On October 2, Dark Horse revealed that it is publishing “Frankenstein Underground” from Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and artist Ben Stenbeck. Mignola will provide the cover art for the series, which will consist of five issues chronicling the Frankenstein monster’s adventure underground. According to , the Frankenstein monster “discovers both other monsters and the dark secrets to the universe.”
In a statement including in Dark Horse’s press release, Mignola states his intentions for the series:
“I’m trying to do something that’s true to the origin Mary Shelley created for the creature but also captures a bit of the feel that Boris Karloff brought to the role in the classic Universal films. At the same time I’m throwing the monster into an entirely new environment, so I think the result will be something new. It’s an odd one, but ultimately will add an important new wrinkle to the Hellboy/B.P.R.D. world.”
The Frankenstein monster was first introduced into popular culture with the publication of Mary Shelley’s novel in 1818 and Mignola’s version is not the first in the comic book genre. The Frankenstein monster has appeared in both DC and Marvel comics, as well as other publishers. This newest iteration of the monster shows the appeal and staying power of a classic horror character in modern society. With Mignola’s background in writing about monsters, creating Hellboy and B.P.R.D., this should be an interesting take on Shelley’s character.