Heavy Metal Comics/Magma Comix 2021
Written by Paul Cornell
Illustrated by Emma Vieceli
Coloured by Pippa Bowland
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Elizabeth Cleve is an apprentice to the brilliant, extreme surgeon James Frankenstein. He's shown her his secret world of forbidden medical experiments. And how their mutual attraction has reached fever pitch. How far will she allow herself to go? A twisted horror/romance that walks a fine line between attraction and fear.
We’re starting to get more of the story revealed to us and while it may not be exactly what we want to see that’s part of what makes Paul such a great storyteller. He manages to get us invested in what we see and give out just enough to wet the appetite and makes us want to see and know more. The opening here is great and as Dr. Cleve is welcomed into one fold she alienates herself from another and there’s something about that which kind of is bothersome but it depends on whose reading it and what you believe in because in all honesty to do think that while Frankenstein is a dangerous individual whose is morally suspect its the woman who was her mentor that really pushes the line of what consider personal and professional jealousy.
I am loving the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented extremely well. The character development that we see is interesting thanks to how we see the narration, dialogue, character interaction and how they act and react to the situations and circumstances they encounter. I find it interesting that Elizabeth took so long to recognise her feelings towards Frankenstein but once she does she’s like a wild animal and I find that beyond interesting. The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing more of the story its easy to find ourselves speculating on motives and more.
How we see this being structured and with the layers within the story continuing to grow and strengthen while new ones emerge is so well done. There are several different avenues being explored throughout the book that add more depth, complexity and drama in some excellent ways. How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how the reader learns information is expertly achieved.
The interiors here are fantastic. The linework we see with its varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail work is beautifully rendered. I do wish we’d see backgrounds utilised more fully than what we see. Also it wouldn’t hurt to see them inflagranti with it all hanging out. We do get some nice depth perception, sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the story. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles nd perspective in the panels show a talented eye for storytelling. The colour work is rendered extremely well. The colours on her cell phone pop like no ones business and the way he describes it is fabulous. How we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is incredible to see.
I love that Frankenstein isn’t trying to build a monster per se but instead seems intent of doing things tot he brain in order to those who are considered monsters and make them human again. It is a great reversal of what we know and yet completely keeps itself in line with the story and the mythology of the characters. I’m also interested in seeing if Paxton regains his ability to feel emotions and recognises what he’s done to such a degree that he lashes out and becomes even more of a monster, being so angry that he’ll want to revert to is previous state of being that things will get completely out of control. There are so many scenarios and situations that could arise and Paul let’s the readers mind roam freely without yet committing to any specific course of action. The engagement level is off the charts here and it’s just really getting started, this is being told so magnificently you cannot help but be fascinated at every turn.