Mike Mignola expands the Hellboy universe with Frankenstein Underground #1, and its beginnings are intriguing.

Set in the same year as Hellboy’s appearance in Dark Horse #200, 1956, Frankenstein (though, shouldn’t it be Frankenstein’s Monster? Or are we officially giving the creature the last name of its creator these days?) stumbles into the presence of someone quite mysterious. This figure thinks Frankenstein is there for a reason, even if Frankenstein doesn’t know what it is. Meanwhile, a mysterious and potentially dangerous group of people want Frankenstein for themselves and for unusual reasons – at least not ones Frankenstein is used to seeing.

I love the period, gothic, mystery-fantasy-horror web weaving that Mignola brings to life. Here, he embraces the Frankenstein mythos with a few altered details and sends us on what is potentially a very esoteric adventure worthy of the universe he’s been storytelling in for more than twenty years.

The artist, Ben Stenbeck (B.P.R.D), captures the Mignola flavor while bringing his own personality to the game, and it pays off. It also doesn’t hurt that the multi-award winning colorist, Dave Stewart, who has been coloring Hellboy since 1998, is on board. Also the letterer, Clem Robins, who has done all of Mignola’s stuff in the Hellboy universe. Mignola has brought the entire team with him to give Frankenstein Unleashed #1 everything you would expect it to be and pulls it off wonderfully.

If you’re a fan of this world, it won’t disappoint. If you’re a fan of Frankenstein, I think you’ll also find it intriguing. If you’re a fan of comics, you should be of Mignola.