Comic Book Review: Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #13
Image via www.dccomics.com
Of all the comics that have been hitting the shelves since DC Comics relaunched with the New 52, one comic that has been a consistent favorite of mine is Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. Every issue of the run has been a pulp sci-fi rollercoaster ride that’s kept me grinning ear-to-ear.
Since Hellboy died over a year ago, Frankenstein and the Creature Commandos have filled the takes-a-monster-to-kill-a-montser shaped hole in my heart.
Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #13 delivers the same two-fisted, skull-cracking monster vs. monster action we’ve learned to expect from the art team of Alberto Ponticelli and Wayne Faucher, and the strong characterization and plot twists writer Matt Kindt has been bringing to the characters these last few months.
And Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #13 sees everyone’s favorite creature venture into the world of Swamp Thing and Animal Man as he finds himself standing in the way of RotWorld’s infection of the planet.
In a nutshell, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. is fun. It’s not groundbreaking drama, it’s not social commentary in the form of science fiction, and it’s not a comic that would easily be adaptable into a movie. It’s a team of monsters that fight monsters for chrissakes. But as far as being a comic book is concerned, it’s a great read.
So, imagine how my heart sank when I stumbled upon news that Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. is being axed. Now, I’ve read a lot of DC’s New 52 and have to say, there’s a lot of not so stellar comics coming out right now and I’m so surprised that with some of the stuff out there, Frankenstein is the one on the chopping block. DC have made some baffling decisions over the last year and a half, some of which have come back to bite them in the ass.
I guess what I’m saying is that it’s very disappointing that such a great comic doesn’t sell when low quality comics sell simply because there’s an X or Bat on the cover. I know I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve been reading long enough to see the makings of greatness ignored for the stock-standard regular.
But I saw Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. as a bold decision by a company that promised a fresh approach, when a lot of whet they were doing was the same-old-same-old with a new label.
But who do you blame? DC Comics released this comic for over a year and evidently people just aren’t reading it. Is it DC’s fault for not bringing Frankenstein toe-to-toe with Superman or Green Lantern to get him in the public’s eye? Is it comic book fans’ faults for not being brave enough to pick up a comic where the main character isn’t dressed as a bat or spider?
I don’t know. All I know is it’s a damned shame that come issue 16, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E.’ll be done and dusted.
