More Frankenstein by Dick Briefer

These last two stories sort of run together (and the final one doesn't actually have a title) so I decided to just post them both...Enjoy!

From Frankenstein #4 (September-October 1946):

"Frankenstein and the Youth Restorer" by Dick Briefer

The more I reread this work, the more I'm convinced it should be collected. The recent collections of Fletcher Hanks and Boody Rogers are very nice, and soon we should be seeing a collection of Milt Gross' comic book work. A color collection of Briefer Frankenstein comics would fit right into that section of the bookshelf.

"Frankenstein Sees the Effect of the Youth Restorer" is the third of five stories from Frankenstein #4 (September-October 1946):

"Frankenstein Meets the Terrible Werewolf" by Dick Briefer

Alter Ego #41 ran some "Frankenstein" comic strips that Dick Briefer had drawn as a tryout (in the 1970s) for syndication. This werewolf story was one of the stories he adapted into those strips (another story from issue number 4, "Frankenstein and the Sorcerer", was also adapted into the strip...I will be uploading that story soon). 25 of his 61 tryout strips are reprinted over 5 pages. It also has an article on different versions of Frankenstein in the comics, some Alex Toth sketches of Briefer's Frankenstein, and a 2-page biography of Dick Briefer, written by Dick Briefer himself. Back issues are still available from Twomorrows: buy one here.





"Frankenstein Meets the (Terrible) Werewolf" is the second of five stories from Frankenstein #4 (September-October 1946):

"Frankenstein and Awful Annie" by Dick Briefer

More great Dick Briefer fun! This story has Frankenstein, the "Merry Monster", helping his friend Awful Annie, who lives "out near the garbage pile". Annie is depressed, and like a reanimated Fat Albert, Frankenstein decides to help. Good "Addams' Family" type gags in this one.

My copy of this issue was stapled from the top, near the spine. So the even-numbered pages may be a little distorted because the artwork goes right up to the crease in most cases. This first story didn't scan too badly, though.

This is the first of five stories in this issue.

Here is "Frankenstein and Awful Annie" from Frankenstein #4 (September-October 1946):

"Frankenstein and the Time Machine" by Dick Briefer

I love splash pages...it's something you don't see much anymore, but you see them in just about all these old Frankenstein comics. Briefer's splashes are simple and effective.

An acknowledgment is given to "Bruce Elliott" for his help with the stories in this issue, but it doesn't specify what help was given. Inking? Plotting? Anyone out there familiar with Bruce Elliott?

I have to take issue with the cover's proclamation of "52 pages of action and fun"...there are only 43 pages of Frankenstein, the front cover, and a house ad (I'll allow that) for a total of 45 pages. 47 if you count the 2-page text story (I will but don't want to...it has nothing to do with Frankenstein. Pure filler). The rest are ads. The 52-page books were actually 48-page books, but with both sides of the front and back cover counted as additional pages. When Dell claimed 52 pages of comics, there were comics printed on those covers, not ads.

Still, it's a small complaint. A 52-page comic with no ads would probably run at least 7 or 8 bucks now, while this great old comic cost a dime.

By the way, I brightened up the scans of the first three stories, so you might want to take another look at them. I think I improved the readability a bit!

This is the last of four stories in this issue.

Here is "Frankenstein and the Time Machine" from Frankenstein #3 (July-August 1946):