Frankenstein: The Two Faces of Dick Briefer's Frankenstein Monster
This Comic Book Monster Ranged From Horrifying to Hilarious
Part of a series celebrating the different adaptations of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
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Frankenstein’s Monster in Comics
In 1818, Mary Shelley wrote published what many consider to be the first science fiction novel—Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. In the more than 200 years since it was brought to life, it has been adapted, rebooted, and revisited in every possible form of media.
Frankenstein’s history in periodical comic books goes as far back as the 1940s. In the decades since, Mary Shelley’s patchwork monster has become a Marvel Comics hero, a DC Comics hero, as well as versions from Dell Comics, Wildstorm Comics, plus Super Frankenstein from Big Bang Comics, Doc Frankenstein by Matrix creators the Wachowskis from Burlyman Entertainment, Frankenstein Mobster from Image Comics, and so many more.
Dick Briefer's Frankenstein—From Horrifying to Hilarious
One of the more intriguing adaptations came from comic book writer/artist Dick Briefer (1915-1980), who created two completely different interpretations of the Frankenstein Monster.
Briefer created two very loose adaptations of the story between 1940-1954 for comic book publisher Prize Comics. His first interpretation, “The New Adventures of Frankenstein,” launched in Prize Comics #7 (1940). These new stories of Frankenstein’s Monster were done in the horror vein—making it the first ongoing horror feature in an American comic book.
Set in New York City in the present day (1930s and 1940s), the series featured a guttural, rampaging creature called "Frankenstein." (Live with it.) His primary antagonist was Denny "Bulldog" Dunsan.
Frankenstein’s Comic Book Crossover
In an odd bit of corporate synergy, Prize Comics #24 (1942) saw the monster fighting with other Prize Comics characters—including Black Owl, Green Lama, Dr. Frost, Yank and Doodle, and the military humor characters the General and the Corporal. In a story that is as bizarre as it is amazing, Frankenstein is out among nature minding his business when they attack him. But because the story takes it for granted that he’s “evil,” the reader is presumably supposed to root for these intruders who attack him without provocation.
From Frightful to Funny
In 1943, Prize Comics #33 abruptly changed the series direction. When another scientist performs another experiment, the “humanized” monster spends a few issues helping with national defense, before enrolling in grade school.
The character reverted temporarily back to horror in Prize Comics #39 (1944). Brainwashed by Nazis, the monster broke free of his conditioning before rampaging through Europe with a female vampire and a male zombie. Eventually, the three characters moved to New York City to open a hotel for monsters.
Following the war, the monster was given his own series Frankenstein #1 (1945). In this humor series, Frankenstein settled into small-town life, becoming a genial neighbor who began having “delightful adventures” as the “merry monster.”
Briefer, with his trademark "loose and smooth ink and brush skills" began telling stories that would "straddle some amorphous line between pure children's humor and adventure and an adult sensibility about the world".
Briefer's funny take on Frankenstein lasted through 1948. Three years later, he brought back his horrific Frankenstein from 1952-1954.
In the 1950s, the government came down on the entire comics industry as lawmakers considered comics to be a bad influence on children. During this period, there was a huge sea-change in what comics covered. Many publishers simply felt it too much trouble and closed up shop.
Following the cancellation of Frankenstein, Briefer left comics for commercial advertising art.
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