Doc Frankenstein

    (Burlyman, 2004-2007)
™ and © Burlyman Entertainment

It seems as if a new interpretation of Mary Shelley’s famous creation is born every minute. The latest is Doc Frankenstein, the first issue of which puts a spin on the myth by having fate intervene in the title character’s peaceful (but extremely cold) suicide attempt. Given a heroic sense of purpose after rescuing a child from a snarling, sharp–clawed yeti, the monster sets off for America, where he becomes a sheriff and then, in modern times, a one–man peace–keeping force.

Written by the brains behind the mind boggling Matrix trilogy, Doc Frankenstein may be inspired by a classic, genre–defining novel, but its action–heavy plot reeks (in a good way) of pulp fiction potboilers and old–school monster comics. The prose gets a tad pretentious at times (“I built a tomb with frozen slabs of current that I cut with guilt and mortared with self-abnegation”), but there’s plenty of fun to be had and a number of interesting concepts at play.

Beautifully detailed visuals (picture Geof Darrow’s art, but with added realism) cements the deal.

— Brett Weiss
Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist
#1 (Regular Cardstock Cover by Steve Skroce)

November, 2004
Cover Price: $3.50
3 copies available from $1.75
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#1 (2nd Printing Cardstock Cover by Geof Darrow)

November, 2004
Cover Price: $3.50
1 copy available for $1.92
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#2 Variation A (Cardstock Cover A)

January, 2005
Cover Price: $3.50
2 copies available from $1.75
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#2 Variation B (Cardstock Cover B)

January, 2005
Cover Price: $3.50
2 copies available from $1.44
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#3 (Painted cover)

May, 2005
Cover Price: $3.50
3 copies available from $1.45
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#3 Variation A (Sketch Cover A)

May, 2005
Cover Price: $4.95
1 copy available for $2.98
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#4 (Noted in indicia as cover A)

December, 2005
Cover Price: $3.50
2 copies available from $1.75
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#4 Variation A (Noted in indicia as cover A B)

December, 2005
Cover Price: $3.50
2 copies available from $2.98
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#5 Variation A (Cover A by Steve Skroce)

August, 2006
Cover Price: $3.50
2 copies available from $3.50
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#5 Variation B (Sketch Cover B by Steve Skroce)

August, 2006
Cover Price: $3.50
3 copies available from $1.75
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#6 Variation A

December, 2007
Cover Price: $3.50
1 copy available for $2.98
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce
#6 Variation B

December, 2007
Cover Price: $3.50
2 copies available from $1.75
Larry Wachowski, Andy WachowskiSteve Skroce