Universal Monsters at Image Comics Triple Shot of #1 Comics - 2025 Halloween Edition
Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man, Universal Monsters: Dracula, Universal Monsters: Frankenstein, Plus: The Mummy! ... or How I’m Rising from the Dead (Maybe)
Sometimes when I sign into Substack, I’ll get a notification that I am in the “Top [Number] Rising in Comics!”
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra rising? The Rise of Shitwalker? Evil Dead Rise? What’s rising, exactly? And I hardly post anyway (sorry and ashamed!). Mostly I post to NOTES, which has short form video and is the best Twitter/X replacement compared to Bluesky and Threads (just hit 1k followers!) IMHO. Perhaps my own rising on Substack simply means I’m rising from the dead!
I thought I might tie this post into our latest Halloween episodes at LeaguePodcast—specifically, our our Invisible Man (1933 / 2020) review! We call it a Do-Over. We call this our “Do-Over” channel—it’s where we analyze past mistakes or celebrate boons made better. It’s all about compare AND contrast (…and contrast!).
Back in the day, I found myself with more time to write, and I am forever grateful for the column I had at ForcesOfGeek for a while! Those articles might still be there, but probably not; the internet is a strange place. I’m thankful to Stefan for the opportunities to work on my craft and meet some great creators over the years! I still can’t believe I got to talk to Broken Lizard (in person) and Mark Millar (via Zoom)! And many, many more... including the creator of Deadpool himself, Rob Liefeld!
I loved doing the Triple Shot of Comics feature: quick, weekly floppy reviews in short, one-paragraph impressions! I don’t get to read many comics now, but as I enter my “Kirby Years,” I’m cracking the old iPad open and practically forcing myself to catch up. Perhaps my rising on Substack simply means I’m rising from the dead!
Today, I’m bringing Triple Shot back for a special look at select Image Comics Universal Monsters #1 issues. These are the titles connected to the classic films we review on LeaguePodcast. Every Halloween we dedicate time to a Universal Horror Movie. We even have a separate channel, The Vampire Council, devoted to What We Do In The Shadows—covering all things that ‘don’t suck,’ or ‘do suck’—whichever earns the biggest (maniacal) laugh!
Since the fall of 2023, the partnership between Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Universal Products & Experiences has been adding to the long history of these monsters in comics. Think about it: from Marvel’s Tomb of Dracula (check out our Oddio Comic!) to DC’s Dracula, Dark Horse’s Dracula, and even Buffy’s Dracula—our Master surely gets around! Given that, and his status as the Vampire of Record, starting with him is a natural fit.
I won’t be covering all the new Image books, but I will act like the Count (Clay N. Ferno Von Count to be precise) after sundown to bring you this latest Triple Shot! This review features: Universal Monsters: Dracula #1, Frankenstein, and The Invisible Man #1.(Check out our latest podcasts on Spotify if that’s your pleasure!).
Bonus shot for The Mummy, one of my personal movie faves. Call it a chaser!
Triple Shot of Universal Monsters (Image/Skybound)
Universal Monsters: Dracula #1
James Tynion IV - Writer
Martin Simmonds - Artist
Full Color - October 25, 2023
Black & White Special #1 - October 29, 2025
www.skybound.com/universal-monsters-dracula/comics/issue-01
imagecomics.com/comics/releases/universal-monsters-dracula-black-white-special-1-of-2
REVIEW:
This week’s entry is technically a review of the Black and White special edition! You’ll find a link to it on our Picks page.
Eisner winner, Writer James Tynion IV certainly knows bats, with long runs on Batman and indie horror at Image and even Substack! Really enjoyed this book which is fairly accurate to our movie interpretations, and even its counterpart Nosferatu.
A collected edition exists in Hard Cover, and also you can get Dracula 1-4 digitally. Head to the store to grab the special Black and White edition, it’s great.
The absolute rock star here is Martin Simmonds’ ethereal art, which gives an air of mystery to the Count and is extremely detailed, setting the scene of Victorian London. It reminds me in the best way of Arkham Asylum by Morrison and McKean. Check out his essay in the back on how he landed on his depiction of Renfield! I enjoyed his essay in the back of how he decided to approach Renfield, which he didn’t land on until he started to draw on the page. Which favorite new wave goth singer do you think was his inspiration? He didn’t even mention Dave Vanian.
Compare AND Contrast!
Covered at LeaguePodcast? I think so? But can’t find it? Commander Dursin ? Commander? HELP? Maybe we didn’t yet? Plenty of vampire action at the Vampire Council, though! PLENTY!
I don’t remember much of the 1931 film. Perhaps that’s a Halloween night watch. There are plenty of nods to the 1992 Francis Ford Coppola Bram Stoker’s Dracula—or, to be more accurate, the comic has whispers of the ’92 film, since everything is circular. I can’t wait to get caught up with the second black and white edition and ultimately finish all four collected books.
Letter Grade: A+
‘What if I told you’ we had an Oddio Comic for Tomb of Dracula #36 (Marvel)?
Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #1
Writer-Artist Michael Walsh
Full Color - August 28, 2024
skybound.com/universal-monsters-frankenstein/comics
REVIEW:
Like Tynion, Walsh has expanded on a beloved story here, introducing a character not depicted in the film versions we are so very familiar with, but one that makes a great addition to the greater Frankenstein lore. A young boy is mourning his father in the cemetery when Herr Fritz and Doctor Frankenstein are exhuming bodies for spare parts. The boy's father ends up being The Monster’s hands, and when he comes alive, the boy recognizes that he is not entirely human, and not exactly his Dad either. The boy sneaks in the carriage with the corpses and witnesses the diabolical lightning strike. This is really quite a ‘Rashomon’ story from the boy’s perspective. Also, unrelated but related: just saw Weapons last night. Come back here so we can talk about it. I highly recommend the film, and I do have some thoughts.
Strengths here are the cool art and Dr. Frankenstein being even more of a dick than in the movie it seems. A real devious prick. Love the addition of this kid and wonder what his fate will be in the castle! Can’t wait for more.
Compare AND Contrast!
I mentioned before, this adds to the story and doesn’t take away. Interesting to see how the Doctor is portrayed, and already, The Monster has that sort of cuddly thing where he wants to be a good boy.
Check out our Frankenstein episode!
LETTER GRADE: ‘Straight’ A
Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man #1
James Tynion IV - Writer
DANI - Artist
Full Color - August 27, 2025
imagecomics.com/comics/releases/universal-monsters-the-invisible-man-1-of-4
REVIEW:
Invisible Man is most hot on my mind since we just did the two podcasts! I watched the original back in May, and revisited the remake myself before asking The League to indulge me on making this part of our Do-Over series. A fan of Universal Horror, I guess I ‘never did see’ The Invisible Man, my whole life! And I’m 50!
Tynion really has a handle on these old Universal movies. As he has done with Dracula, he’s adding his own bit of flair, a scarf to the bathrobe, if you will. Expanding on Dr. Jack Griffin’s motivations and carving out more of the story here, including pre-tranformation fantasies of how an “Invisible man can rule the world.” This story starts to fill in the gaps of his back story a bit more sinister than in the film. Great addition to the movie without taking anything away.
I’m not familiar yet with DANI’s work but the coloring (by Brad Simpson) and the art itself gives Batman: Year One vibes, perfect for the story. Not a spoiler, per se, but I love how when he’s experimenting with Monocaine on the rats, they are depicted in white and then clear. Top notch.
Compare AND Contrast!
Great expansion of The Invisible Man universe here, including seminal moments from the film, the choked out cop, the locked cabinet. Great attention to detail while also filling out the gaps of the backstory of Griffin. Now, will we see him an hour after he eats in the rest of the issues? I hope so! We have a laugh about his digestion in the podcast.
Covered now at LeaguePodcast!
LETTER GRADE: A+
Universal Monsters: The Mummy #1
Writer-Artist Faith Erin Hicks
Colors - Lee Loughridge
Full Color - March 26, 2025
skybound.com/universal-monsters-the-mummy/comics/issue-1
REVIEW:
Bonus! Quadruple Shot, really. You know that 4th shot will really put you over the edge - especially if it’s tequila or whiskey or vodka.
Just a quick plug for our Mummy episode and a letter grade. Really enjoy the interpersonal relationships with Helen and her young friends as she tries to score with a boy. Imhotep is awakened by the Scroll of Toth being uncovered and he escapes into the desert night! Great creative team, will be reading the rest to see where it lands in the greater Mummy lore!
Compare AND Contrast!
Seeing where this goes - another great expansion to the lore. Great cartooning, too! Not as dark in tone as the other books, but we’re talking sun gods and Egyptian shit here, what do you want from me?
Check out our The Mummy Episode!
LETTER GRADE: B+ (Judging the whole series - this may change!)
The world is falling apart right now, but at least we have classic horror, comics, and podcasts!
Thanks for your support! As Lil’ Bane says: The Fire Rises!
It seems impossible but I guess we never did Dracula on the podcast. Well, we'll get there. Great reviews. I might have to check these out. I'm a big Tynion fan. Highly recommend Something is Killing the Children if you haven't read it.
Forces of Geek isn't going anywhere. After almost 18 years, there's going to be a major clean-up, eliminating a bit of the pre-2020 content.
As a matter of fact, there is some Forces of Geek news coming in the next few months.
Nevertheless, for many years Clay was a major asset to the site and he always has permanent invitation to contribute.