Steve Skroce offers up an iconic pulp hero with roots in classic gothic literature. This comic book doesn't hold a lot of surprises, but it manages to tap into the same sort of "widescreen" comics storytelling methods made popular by such writers as Warren Ellis and Mark Millar. There's something of a Doc Savage riff at play in Skroce incarnation of the Frankenstein Monster, but there's an added element that's intriguing. Social change, conflicting politics and the violent resolve of the establishment are touched upon here, pointing to something more than a typical super-hero story.
The ultimate achievement of a scientist willing to go to any lengths to prove his theories about life and death, the Frankenstein Monster originally sought to hide from the world of man, away from the hatred and fear directed toward him. But a chance encounter with a child in need changes his mind, and he realizes he can be a hero rather than a monster. Taking his fallen "father's" name, he travels to America as its citizens explored the Old West and took up the cause of justice. Today, more than a century later, he continues his work, but there are still those who see him as a monster... in part due to his ideas as opposed to his origins.
Skroce's work here reminds me of John Cassaday's wondrous and detailed art on Planetary and Mike McKone's eye for action in such titles as Teen Titans and Exiles. Where his work really shines is at the end of this issue, in which we see the sanctuary "Frank" has built. It looks like a technological Shangri-La, but it incorporates classic elements as well, showing an appreciation for the past, for history. It says a lot about his character, serving as a visual cue that there's more to him than the rough hide and violent actions he takes to save others.
I love the sci-fi hero riff in the first non-flashback scene. It's a great tribute to big-monster comic stories of the 1950s and '60s. The narration is more than a little overwrought. It humanizes the title character nicely, but some of the writing is so melodramatic, so over the top that one can't help but roll one's eyes. But the purple nature of the prose also shows the reader that the protagonist isn't some simple creature, is no mindless monster.
The most interesting aspects of the book are the philosophical, sociological and political ones. I love the notion of a militaristic Vatican, intent on destroying the hero. I love the contradiction of an institution dedicated in part to protecting the unborn yet intent on killing the undead. The idea of the ultimate outcast building a society where the unwanted are welcomed is an intriguing one as well. I certainly hope future issues focus on developing these ideas further as opposed to just the pulp adventure stuff. 7/10
