Frankenstein guest-stars in MEN OF WAR #8

At the helm of the final issue of MEN OF WAR are white hot writers Jeff Lemire (Animal Man, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Sweet Tooth) and Matt Kindt (Revolver) with art by Tom Derenick.

In this action packed issue, Frankenstein walks through a rain of bombs over 1941 London before being dragged to the depths of the Pacific Ocean and onto the shores of Japan. Will he make it there in one piece so he can team up with GI Robot to defeat the Axis weapon that threatens to turn the tide of the war? Frank’s success will hinge on the help of a four-armed super-spy assassin working in the shadows.

(Cover by Victor Kalvachev)

We asked Jeff and Matt about working on this issue and here’s what they had to say:

"I first met Matt Kindt at the MoCCA festival in New York in 2005. He was selling copies of Super Spy and I was selling my first graphic novel, Lost Dogs. We hit it off right away and since then Matt has become one of my closest friends.

Coincidentally, Bob Harras told me I was going to be writing the Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE series, for the New 52, at last year's Emerald City Con in Seattle. I was sharing a hotel room with Matt that weekend and we spent the rest of the show talking about ideas for the book. Before long it turned into a full-on brainstorming session with Matt and a lot of the ideas from that weekend went into the first 5 or 6 issues of Frank. So Matt has been a secret contributor to the series since it launched in September.

So, when Joey Cavalieri asked me to write this special "Frankenstein in World War II" issue of Men of War, I immediately asked if Matt could co-write it with me. It was an incredibly fun experience. We just kept trying to top each other in terms of the crazy Ideas we could squeeze into the book, and I think fans are going to have as much fun reading it as we had writing it!" – Jeff Lemire

“It was fitting that Jeff and I worked on Frankenstein's secret World War II history together. We both dug up the craziest ideas we could think of -- literally I think we tried to top each other with some outrageous imagery and story ideas. We stitched it all together and then Tom applied the electricity (art) to bring this monster to life. Tom seriously drew what is my favorite double-page spread of all time in this issue. You'll know it when you see it. I have to say working with Jeff on this has easily been the most fun I've had doing comics so far...and I've had a lot of fun. And like all unholy unions I think the sum is even crazier than the parts!" - Matt Kindt

This 40-page event full of espionage and monster mayhem is not to be missed!

FLASHPOINT FRIDAY: “S.H.A.D.E. can’t afford to stay in the shadows any longer.”

Upon the arrival of his long lost wife, Frankenstein agrees to join her in the ranks of S.H.A.D.E. (the Super Human Advanced Defense Executive), a highly secretive black ops super-agents team making their way to Europe to aid The Resistance. But first, the Creature Commandos will have to stop in Romania to find Nina’s father, the only person who might be able to save Griffith’s life after he is shot by a silver bullet.

When they arrive at their destination, the team finds that it is a village full of many extraordinary and misunderstood creatures being slaughtered by a menace stranger than they are. As time is running out to find Nina’s father, Frankenstein will have to triumph to take on his next mission: as an agent of S.H.A.D.E.

Written by Jeff Lemire and featuring art by Andy Smith and Keith Champagne, FRANKENSTEIN AND THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN #3 hits stores on Wednesday.

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Today’s The Dark and The Edge panel at SDCC

During today’s panel for The Dark and The Edge at SDCC, we premiered art from ANIMAL MAN, BLACKHAWKS, DEATHSTROKE, FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E., JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK, MEN OF WAR, OMAC, RESURRECTION MAN, SUICIDE SQUAD, SWAMP THING, I, VAMPIRE, and VOODOO. Click through the gallery to see all this new art.

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Questions About The Dark

We’re just one month after the announcement of the books in the “Dark” group of DC Comics--The New 52. There's a lot of mystery surrounding these titles and the solicitations for the second issues offer another round of questions to keep fans guessing: Can the Justice League Dark turn against one of their own? Was Alec Holland wrong about Swamp Thing’s origins? What is the S.O.M.B.I.E. appearing in FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E.? Will Mitch Shelly, a.k.a. Resurrection Man, find the answers he’s looking for about his past? Find out all of these and more when the below books hit shelves this October.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #2

Written by PETER MILLIGAN

Art by MIKEL JANIN

Cover by RYAN SOOK

On sale OCTOBER 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Madame Xanadu continues guiding the world’s darkest heroes in their struggle against evil. But will John Constantine, Zatanna, Shade the Changing Man and the others be able to join forces in time to defeat the dangerous Enchantress before she destroys the world as we know it?

SWAMP THING #2

Written by SCOTT SNYDER

Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

On sale OCTOBER 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Alec Holland thought he knew the history of the Swamp Thing – but he was wrong. The creature’s roots run deeper than he knows, and the Parliament of Trees intends to make him understand the responsibility he wants so desperately to avoid! With this issue, the mythology of the Swamp Thing branches out in ways you never saw coming – don’t miss it!

ANIMAL MAN #2

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Art and cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN

On sale OCTOBER 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Maxine’s new abilities continue to terrify Ellen and Buddy Baker, and things take a turn for the worse as Buddy begins a startling transformation of his own that will lead him on a journey into the heart of The Red. Meanwhile, The Hunters Three arrive on Earth and set their sights on the Baker family. The Hunt is on as DC’s most surprising new series continues to take ANIMAL MAN in shocking new directions.

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #2

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI

Cover by J.G. JONES

On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

It’s all-out war as Frankenstein and his new field team, The Creature Commandos, uncover an age-old conspiracy at the heart of Bone Lake – one that will see them suit up as the world’s first “Necronauts,” traveling between worlds and through “dead space,” toward the mysterious Monster Planet. Meanwhile, the horrifying origins of the Commandos are revealed – and the S.O.M.B.I.E. makes its first appearance!

RESURRECTION MAN #2

Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING

Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO

Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO

On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Mitch Shelley’s past remains a mystery. So when he goes looking for answers, will he find them? Not likely, when he has to contend with the bounty hunter femme fatales known as The Body Doubles.

I, VAMPIRE #2

Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV

Art by ANDREA SORRENTINO

Cover by JENNY FRISON

On sale OCTOBER 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

True love becomes divine hatred between the Queen of Blood and Andrew, as her vampires begin their attacks across the country. Their past behind them, they find themselves ready to battle to the death... If those feelings really are all gone. Surrounded by swarms of bloodthirsty vamps, Andrew must confront his immortal beloved in a blood-soaked battle he can’t win.

DEMON KNIGHTS #2

Written by PAUL CORNELL

Art by DIOGENES NEVES and OCLAIR ALBERT

Cover by TONY S. DANIEL

On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

The siege that will reverberate through history to the present-day DCU begins as the Demon Etrigan and his unlikely lover, Madame Xanadu, face the Horde! What five (mostly) noble souls would be crazy enough to join them? The cover gives but a hint, and the point could well be moot by the time this issue’s done. For the Horde is armed with the magic of Mordru – including some decidedly different dragons!

FLASHPOINT FRIDAY: “Bullets are not our primary weapons. Only a distraction.”

As Frankenstein and his creature commandoes embark on their journey to find the cure for their afflictions, they’ll find themselves seeking Nina’s father’s old lab in Gotham. Unfortunately for them, however, a tracking device placed in their system in 1945 leads monster hunter Miranda Shrieve directly to their whereabouts. As Miranda reveals the origins of her vendetta, the creatures receive a surprise visit and assistance from a mysterious ally. But will that be enough for the entire crew to survive the attack by Miranda and her army?

FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN #2 is written by Jeff Lemire and features art by Ibraim Roberson, Alex Massacci, and Pete Pantazis.

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FLASHPOINT FRIDAY: “Frankenstein is … an unstoppable, unkillable, machine of destruction.” – Jeff Lemire

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The tale of FRANKENSTEIN is unarguably timeless. So how does one take such a culturally recognized figure and alter him within the world of FLASHPOINT? Stepping up to the plate is fan-favorite creator Jeff Lemire, whose miniseries FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN & THE CREATURES OF THE UNNKNOWN sets the legendary monster in the heart of World War II. We chatted with Jeff about his spin on the character and his process as a writer:

flsp_frank_rgbTHE SOURCE: FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN uncovers the wierd war tales of the FLASHPOINT world. When Frankenstein awakens in issue one, his first words are "was... something... left... undone?" What is he referring to? Where has Frankenstein been?

JEFF LEMIRE: That was actually an homage to the Grant Morrison/Doug Mahnke 7 SOLDIERS mini-series. In that book, those were the first words the creature said as well, and it occurred to me that if Frankenstein woke up in 1942 or in 2003 like he did in that series, he'd have the same reaction...he’d sense a world in turmoil.

Without giving too much away Frankenstein was a secret adventurer and protector of humanity in the early part of the 20th century before being...um...put out of commission for a while.

flashfrankDoes the Frankenstein monster end up a war hero?

JEFF: He is THE war hero. Frankenstein is driven to root out evil at all costs and it leads him on a pretty MAJOR mission during World War II. One that not only changes the direction of the war, but also the history of the Flashpoint Universe's costumed heroes as well.

How does Project M impact the Second World War?

JEFF: Frankenstein and his team of Creature Commandos created by the mysterious Project M end up leading the charge in Europe. As a result, teams like the JSA and All-Star Squadron are not needed in the same way they were in the regular DC Universe. Thus their destinies are altered as well.

flsp_frank_1_06There's a common thread to your work for DC and Vertigo. SWEET TOOTH features hybrid human/animal creatures and SUPERBOY features the monthly adventures of a super clone. Now you're writing the adventures of monsters who are super soldiers. What draws you to stories about lab experiments and science fiction?

JEFF: I am actually a clone myself. I come from a long line of clones. My dad was a clone, my grandfather...in fact I've cloned myself a number of times. It's how I'm able to write two monthly books and write and draw another every month.

Seriously, though I love these characters who have nebulous origins and are born as outsiders...or born being inherently cut off from the rest of humanity, and as a result need to manufacture either own place in the world. It's a very unique point of view to write and for whatever reason, one I can relate to and one that continues to interest me creatively.

What makes this Frankenstein unique from other takes on the character?

JEFF: This Frankenstein is a total badass. An unstoppable, unkillable machine of destruction. But inside is the romantic heart of a poet.

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