Joe Frankenstein (Collection)

   Two of the four issues included in this Joe Frankenstein collection have been reviewed on this site before - but not by me!

   My pal Glen Davis provided guest reviews of the first two issues - which you can read here and here (he liked them both a lot).

   I've read the recently-released collection of the first four issues, and you can count me as a fan, too.

   The series by artist / co-writer Graham Nolan and co-writer Chuck Dixon offers a fresh and fun version of the classic monster.

   Suffering guilt for his past sins, the Frankenstein Monster has spent the long years since his creation on two pastimes: making money and protecting the descendants of the original Dr. Frankenstein.

   Which leads him to his latest challenge: protecting Joe, the teen orphan who is the last surviving relative. His blood holds a powerful secret, and dark forces are leaving a path of destruction behind in an attempt to capture him.

   It translates into a rollicking adventure, with loads of monsters, vampires and assorted other creatures thrown into the mix (along with more than a few surprises).

   The art by Nolan is, of course, terrific - he seems to be having a blast drawing all kinds of monsters, beautiful women, and over-the-top action scenes.

   It's a heck of a lot of fun and perfectly sets up an ongoing series (which we hope to see in the future) starring the monster and his boy.

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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Guest Review - Joe Frankenstein #2

   Here's another Guest Review by my pal Glen Davis!

   Today he gives is a look at a new title that's been getting rave reviews:

   The second issue of Graham Nolan and Chuck Dixon's Joe Frankenstein keeps up the pace (or is it Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan's? I'll let them fight it out amongst themselves).

   Among all the action sequences, we get character moments, as well as an explanation of the conflict driving the book, without drowning us in a sea of exposition.

   It works very well, getting everybody, even those who did not pick up issue number one, immediately up to speed without seeming unnatural or patronizing. 

   We're learning things right alongside Joe, and it all seems quite logical.

   We're also climbing up the hierarchy of the villains, meeting new creatures. I'm hoping Graham and Chuck keep the "new monster every issue" policy. 

   There's plenty of fodder in the Universal Monster roster, and the traditional folklore of every culture on earth.

   I'm already looking forward to next issue! 

Grade: A

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Guest Review - Joe Frankenstein #1

   Hey, it's Guest Review week! My pal Glen Davis has provided a week's worth of reviews (giving your ol' pal Chuck a much-needed break) - thanks, Glen!

   First up, here's his review of a comic I'm looking forward to reading: Joe Frankenstein!

   Everybody is a fan of the Frankenstein Monster on some level, and the team of Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan decide to give their version of the monster, along with some other old-time movie monsters. 

   I'm glad they did!

   Joe Pratt is a foster child... well, teenager, delivering pizzas, when he makes a delivery to a group of lady vampires. When the vampiresses start making fangs, the Frankenstein Monster crashes in and puts the kibosh on them. Joe Pratt finds out that he is linked to the Monster.

   Not that it does him any good in his real life, where he is fired from his job, kicked out by his girlfriend, and humiliated in school. An organization of monsters sends out a hunter to find the Monster, and the boy as well.

   A great first issue. This is a different take on the Frankenstein Monster - the most unusual that I've seen in a long time. Nolan's art is excellent. There's a promise of appearances by most, if not all, of the Universal Monsters sooner or later. 

   There are a number of questions that need to be answered, and I can't wait for the next issue!

Grade: A

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