makers is a rare treat from Stine as it's a story intended for adults, which is probably the reason I appreciated this body of work more than his others. The graphic novel is gory and entertaining, blending elements reminiscent of Frankenstein and subsequent media inspired by it, particularly Re-Animator, in a familiar yet enjoyable way. While derivative of its source material, the book's still delightfully its own, hitting the traditional beats expected from the original gothic story but standing apart thanks to Stine's signature touch embedded in his love for thrills and the macabre. You can tell the author was having a blast with his script. It's playful and campy, while still packing a few well-placed chills and anticipated kills.

Of the trademark references you'd expect from Frankenstein reimaginings, most are all here, including examinations of self-destruction and unchecked ambition, but my attention was drawn to the struggles of a family imploding. Two brothers whose personal and scientific appetites rival their familial allegiances made for a quick read, and the drama of a family turned against itself had an addicting effect on me. It's evident that shared blood does not translate to unwavering devotion for these two men, and you immediately want to throttle Isaac for his inability to see beyond his lust for glory and recognition. Yet, that same frustration makes his destruction all the more delicious. You crave to see him thrown from his pedestal, forced to confront the tragedies he's orchestrated in the name of advancement and laurels he's determined to receive. On the other hand, the brothers' monsters demonstrated they don't need to be genetically related to work together for a common cause. They advance throughout the story as one, sticking by each other's side despite an absence of hereditary obligation. How sad is it that complete strangers, albeit ones who share the same circumstances, have a stronger urge to stand by each other than two people who grew up together? The distinction between their relationships gnawed at my brain, and just like in the classic tale, readers are left to decide for themselves who better deserves the title of "monster" -- the humans or their creations.

In terms of characters, don't expect huge strides made in their development. The brothers start out incredibly unlikable, and that's the way they primarily remain. While their arc is one of tragedy, the book's overall mood is lightened by the Nightmare Keeper, a host who keeps the tale moving and interjects with commentary much like the Creep or Crypt Keeper. He's over the top, introducing heavy theatrics rich in awareness and shock value. My favorite character, though, is Frankie, the brothers' crowning achievement. He's the "monster" they find most promising thanks to a curbed bloodlust his predecessors indulge in. Small and child-like, Frankie seems to grasp the world around him but lacks the ability to voice his needs beyond the most basic request of "help me." His recurring plea sent chills down my spine as he regularly communicated the only way he knew how. What he becomes by the end made my jaw drop!

Conclusion:
The Monster Makers isn't brand new material to sink your teeth into, but it's fun nonetheless. It's an indulgent take on campy horror grounded in a genuine love for the genre as well as comic books and graphic novels. I found it hard to resist a book penned by the legendary R.L. Stine himself, and I fell prey to the hype surrounding his name. Luckily, this installment in his impressive catalog of work is one I found myself loving. Not everyone will be into this quick take on Frankenstein, but if you want a gory tale that feels inspired by formats like Tales from the Crypt, then I recommend borrowing this one from your local library at the very least. I'd love to see Stuff of Nightmares become a regular series, but after two years and no new title on the horizon, I fear The Monster Makers is all we're going to get.

Recommended for those who enjoy:
💀 Universal Monsters
💀 Frankenstein Retellings
💀 Re-Animator Vibes
💀 Campy Horror
💀 and Mad Science

[Travis · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I am familiar with R.L. Stine, I have never read any the author's works until this book. So I have no nostalgia for things like Goosebumps. I am also familiar with the old EC Comics (such as The EC Archives: The Vault of Horror, Vol. 1), I have not read any of them, either. So, again, I have no real nostalgia for those old horror comics.

Maybe that is why this miniseries, written by R.L. Stine and evoking EC Comics, just didn't work for me.

This is clearly a horror comic for adult audiences, not the Goosebumps crowd. Pretty much every character winds up dead in some way. There's lots of gore splashed on the page, from monsters attacking people to mad body science. This series definitely does not shy away from that aspect of horror.

But R.L. Stine never really picks a lane with the tone. One moment it feels like straight horror. The next minute there's a cheesy pun or terrible joke. Then there's a potentially postmodern wink to the audience. It's fine to mix tones, just look at Evil Dead 2 or Scream. But it just doesn't wind up working here.

The plot doesn't help matters, either. Time jumps with little explanation. Characters move from one spot to another without a care for continuity. You don't expect things to always make perfect sense in horror (otherwise most victims would never open the scary door), but basic principles of plot and character still have to be honored.

The art is workmanlike. It evokes the EC Comics well enough. Some characters look like other pop culture icons (WWE's Paul Bearer, Batman's Solomon Grundy) although those are themselves mostly inspired by old horror references so it's mostly all the same references. There are a lot of flying heads in the monster attack splash pages, which doesn't necessarily make sense but adds to the visual flair.

Overall, I was grossly underwhelmed by my first exposure to R.L. Stine. It's unfair to judge an author when they attempt to write outside their normal medium, though. I would stick with Stine's prose books and steer clear of this comic.

[Tom Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

R.L. Stine provides a horror story for older readers, a modern take on the Frankenstein story.

While being aware of Stine's work, I've not really read any of his stories, so I can only judge this on its own merits. Though taking place in the present day, the story has a 50's horror aesthetic which I found appealing. Additionally, it's structured with a framing sequence of a "master of nightmares" who serves as storyteller/host, a clear homage to characters such as EC Comics' Cryptkeeper from Tales from the Crypt.

Unfortunately, there's little in the way of characterization present, each of the characters essentially representing a particular type present in many old horror stories and films, with little development through the story. If contained to a short story where the concept and shock value are key it wouldn't be such an issue, but this collection represents a 4-issue story arc, so it feels decompressed yet not taking advantage of the added length to enrich the story and characters.

I did find the art to be well done and a good match to the material. A.L. Kaplan is unfamiliar to me, but his art provides a proper noir quality, utilizing shadows in an effective manner reminiscent of Mike Mignola. I hope to encounter his work in the future.

Ultimately, while entertaining, this story goes longer than it really should have given the limited plot and characterization.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan bring back the classic horror comic format with their miniseries Stuff of Nightmares. Operating out of a remote beach bunker, Isaac and Jordan Cameron are working on creating life. Aided by Stella Gregory, the brothers have been able to reanimate a childlike creature dubbed Frankie. The unexpected arrival of a newspaper reporter and her date leads to a violent altercation with Isaac, and viral video of the incident puts the brothers in the crosshairs of the police. Fleeing to the Outer Banks, Isaac adds to his murder rate by killing both Jordan and Stella - and only successfully reviving one of them. In a final showdown between the experiments and the police, it is Frankie who finally comes out on top, with cruel plans for his creator. Stine still shines at making fast-paced thrillers for the young audience no matter the format. The opening narration sequences, featuring a mysterious collector, are the true highlights of this reworked Frankenstein tale. However, the characterization in the main storyline is much more flat and dull, having only four comic issues to work with instead of his usual multi-chapter novelizations. Art chores from Kaplan are decent, thriving better in facial closeups than the action sequences. Stuff of Nightmares is a decent homage to the classic horror comics of yesteryear, which can only improve with time.

[Brady John Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and gory retelling of the Frankenstein story by the great R.L. Stine.
I grew up reading and watching goosebumps and devouring as much horror content as I could (a hobby that continues to this day) so to have him create adult orientated graphic novels is a joy for fans like myself.
As for the story here it’s pretty much what you’d expect but with a few new twists and turns, two brothers try to create life using the dead with gruesome results, a love interest and some failed creations who ultimately come back for revenge keep the story flowing and the twists coming.
Gorgeous artwork make it an even more enjoyable read,I hope to see more of Kaplans work in the horror field.
This is all rounded of nicely with a forward by Stine and a wonderful cover gallery.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the beginning of what is sure to be a fun horror comic series. Told by a mysterious narrator with a penchant for collecting creepy artifacts, we learn of a Frankenstein-esque monster, Frankie, who was born unto two brothers and an assistant who stole body parts for their experiments. When a journalist and her friend stumble upon their house, the story is set in motion: death, fire, a great escape. What will come next?

With creepy illustrations and coloring that sets the mood, RL Stine's Stuff of Nightmares is perfect for a stormy night, to be read with the illumination of lightning.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stuff of Nightmares: The Monster Makers collects issues #1-4 of the Boom Studios comic series written by R.L. Stine, art by A.L. Kaplan, and colors by Roman Titov and Gonçalo Lopes.

The Cameron Brothers have a dream of reanimating life. They are close to a breakthrough when they receive unexpected visitors late one night at their remote beach home and lab. Events quickly deteriorate that will leave a path of wonton destruction in the brothers’ wake.

This story felt like “What if R.L Stine wrote the Re-Animator screenplay?” There are so many callouts to both the Frankenstein and Re-Animator movies. It’s a fairly predictable plot, but it’s a quick and fun read. While billed as adult story, I don’t believe the book pushes anything more than PG-13 vibes and could be a gateway to horror comics for teenage readers. The art is a nice mix of vibrant and colorful macabre scenes as well as dark and gloomy monsters that lurk in the shadows. The story itself is average at best but combining the art and R.L Stine nostalgia, milage can vary with this book.

[Travis Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little horror story from the famous R.L Stine. He has a cool intro about how comics really shaped his childhood, glad he made this for adults. This is a classic reimagining of Frankenstein and I think Stine did a great job at the reimagining. I would probably give this 4 stars but man the art in some panels is just super rushed and messy. Oh well I still really enjoyed the story of the 2 deranged brothers and Frankie. Frankie is the show stealer for sure, but the nightmare keeper is also really cool. Pretzels anyone?

[Branden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty enjoyable read. It ended up breaking down to really just be the story of Frankenstein mixed with Bride of Frankenstein, but Stine does a nice job with it. I’d read more if this series, but won’t be rushing out to find more (if there even is any more). Worth the $3 I paid at Ollie’s for it, but wouldn’t recommend for full price. An adult tale from R.L. Stine is just interesting, especially because you can still a bit of that goofiness that fill his middle grade work (which I’m obviously most familiar with). Good, but not great.

3.0 out of 5 stars

[Langston Lardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s was an enjoyable horror tale by a very iconic horror writer. It’s not the best thing I’ve ever read, but it was good and I wanted more, which isn’t a bad thing at all, but the only major nitpick I have is the ending, it was rather abrupt. I think the story needed another chapter to fully follow through on the ending instead of quickly mashing all the plot points together. Writing wise it was okay, enjoyable. Artwork wise it was really good, I really enjoyed the beautiful yet horrifying style that gives off a very pulp-gothic vibe and something reminiscent of the classic horror tales.

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clearly an homage to the newsstand horror comics of yesteryear, this is an over-the-top tale with elements of Frankenstein's monster and zombie lore. Don't expect lots of character development, but that's to be expected in this sort of story. However, the thinness of the story and the way it drops off at the end might disappoint readers.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read alot of graphic novels but my boyfriend surprised me with this as he knows I'm a collector of R. L. Stine.

I loved this so much. Its such a creepy story and is really detailed overall. The artwork by A. L. Kaplan works so well with the story.

If you are a Stine fan then you will love this one. I hope there are more to come in this series.

[Restaurant Junkie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt like it started strong but then became muddled and fell apart. It did have the R.L. Stine feel, and the artwork is great—a wonderful combination of modern composition and classic EC comics flair.

But the story is weak, an odd blender baby of Frankenstein, "The Return of the Living Dead," and "Tales from the Crypt."

It's fun but nonsensical and largely forgettable.

[Timothy Pitkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adult horror comic written by R.L. Stine that includes some genuine gore and its pretty good. It does have a little Goosebumps in it as there is a huge comedic tone to the story and I do kind of like this retelling of Frakenstein as again it does not take itself to seriously and kind of acts as a parody with how over the top Isaac becomes.

[Rayjan Koehler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read, but now I want to know what happens next (kind of ends with a cliffhanger). 😅

It is gorey-- so not for everyone, but perfect for the season. If you can stomach a little blood & guts of course.

[Fiore · Rating 2 out of 5]

The one thing I did like about this is the art. Unfortunately the characters are unappealing in dull ways and the narrator cutting in didn't help much at all in making it anything aside from vaguely annoying.

[Sian D · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cool twist on the Frankenstein story. I loved Roman Titov's colouring.
My favourite characters were Frankie and Stella.

I wasn't a fan of the set-up with The Nightmare Keeper, but I can appreciate that Stine was massively inspired by old-school EC comics.

3.5 stars