Book Review, Graphic Novel: FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E., VOL. 1: WAR OF THE MONSTERS

I’ve always enjoyed Frankenstein’s monster. I’ve read Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN several times and have often wondered what happened to the creature that Dr. Frankenstein created. FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. follows the adventures of Frank in the modern world as he fights for the Super Human Advanced Defense Executive, or S.H.A.D.E. S.H.A.D.E. is led by Father Time, a transformed super villain who now lives in the body of a young girl with a bandit mask. In his assignments in VOL 1: WAR OF THE MONSTERS, Frank is joined by a group of special Creature Commandos: Velcoro, a giant winged vampire; Griffith, a soldier who happens to be a werewolf; Kharis, a usually silent, but extremely deadly and powerful mummy; Dr. Nina Mazursky, a female scientist who looks like a giant human-fish out of water; and Lady Frankenstein, Frank’s six-armed wife (but they are currently on the outs).

In WAR OF THE MONSTERS, Frank and his teammates travel to a planet of monsters that is trying to engulf Earth, they fight O.M.A.C. in Metropolis (where’s the Boy in Blue?), and overcome a powerful artificial intelligence known as “Brother.”

There are some obvious similarities between this series and the Hellboy stories from Dark Horse Comics. I think it’s fair to say that D.C. kind of stole much of S.H.A.D.E. from Dark Horse. However, that’s nothing new. Marvel and D.C. have been ripping each other off for over half a century. These similarities just provide a starting point, however, as FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. has already shown in this initial offering that it is a much different book and is composed of a mostly different team than Hellboy and his associates.

The only complaint I have about FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E., VOL. 1: WAR OF THE MONSTERS is that the art work is terrible. Most of the artwork I’ve seen for other volumes in the New 52 is average or above average. The artwork in this volume is subpar and doesn’t do justice to the stories it accompanies.

FRANKENSTIEN AGENT OF SHADE  is one of the most unusual comics in D.C.’s New 52 Universe. The stories are bizarre, far-fetched, and exciting. I’m looking forward to the further adventures of Frank and his Creature Commandos.