I didn’t know anything about The Ex-Wives of Frankenstein until creator Richard Fairgray stopped by my table at San Diego Comic-Con and pitched it to me. After that, I was all in when the Kickstarter went live.

This re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic introduces us to “The Bride” and Elizabeth Frankenstein in the present day. “The Bride,” who now calls herself Victoria, is still coming to grips with her body—a patchwork quilt of sutures and scars. Elizabeth – older, snarkier, and clearly not taking BS from anyone – arrives to inform Victoria that their former husbands have been found alive in the Arctic Circle. Not what you would call best friends, it is an awkward moment between the women as they deal with the news. How they come to grips with it – and how it will affect their lives – is the thrust of the story.

A well-written character piece, the story is slow, but the images are engaging, as we are introduced to our main characters. Victoria begins her day with an examination of her body and the mental exercise of convincing herself she is beautiful the way she is. That act is contradicted by her nervously picking at her sutures, not allowing the already scarred flesh to heal. Elizabeth – wary, yet with the keen intelligence of a person who has learned life’s lessons well – is clearly looking for a connection with someone. One may not think these two women have much in common, but I get the feeling they are both lonely. By the end of the first issue, you get the feeling this is the start of an interesting relationship.

What I really liked about this story is its approach to body image, self-acceptance, and the fact that it is about two women of different ages who are not related by blood. I don’t think we see enough of those types of stories. The art and coloring are spare which works well. The few instances of color emphasize certain important objects, especially Victoria’s green skin. It highlights how different she is, yet we see she is a complete human woman. What made me smile was Victoria’s T-shirt. I won’t give it away, but it’s a clear metaphor for her unique situation.

I look forward to backing the next issue.

Creative Team: Richard Fairgray (writer/artist)
Click here to purchase.