Monstrous comics

Other than continuing with scary novel series, trying to read as many ghost story picture books as possible, and looking up some remembered middle reader ghost stories, I also read some comics.

They followed a different theme. They were pretty disappointing.

We were going to attend a Universal Studios Halloween Horror Night in late September. It makes sense that I pursued the knowledge, but I don't remember exactly how I found out that there was a comic series based on the classic Universal Monsters.

It was a little surprising to see the history honored in that way, because you certainly don't see any traces of them at the Studios; that is all much more recent movies plus a lot of clowns with chainsaws.

https://sporktogo.blogspot.com/2025/10/universal-halloween-horror-nights.html 

It looked like each comic was initially released as four single issues, then collected into a trade. I read the trades.

The order I read them in, with publication dates:

Universal Monsters: Frankenstein by Michael Walsh, April 2025

Universal Monsters: Dracula by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds, May 2024

Universal Monsters: Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives! by Dan Watters, Ram V, and Matthew Roberts, November 2024

I really hate how much I did not like them.

The problem was that the people were all so terrible. I don't mind monsters not actually being monsters. From that aspect, Frankenstein was probably the best of them; the problems with Dr. Frankenstein have always been pretty clear.

There really should have been more Creature in Creature; it was mainly terrible humans, then rejected by the Creature who was inclined to like the woman.

That follows a lot of current trends. You might think I would learn something from that, but notice that schedule? There's a mummy one out now. Yes, I requested it from the library. 

If I hate it but there is a Wolfman one in six months, I will probably check that out too. 

While pursuing this series, there were some other things that came up in my catalog searches. I am always up for some mission creep.

B.P.R.D. Plague of Frogs, Volume 3 by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi

This was back from 2012. Parts of it were quite grim (not unusual in the Mignola-verse) but there was an interesting new character and a cat, and some shocking changes. I may pick this back up. 

If someone will tell me that giant armadillo from The Visitor shows up again, I am there!

Lon Chaney Speaks by Pat Dorian

This was a pretty interesting look at early film history. While "Senior" did not play any of the Universal monsters (Junior did), the father had such an influence on make-up and prosthetics that his influence is there.  

Universal Monsters Little Golden Book by M.D. Brundlefly and Meg Dunn, September 2021. 

These are not just Universal monsters, but Funko Pop figures of the Universal monsters.

Guess where else we went the day of the Halloween Horror Night?

https://sporktogo.blogspot.com/2026/01/hollywood-funko-pop-store.html 

I thought with that level of commercial influence, this would be terrible, but it was surprisingly charming with a perfect ending. 

Ideas are important, but it all depends on the execution. 

Actually, the Boo! Book that came with the Wendy's Halloween Frosty meal was better than you would expect too.

At least sometimes they try.