LaValle’s Monster is cold and bionic at first glance, but it’s surprisingly all heart. We are first introduced to him sprawled out while he sits atop a mammoth ice tower, his power billowing over. He sits alone, ripped shorts blowing in the wind, hollow eyes as he sits on his throne tower of ice. Chilling, yet within an instant, he is diving through the ice to destroy two wale poachers, morning the death of the creature while smashing their heads off. The Monster is about to join the ranks of a group of vigilantes when he hears of the news of Dr. Frankenstein and her lab, infuriating him.

The writing and storyline start off strong with vivid imagery and a fascinating and identifiable character, however odd and violent. You want to root for him defending the whales and his desire to defend humanity, to keep us on the right path. The story becomes muddied when it shifts to the Frankenstein storyline; the shift comes abruptly and without a conclusive farewell to the Monster. There also is not a link between the two; I am assuming that will come in later editions, but it would have helped to have a clearer connection in this earlier edition without such an abrupt shift.

On it’s own, the Frankenstein story is moving. Frankenstein makes poetry when creating her Monster son. Every word between them, each moment, is very stylistic and sequenced in such a way that it is as if you are reading poetry… an out-of-this-world experience. I think it helps to honor both the emotion and the mysticism of the moment. Adding just a little bit of mystery and eerie romantic quality to what could have been a mad scientist rant makes for a much more fascinating and emotional scene. I have to admit, I had to catch my breath at the end, as I was on the edge of my seat at the twist.