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soundsgay_imin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
jandrablooms's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
amandadevoursbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Frankenstien's Monster awakens in the Arctic. A broken-down, burnt out scientist is perfecting her next experiment. When it works, her son is brought back. This places him in the middle of a tug a war between his mother's old boss, his mother, and the monster.
I loved the art. I loved the story. Some of the scenes felt disconnected and unclear. I wish this had been a 3 series arc.
I loved the art. I loved the story. Some of the scenes felt disconnected and unclear. I wish this had been a 3 series arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Child death, Racism, Murder, and Gore
vampfang's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gladduck's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Not a super fun read, did it for school as a revision of Frankenstein. Happy I read it though
jessereadsthings's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Good concept, but I think I would have enjoyed it more as a book or maybe a longer form comic series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Child death, Death, Animal death, and Police brutality
joanbereading's review against another edition
Interesting premise but this felt a tad too rushed and a lot to contain in one volume
pbeeandj's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't enjoy any of the parts with Frankenstein's Monster really. I understand why it was there, but I really wanted to get back to the Akai and Dr. Josephine Baker's story. The Monster's quest to wipe out any trace of Victor just wasn't interesting to me, especially when there were so many interesting themes of grief, race, and science being explored. I loved the question posed about how people were working so hard to find humanity in the Monster and not in Dr. Baker's young black child. I loved the rage present in Dr. Baker, who has been punished for almost every aspect of her identity and who is also very aware of how her rage plays into stereotypes about her. I loved the love present in Akai, who was never given a chance to grow up. The choices made by Akai's father are also interesting. I'd love to read more, but I also understand why the book ended where it did.
sam_jordan's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
raforall's review against another edition
3.0
The start of what I hope will be a long running series that will allow us to explore more of these characters. This is compilation of first 6 issues and it does feel a little rushed on character development- heavy on plot. However, I think this is because LaValle did not get commitment to keep the story going. I hope he is allowed to though because in his other work, his development of amazing characters is the best thing about his prose. Personally I am a character driven reader, but I still enjoyed the story quite a bit.
Using Frankenstein as the frame, LaValle tells a very modern story of revenge, race, science-- basically it takes a classic story and makes it VERY MUCH about right now. I think it many ways it is much scarier than Frankenstein because it keeps the themes of the original but strips the historic feeling of it. There is no denying it is about today and that is terrifying.
I do love the backstory on how the monster comes into our times. It literally begins with a splash. This book will appeal to fans of the original, and comics fans, and LaValle fans. With the 200th Anniversary of Frankenstein being celebrated all this year [2018], many readers are seeking out Frankenstein adjacent titles. This is a great suggestion.
The art has very much a comic book feel-- like a super hero novel. Personally, I prefer a less comics style, but I totally get why the artists did this. It makes what is a deep, literary story a bit more accessible to a larger group of people.
Three Words That Describe This Book: reimagining a classic, revenge, monsters [real and supernatural]
Readalikes: Of course Frankenstein, but specifically, I would urge you to read the New Annotated Frankenstein by Les Klinger. I have a full review here: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2017/08/what-im-reading-booklist-horror.html
But this is also a good read for fans of other monster graphic novels. This one reminded me of the American Vampire series by Snyder. That series is also based off of preexisting material [historical events] and features monsters both human and not. I have a review of the first one n the series here: http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-american-vampire.html
In terms of another horror novel that takes a well mined trope and brings it up to the present, addressing current political and social issues with a focus on action, I would suggest Jonathan Maberry's Joe Ledger series.
Using Frankenstein as the frame, LaValle tells a very modern story of revenge, race, science-- basically it takes a classic story and makes it VERY MUCH about right now. I think it many ways it is much scarier than Frankenstein because it keeps the themes of the original but strips the historic feeling of it. There is no denying it is about today and that is terrifying.
I do love the backstory on how the monster comes into our times. It literally begins with a splash. This book will appeal to fans of the original, and comics fans, and LaValle fans. With the 200th Anniversary of Frankenstein being celebrated all this year [2018], many readers are seeking out Frankenstein adjacent titles. This is a great suggestion.
The art has very much a comic book feel-- like a super hero novel. Personally, I prefer a less comics style, but I totally get why the artists did this. It makes what is a deep, literary story a bit more accessible to a larger group of people.
Three Words That Describe This Book: reimagining a classic, revenge, monsters [real and supernatural]
Readalikes: Of course Frankenstein, but specifically, I would urge you to read the New Annotated Frankenstein by Les Klinger. I have a full review here: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2017/08/what-im-reading-booklist-horror.html
But this is also a good read for fans of other monster graphic novels. This one reminded me of the American Vampire series by Snyder. That series is also based off of preexisting material [historical events] and features monsters both human and not. I have a review of the first one n the series here: http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-american-vampire.html
In terms of another horror novel that takes a well mined trope and brings it up to the present, addressing current political and social issues with a focus on action, I would suggest Jonathan Maberry's Joe Ledger series.