Celebrating Artist Val Mayerik

Celebrating the birthday of artist Val Mayerik (March 29, 1950) with a couple of his covers featuring Frankenstein's Monster...Frankenstein Monster #18 (September, 1975) and Iron Man #101 (August, 1977).

Revolutionary Frankenstein

Tomahawk faced many threats trying to establish our nation during the Revolutionary War of the 1700s, but some of the odder threats he and his Rangers faced were in his later issues, when he faced an anachronism...

...that of the creature of Frankenstein (which Mary Shelley didn't create until the 1800s!).

How did this come about?  

Follow along....

The Frontier Frankenstein

In Tomahawk #103 (March-April, 1966), by Ed Herron and Bob Brown, Tomahawk and his Rangers were trying to rest one night, when they were set upon by a large green monster!  They were able to chase him off with grenades, but what was it, and where was the missing Ranger, Big Anvil?  

The night before, German scientist Von Skeller showed the British Army his newest experiment, where he took a captured rebel soldier and, exposing him to special chemicals, turned him into a large, obedient green monster (that would change back into a normal man every day, while the chemicals still worked in him).  After another battle with the creature in the night, the Rangers were victorious in chasing it away.  The next morning, Big Anvil catches up to Tomahawk and the Rangers, where the tired team get ready for another advance of the British Army.  

Tomahawk wants Big Anvil to use his great strength to send a big old mill wheel at the army to distract them, so Tomahawk and the rest of the Rangers can surprise the army.  Big Anvil agrees, and is ready to....until night falls, and Big Anvil changes into the big green creature!  That proves quite a distraction, as the creature throws the wheel at the Brits.  As they flee, the British fire at cannisters of oil, which Tomahawk then gets his men to do, soaking the ground in front of Big Anvil, so the night lights up as day, and he turns back into Big Anvil. 

Then, the next day, Tomahawk and the Rangers just have to wait for the chemicals to burn out of Big Anvil's system so he won't change again!

If you think that was wild, at some point, might take a look at these tales (or, maybe just check out these classic covers by Neal Adams instead)!

Frankenstein Adaptation?

The Universal Monsters saw a bit of an upswing in the 1960s, and Dell was already to cash in on that, with a Frankenstein comic book.

But, Frankenstein #1 (March-May, 1963) wasn't exactly all that it was suppose to be, even though it did sport a painted cover by Vic Prezio, and interior story and art by Don Segall and Bob Jenney.

In this story, Dr. Frankenstein created the monster (with an abnormal brain supplied by Fritz, the hunchback), but he later got control of the monster, and fled Europe, taking the monster, whom the doctor had some hypnotic control of to New York, where the monster got loose and was blamed for a fire started by some careless dock workers....

Of course, this was Shakespeare (or at least Shelley) compared to the second through fourth issues of Frankenstein by Dell.

Issue 2 came out in September, 1966, by D. J. Arneson and Tony Tallarico, and now he wasn't a monster, but a super hero!

The monster was created in an old castle in America in the 19th century, and, after 100 years, a city grew around it.  The creature awoke during a lightning storm, and, finding a human mask (to hide his green skin) went out, taking the name "Frank Stone".  He promptly found a billionaire, who died and left him a fortune.  So, Frank then decided to put his great strength to use, becoming a super hero, with his true identity only known by his butler, William, but suspected by his girl friend, Ann Thorpe.

This continued in his third issue from December, 1966, where he fought an evil duplicate of himself, and the fourth from March, 1967, where he faced the return of a nemesis from the second issue, the diminutive Dr. Freek, who had an assistant of his own, the brutish gorilla Bruto.

Oh, what brave heroes this Dell world must have!

Of course, two other heroes in this were Dracula and the Werewolf, who had equally short comic runs, but more on them later (maybe...or not).

Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein Animated

Hey Abbott!  Did you know that Abbott & Costello had a Hanna Barbara animated series in 1967/1968?

Did you know that let to a Charlton comic book based on that series that lasted 22 issues?

Join along with Frankenstein's Monster, and learn a few facts.

The comic series started in February, 1968, with stories by Steve Skeates and Henry Scarpelli....

.

.

.

..all with light humor, and adventures of Bud and Lou...

.

.

...ending with stories by Joe Gill and Frank Johnson (and covers by Tony Tallarico) in August, 1971.

.

.

Now, the series didn't always feature Frankenstein's Monster like their famous 1948 movie, but there were a few other scares that have echoes of Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, and is something fans of the comedy duo look for!

Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs Frankenstein

Jingle Belle, the teenage daughter of Santa Claus, created by Paul Dini, finds Frankenstein's Monster in the ice in this Top Cow special, Jingle Belle: Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein #1 (December, 2008) by Paul Dini and Stephanie Gladden.

After freeing the monster, Jingle Belle convinces Santa to make monster toys, with the monster doing the work.  

Frankenstein's Monster returns the favor, helping Santa and his crew against a crooked politician who tries to bar Santa Claus from the United States.

This issue also has an alternate cover by artist Greg Horn.

Bizarro Meets Frankenstein

The title of Superman #143's cover story (drawn by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye) seems simple enough..."Bizarro Meets Frankenstein".  But the February, 1961 story by Otto Binder, Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye has a little more of twist to it.

True, the cover tells you it isn't Frankenstein's Monster that Bizarro is crashing in on, but instead an actor playing the monster.  Bizarro is upset that the actor is getting more attention than him, so he continues to hang around, but gets laughter instead of fear.  Superman helps his imperfect duplicate get fear, so #1 will go home to Bizarro World.

There, Bizarro acts like any father, presenting his kids with a gift, a puppet of Superman, which scares them!  Perfect logic for the Bizarro family!

Monster Action Figures Are Universal

Two things were so far ahead of their time, that they are still important today.  Universal Monsters and Mego Toys.

Thankfully, these two things are still able to be enjoyed today with slightly more modern modifications.

The bestselling retro cloth line made its terrifying return in 2010 with the series one release of Universal Monsters action figures! Fans have waited for retro cloth figures of the true Universal Monsters for over 30 years. And here they are! Each sensational action figure stands 8-inches tall, with over 14 points of articulation and an authentically detailed cloth outfit. Scare some up for your collection...Frankenstein’s Monster and the Wolfman.

 

Frankenstein

Frankenstein’s Monster came alive in the movies with 1931 in Frankenstein, with Boris Karloff as the Monster.  Pieces of people animated by a scientist who wanted to show he had power over life and death, where the creature had more humanity than other people. 

Hugely successful, this inspired many a sequel, including Bride of Frankenstein from 1935, Son of Frankenstein in 1939 (both still with Boris Karloff as the Monster), the Ghost of Frankenstein in 1942 (with Lon Chaney Jr. as the Monster), Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman in 1943 (with Bela Lugosi as the Monster), House of Frankenstein in 1944, House of Dracula in 1945, and Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein in 1948, all with Glenn Strange as the Monster. 

Though not officially one of Universal’s monster movies, Young Frankenstein with Peter Boyle as the Monster, is a priceless gem written by comedic genius Mel Brooks in the Universal Monster style, including being in glorious black and white.

Wolfman

The Wolfman changed for the first time in 1941, with Lon Chaney Jr. as Larry Talbot, a man cursed to change into a wolf creature at the full moon.

Lon Chaney Jr. was also the Wolfman in all his sequel appearances under the Universal banner, including Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman in 1943, House of Frankenstein in 1944, House of Dracula in 1945, and Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein in 1948. 

The Wolfman was also revived, as was Frankenstein, Dracula and the Mummy, as part of Hammer horror films (starting with The Curse of Frankenstein in 1957, The Horror of Dracula in 1958, the Mummy in 1959 and the Curse of the Werewolf  in 1961, with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing being the notable actors in these productions, and took full advantage of color in the films, as well as later entries being…well, a little provocative and not for the children), and all four movie franchises enjoy some success today.

Let’s hope these retro-cloth figures continue, as it would be incredible to have versions of Dracula, the Mummy, the Phantom of the Opera, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein and even Dr. Jekyll’s alter-ego Mr. Hyde and the Creature of the Black Lagoon as well!