Hashtag Comics 2015
Written by Martin Dunn
Co-Plotted, Illustrated & Lettered by Derrick Fish
Coloured by Challenging Studios
So when we left last issue Bottwin had killed a few members of the council and was unleashing a guest that they’ve had locked away for quite some time. If you’ve been reading you know who it is for those who have YET read this series, order the trade now or hit comixology or www.hashtagcomics.com for the single issues, it’s Frankenstein’s monster. Seriously this is too freakin cool people! Imagine this world where there’s a supernatural underworld that’s had the Frankenstein monster locked away and now Bottwin thinks he’s going to use it to do his bidding?
The opening narrations is spectacularly as well. It comes from the journals of Viktor Frankenstein so it has the dialect and wording of a man of science from long ago. Seeing the words as if on parchment with the visuals the club Carpe Noctem as well Bottwin bringing the creature back to life it has this surreal dramatic flair that is unmistakably cool. Even better is that the narration of the journal entry mimics perfectly life for the monster as well as at the club. Martin has outdone himself here and i’m so incredibly impressed with the level of writing of this opening.
Bottwin the self-proclaimed Goblin King is an awesome character and as we see him and Frankenstein talking to one another you realize there’s something more extraordinary happening here. Not to mention the way both are brought to life by Derrick and Challenging Studios make this even more fun to read. There’s a fine line between caricature and genuinely creepy and that is straddled like a stripper on a pole. Ironically enough however there is one word spoken by Bottwin that is a game changer here what that is well find out by reading this.
Last issue Dante hit on Chelsea and this issue his “girlfriend” shows up at the club wanting a booty call. In the middle of a set nonetheless but when Cthulhu is your father and your and elder goddess you pretty much do what you want. Though Dante’s games are catching up to him here as is evident in what his brother asks Chelsea as well what his girlfriend ultimately does to him since she wants what she wants. That Jace and Dante can never get along and the fighting and arguments they have seem to keep them spiraling and distracted are never a good omen.
So what is Frankenstein up to and how does it involve Jace and Dante Rivera? Well it does involve a human disposable prostitute, and a very nasty well executed sneak attack. Again during this segment we get the same kind of narration we had earlier as if reading portions of Viktor’s journal. As before it lends itself beautifully to what’s happening visually. It pretty much describes what to do in order to sneak up on a vampire. It tells more than that but that’s the gist and i’m still in awe of what Martin is doing here.
This is definitely not how I saw this issue ending!
If you haven’t guess i’m a huge fan of this and I think if you give this an opportunity you will be as well. There’s drama, intrigue, horror and all kinds of great characterization in a well thought out and wonderfully executed world.