Criminal Macabre: Eyes Of Frankenstein #2 Review


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Criminal Macabre: Eyes of Frankenstein #2 is a straight up fun buddy tale between a ghoul and Frankenstein. The comedy is light on it’s feet and the interaction between the main players will keep you coming back for more.

Official Description from DARK HORSE:
At Mo’Lock’s suggestion, Cal visits Jason Hemlock, a flashy, rich entertainer who claims to be the world’s foremost authority on the supernatural. Cal thinks he’s a fake, but Hemlock can help them. He’s a surgeon who can fix the Frankenstein monster’s eyes and possibly solve the exodus of the ghoul population.

Last issue Frankenstein needed new eyes and now it’s Cal’s duty to make sure that happens. Unfortunately he’ll be sent to see Jason Hemlock who Cal see’s as the world’s worst phony supernatural expert. But Cal just can’t help himself in caring for Frankenstein’s needs and a chance to expose a fraud like Hemlock. Two birds, one stone. Steve Niles knows how to make these characters funny, interesting and engaging. The witty banter and everyone’s need to show Cal the error of his ways never misses a beat. Last issue we got exposed to a rampaging Frankenstein and here he couldn’t be more well manner and behaved. When he gets some temporary specks for his ailing eyes he’s even quite intellectual and charming.

CriminalMacabre02CVR300pxNiles maneuvers the waters of horror, monsters and comedy with ease and the characters become more likable by each page and Cal’s flaws become more exposed. But he’s still likeable even with his flaws and that’s what make these characters work so well. I’ve read a lot of horror themed books this month and this is undoubtably the most fun so far. And while most of those lean all comedy or all horror, Criminal Macabre strikes a perfect balance.

Christopher Mitten continues to do great work here his sketchy loose style give the book a darker feel then what really exists. And still he has the sensibility and skill to make Frankenstein’s new eye wear a thing that is funny as it is absurd. But it all works well in this mix. The final splash page is both horrifying and disturbing yet still maintains a slight sense of comedic wit.

Criminal Macabre: Eyes of Frankenstein #2 is both fun and entertaining with just the slightest touch of black comedy and gruesome ghouls and creatures. It’s the most entertaining monster book on the shelves and Niles and Mitten work so well together in their approach. Well worth your time to pick this book up. You won’t come away disappointed.

3.5/5

threehalfstar

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