Friday, October 22, 2010

Funny Frankenstein – It’s Alive!!!

70 years ago the Frankenstein monster came to life... but this time the mad scientist that created him was a cartoonist named Dick Briefer.
creation funny Frankenstein by Dick briefer
There are a couple of reasons why these Frankenstein comics are so special. The most interesting thing is that this Frankenstein monster lived two distinct lives, both at the hand of the same great cartoonist. Dick Briefer started out drawing Frankenstein comics in 1940 as a straight horror comic. But by 1945, he changed the entire direction of the book and the character into a wonderfully playful humor comic.
funny and scary Frankenstein comics Dick briefer
The funny Frankenstein comics are delightful stream of consciousness romps drawn with a breezy spontaneity that can only be compared to what Harvey Kurtzman was doing in the late 40s. Like Kurtzman, Dick Briefer had the amazing ability to masterfully execute both serious and humorous comics.
scary Frankenstein comics Dick briefer tomb of the living dead zombies
I was very fortunate to have discovered these comics when my former Nickelodeon Magazine editor Chris Duffy sent me a care package full of color xeroxes of comics that he liked. I fell in love right away, and stuck all of these color xeroxes into a binder that I've been drooling over ever since. Since the actual comic books are so rare and expensive, reading these xeroxes was the closest I could come to reading the actual comic books.
funny Frankenstein Dick briefer Manimals
Dick Briefer's brilliant Frankenstein comics have almost completely been buried by the sands of time. Part of the reason may be that these fantastic comics were published by Crestwood Publications, the publishing outfit that's been out of business since 1963.
Frankenstein smashing through a brick wall by Dick briefer
That's one of the reasons I'm so happy to see this new reprint treasury compiled by comic reprint maven Craig Yoe. His new book, "Dick Briefer's Frankenstein" lovingly reprints 144 pages of those 1940s to 1950s Frankenstein comics... and it includes the best of both the scary Frankenstein and the funny Frankenstein!
Frankenstein scary Dick Briefer

I'm much much much more partial to the funny Frankenstein comics, but I enjoy the more serious stories also... mostly because I'm fascinated that one artist could create both sets of stories so well. On at least one occasion, he reused one of his funny plots for one of his later serious Frankenstein comics.
Today a bunch of us comic book bloggers are celebrating the release of Craig Yoe’s new Frankenstein book by featuring different comic stories by the masterful Dick Briefer.

Make sure to check out the links at the bottom of the post for more Frankenstein fun 
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Frankenstein hears a voice from above Dick briefer Since there's absolutely no way to adequately describe the lively, bouncy and silly artwork and stories, I hope you enjoy reading and drooling over the story below: "Blooperman" is a wonderfully silly story from 1947's Frankenstein #8. Enjoy!
08_Frankenstein_Blooperman01 08_Frankenstein_Blooperman02 08_Frankenstein_Blooperman03 08_Frankenstein_Blooperman04 08_Frankenstein_Blooperman05 08_Frankenstein_Blooperman06 08_Frankenstein_Blooperman07 08_Frankenstein_Blooperman08
If you liked this little taste, head down to your local comics shop and see if they've got the new Frankenstein hardcover collection! If not, there's always Amazon.com -- you'll find a link for that right under the picture at right >>> funny Frankenstein by Dick briefer Frankenstein at Amazon
Frankie_Logo And don't forget to check out these other terrific comics blogs for more Frankenstein comics

We’re all celebrating Frightful Frankenstein Friday!