BotTalk Reviews

The experiments continue.  Dr. Jack Griffin takes a room in an unsavoury part of town and tests the invisibility serum on a boy living on the streets.  Instead of complete invisibility it simply makes his outer layer of skin disappear.  After months he is reduced to a living skeleton and finally, a pair of eyes that seemingly float in the air.  Finally achieving total invisibility the street urchin knocks Jack unconscious and escapes.   Again the theme of feeling like an outcast in society, invisible to the upper class, is present.  Jack spends much time simply sitting and trying to be invisible in public places by simply not moving, not drawing attention to himself.  The pressure continues to mount though, as his fiancé seems to find his increasing absence, attention lacking and his boss demanding to see results.  Going from animals to humans for experimentation is a logical step.  We shall see how the newly invisible Tommy uses his ability...

The experiments continue.  The invisibility serum is tested on animals, most do not survive and are quietly disposed of.  A one eyed cat manages to not only survive but escapes.  People report hearing a squalling cat but never seeing one, of a fish seemingly walking away from the local market.  When Dr. Jack Griffin's lab rival acquires an ape for experimentation he invites the cat in... and it kills the ape.   The story continues to progress at a nice pace.  Not too fast nor too slow.  This issue opens with some time between Jack and Flora Cranley, which is much needed.  They want to be together but the demands of society seem determined to keep them apart.  Later, when Jack kisses her she is more worried about appearances.  Appearances, which is something that keeps coming up in this series.  Seen and unseen.  How things appear, and how they really are.  It is not over the top commentary nor does it bludgeon you over the...

An ambitious scientist experiments with a serum on a lab rat.  His rival annoys him at best, but he continues with various tests until finally the rat completely turns invisible.  Later, he returns from an evening meal to find his rat has killed the others in its cage.  Dr. Jack Griffin continues his experiments... and waits. James Tynion IV has taken the familiar story of The Invisible Man and given it a more psychological edge.  The Invisible Man is often reimagined as one man's descent into madness and we get some of that here.  Griffin is a quiet, unassuming man who ignores the remarks of those around him.  He sees himself as someone who has plans and lies in wait... almost invisible you could say.  We get brief flashes of horror, his lab rival murdered.  So the descent begins.  There is little horror here, but typically this story has never been one of overt horror.  The art fits the story perfectly, providing dark shadows for the m...

Ankh Es En Amun is in full control of Helen's body and reunites with Imhotep.  He tells her that the body must die so her soul can return to its original body.  Only then can they be truly reunited.  Ankh Es En Amun does not want Helen to die and struggles with Imhotep.  Helen aids Ankh Es En Amun in escaping from Imhotep and the mummy he controls.  As Imhotep prepares to stab Ankh Es En Amu, she and Helen let loose a torrent of energy which disintegrates him.  Ankh Es En Amun departs from Helen's body. This is the best issue of this mini series.  Mostly due to the focus on more familiar aspects of The Mummy.  Ankh Es En Amun and Helen struggled for control over the body and in the end work together to defeat the crazed Imhotep.  No damsels in distress here.  Having Ankh Es En Amun fully aware of her past lives, in addition to Helen, is an interesting choice.  It serves the finale quite well I though.  I have not talked about t...

Helen sees her past as Ankh Es En Amun.  Her forbidden love with Imhotep and her eventual death due to a plague.  He tries to restore her to life using the Scroll of Thoth but is prevented and, for his crime, is buried alive.  Ankh Es En Amun speaks through Helen but the two wrestle for control of the body and Helen flees.  Ankh Es En Amun tells Helen if she does not surrender control she will take it herself.  Later, Helen wakes up... but it appears Ankh Es En Amun is finally in complete control. This is the best issue so far.  It is due to the more familiar elements one would associate with the Universal Mummy themes.  Imhotep and the curse, attempting to bring Ankh Es En Amun back to life.  This is what was missing from the first two issues.  and, I can see some logic in wanting to slowly reveal the mystery over the course of three issues.  But if you are a fan of Universal Monsters there is no mystery.  You know, more or less, w...

Helen goes to the museum to see the unearthed princess.  She talks to the voice inside her head.  Someone reads from an ancient scroll and Helen feels the call.  The voice addresses her as Ankh-Es-En-Amun (Her Life Is of Amun).  Eventually Helen comes face to face with Ardeth Bay and we see a flash of them in ancient Egyptian garb.   Very little happens this issue.  And I do mean little.  Mostly Helen talks to the voice and has conversations that go nowhere or seem of little importance.  The comic just meanders along until Helen and Ardeth come face to face.  This is extremely disappointing.  I'm open to a new interpretation of The Mummy, but this lacks any thrilling moments, drama or intrigue.  We get one page of some mild horror.   four out of ten.

Over the course of several years we witness the life of Helen Grosvenor.  The British digging up Egyptian artifacts and how her former childhood friends view her privileged status.  Bringing a boy she has a crush on to the dig site, Helen falls unconscious and finds a man standing before her on the dunes, covered in wrappings.  Later, in a mirror, Hellen sees what may be different aspects of herself.  Possible past lives.   This is... disappointing.  We spend so much time with Helen but she comes across as a modern, privileged teenager.   It is so pedestrian and cliche.  There is so little of the actual Mummy and the mythos of the various Universal Monsters versions of the Mummy here.  It is just the first issue so hopefully this will improve.   six out of ten.

The infamous scene of the monster throwing little Maria into the lake plays out.  As the villagers search for the monster Henry discovers it.  They briefly struggle, with the monster victorious.  Taking refuge at an old windmill the monster tosses Henry to the ground.  The enraged villagers set fire to it and the monster seemingly dies in the inferno.   Maria's death is beautifully illustrated this issue.  The Monster smiling and flowers fluttering as she falls.  Great sequence.  The final ending that plays out here is lifted from the 1931 James Whale film, not the novel.  In the novel Henry searches for the monster after the death of his fiancé.  Their final encounter is in an arctic wasteland.  I have no problem with the movie ending being played out here.  Overall this is a fine adaption of Frankenstein that honours both the novel and the most famous incarnation of it put to film.   eight out of ten.

The young boy, Paul, hitches a ride to the Frankenstein home and is eventually welcomed inside by Elizabeth once he is discovered.  She is ordered by Henry's father to bring Henry home.  Back at the castle the group is determined to destroy the creature once they discover it killed Fritz.  They manage to knock out the creature with drugs and later, Waldman is killed by the creature once it awakes.  Later, Henry and Elizabeth are about to be married when Professor Waldman's body is found.  Henry rushes off, unaware that the creature was in the very room.  The creature comes face to face with Elizabeth and kills her. A lot going on in this issue, and I feel it is very haphazardly put together.  The scenes between Elizabeth and Paul, the young boy, are much needed and very touching.  Especially since, if you are familiar with the material, you know Elizabeth does not have much time left.  Her frustrations are on display with Henry and his father...

A brief flashback gives us the final moments of the man who would soon 'donate' his brain to the Doctor's experiments and become the monster.  In the present, Fritz is threatened by Henry's old Professor and takes his frustrations out on the monster, beating it savagely.  Later, after teasing the monster with a torch, it lunges forward and snaps Fritz's neck.   A lot going on this issue.  The flashback to the last moments of the man who would 'give' his brain to the monster were interesting.  The rest of the issue is largely centered on Fritz, as he is killed off at the end by the monster.  The drama surrounding Henry, his old Professor, best friend Victor and fiancé showing up is largely playing in the background.  But, if you are familiar with the events of Frankenstein either through the novel or one of the many film adaptations, you know what is going on here. seven out of ten.