Entertainment
 

Comics:Book of the Dead Vol 1 1

From Marvel Database


Book of the Dead 1.jpg
"Mary Shelley's Frankenstein"
Previous Issue
Next Issue

—

Image:Quote1.png I will have created human life from that which was dead... and bridged the gap which leads to immortality! Image:Quote2.png
-- Victor Frankenstein

Appearing in "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Villains:


Other Characters:

  • Alphonse Frankenstein
  • Canute
  • Elizabeth Lavenza-Frankenstein (Appears in flashback and main story)
  • Henry Clerval (Appears in flashback and main story)
  • Justine Moritz '(Appears in flashback and main story)
  • Robert Walton IV
  • Sean Farrell
  • William Frankenstein

Locations:

Items:


Vehicles:

  • Captain Walton's ship

Synopsis for "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein"

January, 1898
Explorer Robert Walton IV takes his crew into the frozen glaciers of the North Pole on a special expedition. They discover the frozen body of the Frankenstein monster, perfectly preserved in ice. Walton orders his team to bring the monster aboard, but several members of his crew argue with the wisdom of unearthing such a creature.

While the workers continue to carve the monster out of the ice, Walton retires to his ready room where he entertains a young shiphand by telling him the story of Frankenstein.

The origin of Frankenstein

In 1788, Victor Frankenstein leaves his family estate in Geneva, Switzerland to study natural science at the University of Ingolstadt. While there, he becomes obsessed with the idea of recreating life from dead tissue and begins robbing graveyards in order to acquire body parts. He stitches the various body parts together and subjects the patchwork subject to chemical treatments and electrolysis. Frankenstein succeeds in bringing his creation to life. Horrified by the creation's jaundiced features, Victor abandons his creation and returns to Geneva.
The monster becomes a subject of fear and horror in Ingolstadt and flees into the forests. He briefly befriends an old man and learns how to speak and read. With time, he decides to travel towards Geneva to find his father to learn why he had created, and later rejected him.
The monster comes upon young William Frankenstein and accidentally murders him. He frames a woman named Justine Moritz for the crime. Justine is the Frankenstein house servant and lifelong friend of Victor. She is arrested, tried and sentenced to hanging for the murder of young William Frankenstein. Victor soon discovers that his creation is responsible for the death of his little brother. He begins searching all over Switzerland for him, but it is the creature that finds him first.

January, 1898
Before Walton can finish telling his tale, he discovers that several of his crew members are conducting a mutiny. The mast of the ship becomes heavy from the frost and topples over. The ship begins rocking back and forth. A fire erupts in the cargo hold where the creature is contained and the ice around him begins to melt.

Appearing in "The Origin of the Man-Thing"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:


Villains:

Other Characters:


Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:




Synopsis for "The Origin of the Man-Thing"

Dr. Theodore "Ted" Sallis is a scientist working on a variation of the lost super-soldier serum on behalf of a government contractor. He sets up shop in the Florida Everglades with his assistant (and lover), Ellen Brandt. What he doesn't realize though, is that Brandt is actually a spy working for a criminal organization. As soon as Sallis confirms the success of his super-soldier serum, Brandt contacts her people.

The thugs raid Sallis' lab and try to steal the formula from him. The only existing sample is contained within a needle. Ted grabs the sample and races out towards his car. The thugs begin following him. Driving away, Sallis realizes that the only way that he might survive (and preserve the formula) is to inject himself with it. If nothing else, he succeeds in keeping it out of criminal hands.

After injecting himself with the formula, Ted's car goes off a bridge and into the swamp. The super-soldier serum coursing through his bloodstream interfaces with the surrounding vegetation and transforms Sallis into a mindless, shambling muck-monster that men will come to call the Man-Thing!

The Man-Thing rises from the swamp and attacks the criminals. He grabs one and shatters his spine against his knee. Ellen Brandt is present and begins screaming. The Man-Thing discovers that he has an empathic connection to all humans, and fear produces a swelling of rage within him. He grabs Ellen by the face and secretes a corrosive substance from his pores, burning Ellen badly. Whatever knows fear... burns at the touch of the Man-Thing!

Appearing in "Gargoyle Every Night"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Emil Vogel

Villains:

  • Billy
  • Clive

Other Characters:

  • Unnamed constable

Locations:

Items:

  • The Golden Angel

Vehicles:




Synopsis for "Gargoyle Every Night"

A small European town is beset by a terrible tragedy as villagers discover a murdered body within their town. The police constable leads an investigation, and a group of concerned villagers and he visit the house of the old sculptor, Emil Vogel. While the constable interviews Vogel, two fortune-seekers named Clive and Billy sneak around the old man's shop. They discover a giant golden gargoyle.

Later that night, they return to Vogel's shop and try to steal the Gargoyle. Emil tries to stop them, but they lock him away. Little do they realize however is that Emil Vogel is actually a dark Gargoyle, and the existence of the golden gargoyle was the only thing capable of keeping him at bay. When Clive and Billy melt the gold gargoyle down, the dark gargoyle rises and kills them.

Notes

  • Robert Walton IV is the descendent of Robert Walton, the explorer who encountered the Frankenstein monster in the arctic back in the 18th century.
  • Sean Farrell's last name won't be revealed until issue #2.
  • Last appearance of Ted Sallis as a human being. From here on out, his essence is merged with that of the Man-Thing.


Trivia

  • This issue was partially reprinted and repackaged in the 1974 Frankenstein read-along book-n-record set by Power Records.
  • Writer/Artist Bernie Wrightson makes a guest appearance as the narrator in "Gargoyle Every Night".


Related Articles


See Also


Recommended Reading


Links and References

Retrieved from "http://marvel.wikia.com/Comics:Book_of_the_Dead_Vol_1_1"