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Frankenstein: New World #1
- Writer:
- Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, Thomas Sniegoski
- Artist:
- Peter Bergting
- Letterer:
- Clem Robins
- Cover Artist:
- Peter Bergting
- Publisher:
- Dark Horse Comics
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-08-03
- Colorist:
- Michelle Madsen
Master of the supernatural, Mike Mignola once tackled Mary Shelley's gothic horror classic, Frankenstein. But instead of retelling the same story, he took the tragic monster to uncharted territory in Frankenstein: Underground, blending his previously established mythology with fantastical pseudoscience. While Dark Horse Comics attempted to publish a prequel series titled Frankenstein: Undone, the publisher and creative team agreed to cancel it right after the second issue. With Frankenstein: New World #1, the franchise looks to go beyond the walls of Hollow Earth and expand the Hellboy mythos. Written by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, and Thomas Sniegoski with artwork from Peter Bergting, colors from Michelle Madsen, and lettering by Clem Robins, the debut issue takes an older, wiser Frankenstein on a new journey.
Set after the apocalyptic events of Ragna Rok, Frankenstein: New World #1 opens in the paradise inside Hollow Earth, years after the events of Frankenstein: Underground. Lilja, a young girl living in the subterranean human settlement, is curious by nature, often wandering temple halls to find the fabled Oracle. This Oracle is none other than Frankenstein, who used the archaic energy of Vril to welcome the first humans and guide them to peace. When Lilja starts receiving visions of a woman trapped in ember crying out for help, she voices her concerns to the Oracle. Frankenstein leaves his monkhood and embarks on a journey to the dangerous yet beautiful terrains of the surface, with Lilja following him closely.
As the title suggests, Frankenstein: New World #1 depicts a uniquely different world than the previous books, providing a clean slate for the eponymous character. But now a monk carrying the light of Vril, Frankenstein has duties beyond the realms of Hollow Earth that he intends to follow through. Mignola, Golden, and Sniegoski gradually open the book with a singular focus on the Lilja. Lilja becomes the archetype character whose inquisitiveness drives the story forward. However, the tale plays on the popular yet overused badass and child trope, essentially making Frankenstein the strong silent type and his young partner the catalyst for changes in pacing. The contrast works well as the duo explore the far reaches of the surface world, often relying upon each other, forming a symbiotic relationship.
While original Frankenstein artist Ben Stenbeck's illustrations closely resemble Mignola's own, Peter Bergting adds his own style to the book with no constraints. Using bold ink lines, Bergting fills the panels with details that spread far and wide, creating an impressive depth of field. These details often take shape in the form of bizarre flora and fauna and add to the adventurous nature of the book. Colorist Michelle Madsen paints each wobbly shrub with a distinct color. As a result, the book's latter half lights up in vibrant tones, which clash with the unseen dangers.
Frankenstein: New World #1 ventures into the unknown with quite the pep in the step, moving steadily across plot points with a focus drive to bring the protagonists to the surface world. But once Frankenstein and Lilja are out in the open, the story slows down and bides its time. The issue ends quite abruptly, right in the middle of a conversation. The creative team spends the entire comic fleshing out the plot, leaving any antagonistic introduction for later issues in the series. But, as exposition-heavy as this first issue is, it introduces a genuinely intriguing cast of characters.