Frankenstein's Monster is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the character in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. The character has been adapted often in the comic book medium.
Publication history The first appearance of Frankenstein's Monster in the Marvel Comics Universe came in the five-page horror comics story "Your Name Is Frankenstein", by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Joe Maneely in Menace #7 (September 1953),Menace #7 (Sept. 1953) at the Grand Comics DatabaseBaron Frankenstein, though not the Monster, had earlier appeared in the story "Horror at Haunted Castle" in Blonde Phantom Comics #14 (Summer 1947), from Marvel's 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics. from Marvel's 1950s forerunner, Atlas Comics. The following decade, a robot replica of Frankenstein's Monster appeared as an antagonist in The X-Men #40 (Jan. 1968), by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Don Heck,X-Men #40 (January 1968) at the Grand Comics Database and was destroyed by the titular team. The actual Monster first appeared in Marvel Comics continuity in a cameo flashback in "The Heir of Frankenstein" in The Silver Surfer #7 (Aug. 1969), by writer-editor Lee and penciler John Buscema.The Silver Surfer #7 (Aug. 1969) at the Grand Comics Database
The character received an ongoing series, titled Frankenstein in the postal indicia and initially The Monster of Frankenstein (issues #1–5) and later The Frankenstein Monster as the cover logo, that ran 18 issues (Jan. 1973–Sept. 1975). This series began with a three-issue retelling of the original novel, by writer Gary Friedrich and artist Mike Ploog. Several more issues continued his story into the 1890s, until he was placed in suspended animation and revived in modern times.
Thomas, Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief at that point in the 1970s, recalled in 2009:
Friedrich in 2009 said he did not recall "whose idea it was to do a Frankenstein book", noting that "at this time, Marvel was cranking up the gears on the monster mags", which were introducing such new characters as Werewolf by Night and Ghost Rider.Gary Friedrich interviewed in Browning. p. 11 Ploog based his rendition of the Monster on a drawing by art director John Romita Sr., who was instructed to make the character dissimilar to the familiar Universal Pictures version.Browning, pp. 11-12
Ploog drew the first six issues, self-inked except for issues #4-5, which were embellished by Marvel production manager and occasional inker John Verpoorten. The following four issues were penciled by John Buscema. After a final Friedrich-written issue, drawn by Bob Brown, the creative team of writer Doug Moench and penciler Val Mayerik brought the Monster from the 19th century to the present day, beginning with issue #12 (Sept. 1974). The duo continued through the final issue, with Bill Mantlo rather than Moench writing the finale.The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators: Frankenstein • The Monster of Frankenstein • The Frankenstein Monster (1973-1975)
Ploog had departed, Thomas recalled, because "Marvel was in a great surge of growth at that time, which resulted in frequent changes on artist/writer lineups on many, if not most of the titles. Mike was quite busy then".Thomas in Browning, p. 13 Ploog recalled disliking the planned change to bring the Monster into the present-day Marvel Universe. "I couldn't see Frankenstein battling with Spider-Man on 42nd Street".Mike Ploog interviewed in Browning, p. 13 His successor, Buscema, was an established veteran and one of Marvel's premier artists. Friedrich said, "Working with Buscema [on the series] was a wonderful experience. John could draw about any type [of] book you could imagine. ... We never had a disagreement about anything, and his storytelling sense was superb".Friedrich in Browning, p. 13 The series ended "because sales weren't good enough", Thomas recalled. "At the start, the book [had] sold well".Thomas in Browning, p. 14
Concurrent with the color-comics series, the character appeared in his own modern-day feature in two of Curtis' black-and-white horror-comics magazines: Monsters Unleashed #2, 4-10 (Sept. 1973, Feb. 1974-Feb. 1975), by the Friedrich/Buscema team initially, followed by the Moench/Mayerik team; and in Legion of Monsters #1 (Sept. 1975), by Moench and Mayerik.
During the 1970s, the Monster guest-starred in the superhero titles The Avengers #131-132 (Jan.-Feb. 1975); Marvel Team-Up #36-37 (Aug.-Sept. 1975), appearing in the latter series opposite Spider-Man; and Iron Man #101-102 (Aug.-Sept. 1977); and in the supernatural title Tomb of Dracula #49 (Oct. 1976). As well, writer John Warner and artist Dino Castrillo adapted the Shelley novel in Marvel Classics Comics #20 (1977), in a 48-page story outside mainstream Marvel continuity. The character made only two Marvel appearances in the 1980s.Fantastic Four #274 (Jan. 1985), continued in the spin-off title The Thing #19 (Jan. 1985). Marvel Comics. The first four issues of The Monster of Frankenstein were reprinted in the miniseries Book of the Dead #1-4 (Dec. 1993-March 1994). Also that decade, he again confronted Spider-Man in Spider-Man Unlimited #21 (Aug. 1998).
In the 21st century, the Monster appeared prominently in the four-issue miniseries Bloodstone (December 2001–March 2002) and starred in a 14-page story, "To Be a Monster", by writer-artist Skottie Young in Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night #1 (April 2007).
Fictional character biography Frankenstein's Monster was built from human corpses by a scientist named Victor Frankenstein, in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, in the late 18th century. His efforts to fit in with regular humanity were futile due to his horrific form, and he was infuriated. Victor Frankenstein created and subsequently killed a mate for the Monster, who killed Frankenstein's bride Elizabeth in retaliation. After killing several people, the Monster fled to the Arctic. His creator pursued him, but died due to the cold. The Monster, anguished, tried to kill himself but only went into a suspended animation state from the cold.The Monster related these events to 19th century Captain Robert Walton IV in The Monster of Frankenstein #1-4. Marvel Comics.
In 1898, heat revived the Monster and he wandered again. He searched for the descendant of Victor Frankenstein and finally ended up in Transylvania. The Monster clashed with Dracula and his vocal cords were injured. Vincent Frankenstein finally found him and tried to give him a new brain, dying in the process as he was shot by an angry maidservant before the Monster could kill him. Frustrated, the Monster fell into a glacier an again returned to a suspended animation state.The Frankenstein Monster #8-9. Marvel Comics.
At some point, the Monster was temporarily pulled out of time to serve in Kang the Conqueror's Legion of the Unliving to fight the Avengers.
The Monster eventually emerged from suspended animation in a glacier and into the modern world.Monsters Unleashed #2. Marvel Comics. After several adventures (during one of which his brain was transferred with that of a scientist longing for a new life, then a rat, and later restored,Monsters Unleashed #4-6. Marvel Comics. and another in which he first battled, then aided, the Werewolf by Night (Jack Russell),Giant-Size Werewolf #2. Marvel Comics. he was aided by Veronica Frankenstein, a distant relative of his creator. This woman was kindly, and repaired his vocal cords.The Frankenstein Monster #16. Marvel Comics. Later, the Monster met and joined Veronica's sister Baroness Victoria Frankenstein and her charges called the Children of the Damned, dwarf-like artificial beings who were created by Basil and Ludwig Frankenstein's failed human experiments.The Frankenstein Monster #18. Marvel Comics.
The Monster was captured, along with Spider-Man and the Man-Wolf by Baron Ludwig von Schtupf, a.k.a. the Monster Maker, to be used to create an army of amalgamated monsters with the Monster's superhuman strength, Spider-Man's wall-crawling powers and the Man-Wolf's appearance. Von Schtupf was defeated by Spider-Man and the Monster, then Spider-Man defeated the Man-Wolf on his own. Both of them were taken into custody of S.H.I.E.L.D., due to S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Judith Klemmer's involvement in the case.Marvel Team-Up #36-37. Marvel Comics.
Victoria discovered Bram Velsing, the man who would become the Dreadknight, while he was dying in the wilderness. While under her care, he made a variety of weapons and took possession of the Hellhorse, the flying mutant horse (which the Children found and Victoria, using her ancestor's methods, tried to restore to normal, but instead only mutated it further) that had originally been used as Elendil by Nathan Garrett, the original criminal Black Knight. He attempted to force more resources from Victoria and took over the new Castle Frankenstein, but was defeated by the Monster and Iron Man. The Dreadknight, left wounded at the finale of the battle, was returned to Victoria's custody, though he later escaped with the Hellhorse and his weaponry.Iron Man #101-102. Marvel Comics.
The Monster then met Spider-Man for a second time.Spider-Man Unlimited #21. Marvel Comics.
The Monster later departed from Victoria's company. Ulysses Bloodstone later befriended the Monster, who came to occasionally stay at his mansion, eventually acting as its caretaker. The Monster, sometimes using the name Adam, accompanied Bloodstone on his missions. Bloodstone trusted Adam to give his daughter Elsa a Bloodgem fragment in the Bloodstone choker when she was old enough.
When exploring Bloodstone House, an adult Elsa discovers a secret chamber in which she encounters Adam, who tells Elsa about her father. Adam gives her the Bloodstone Choker, which attaches itself to her neck. Adam later designs a costume for Elsa, patterned after her father's. The two have a number of adventures together, encountering beings such as Dracula and N'Kantu, the Living Mummy. Elsa lives in Bloodstone Manor with her mother and ally Adam the Frankenstein Monster, while pursuing a monster-hunting occupation.Bloodstone #1-4. Marvel Comics.
At some point, an intelligent clone of the monster, simply named Frankenstein, was created. The clone became a member of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Paranormal Containment Unit, nicknamed the Howling Commandos.Nick Fury's Howling Commandos #1. Marvel Comics.
During the "Fear Itself" storyline, Frankenstein's Monster, Howard the Duck, Nighthawk, and the She-Hulk come together as the Fearsome Four when the Man-Thing is driven on a rampage. They later discover a plot by the Psycho-Man to use the Man-Thing's volatile empathy to create a weapon.Fear Itself: Fearsome Four #1-4. Marvel Comics.
The Hellfire Club sent an army of Frankenstein Monsters created by Victor Frankenstein's contemporary descendant Baron Maximilian Frankenstein (born Maximilian von Katzenelnbogen) to attack the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, but they were defeated by the X-Men.Wolverine and the X-Men #2. Marvel Comics. Learning of the existence of a Frankenstein descendant, the Monster comes to exact his vengeance on the Hellfire Club.Wolverine and the X-Men #19, 21-23. Marvel Comics.
Frankenstein's Monster is later recruited by Phil Coulson to join his incarnation of the Howling Commandos and combat Dormammu's Mindless Plague.S.H.I.E.L.D. vol. 3 #6. Marvel Comics.
Powers and abilities