After surviving a horrific murder attempt by murderer Darwin Collier, reporter Kate Marsden travels to the Amazons to hunt for him. While investigating more mysterious drownings in the area, Kate discovers a new lead that takes her into the Amazon jungles, where she faces a monster well-known to the locals. But is he truly a monster, or is there more to him? Co-writers Dan Watters and Ram V and artist Matthew Roberts invite the readers to explore the rivers and forests of Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #1.
Serving as a sequel to the original Creature from the Black Lagoon, the issue picks up a few years later and follows new characters such as Kate Marsden while returning faces like Doctor Edwin Thompson pop up. The first issue also evokes the first film by following an expedition in the Amazon. Still, it differs in Kate tracking a well-known murderer with a modus operandi for drowning his victims. Dan and Ram demonstrate a strong reverence for the Universal Monsters and Jack Arnold’s classic but are bold in taking the material in their direction for a new story. I appreciate Kate being different from Kay Lawrence and having a distinct mission compared to the scientific focus of the previous films. Framing the sequel as a journalistic investigation provides a new angle while explaining how she would run into the Gill-man. With this investigative aspect, Kate stands as a logical, solid foil to the mysterious nature of the unknown.
The pair also examines and discusses the themes of the original film and the Universal Monsters with the ideas of humanity and monstrosity. The locals of the region still see the Gill-man as a mythical being who lives in the rivers and kills random people but do not see him as being monstrous. Kate views serial killer Darwin as a monster, and she and her boss call him one on several occasions. The balance of sympathy and tragedy paired with his monstrous anger makes the Gill-man work as an icon, where others do not see him as human but as the other. The addition of Kate also draws a comparison to his previous desire for Kay, and I do appreciate Dan and Ram dropping the love triangle from the original film for this sequel series. I cannot wait to see them crafting a different relationship for Kate and the Gill-man while wondering how much the creature has changed since he last appeared.
Finally, the series could not operate on such a high level without Matthew’s phenomenal art. Providing a timeless quality to the settings and characters, Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives Issue #1 feels timeless while not out of place from the iconic 1954 film. Considering Gill-Man’s upper echelon status, Matthew loves Millicent Roberts’s original costume and lovingly brings it to life on the page. It calls to mind the creature that has lived in our minds and our pop culture consciousness since the first film graced us. Dave Stewart’s colors and DC Hopkins’s letters capture that vintage aesthetic where it does not come across as too old or modern. The color palette and design work truly captures the spirit of The Universal Monsters.
With how iconic Creature from the Black Lagoon and the Gill-man has been since the 1950s, Dan, Ram, and Matthew do an incredible job crafting a worthy follow-up in Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #1. The creative team has charted a fascinating course in uncharted waters for the beloved franchise. They show why the Universal Monsters have lasted so long while connecting to different people across generations. As the original movie celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2024, this comic is a perfect reminder of its well-earned legacy in the horror genre.
Story: Dan Watters and Ram V Art: Matthew Roberts
Color: Dave Stewart Letterer: DC Hopkins
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.6 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Read
Skybound provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
Source: Graphic Policy
