Product Description

In the nineteenth century, Dr. Victor Frankenstein brought his notorious creation to life, but a horrible turn of events forced him to abandon it and slip away from the public eye. Two centuries later, a serial killer is on the loose in New Orleans, gruesomely salvaging body parts from each of his victims, as if trying to assemble a perfect human being.

Detective Carson O’Connor is cool, cynical, and every bit as tough as she looks. Her partner, Michael Maddison, would back her up all the way to Hell itself–and that just may be where their new case leads. For as they investigate the strange killings, O’Connor and Madison find themselves drawn into a weird underworld of deception and secrets where a man named Victor Helios has created an entire race of perfectly engineered people who are meant to take humankind’s place one day. But something is happening to some of Helios’s creations, and it may be that this bizarre serial killer is the least of the detectives’ worries.

From the masterly pen of New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz–and featuring an adaptation by legendary comic book writer Chuck Dixon and gorgeous illustrations by acclaimed artist Brett Booth–Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son is a story filled with fast-paced action, gripping horror, and thrilling adventure.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #256095 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-03
• Released on: 2009-02-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover Comic
• 144 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Based directly on the bestselling novel by Koontz and Kevin J. Anderson, this exuberantly gruesome comic adaptation draws some themes from Mary Shelly's 1818 original but also many images from horror movies, including contemporary slasher flicks. Deucalion, the first Frankenstein's monster, is summoned from meditation in a Tibetan monastery by news that Victor Frankenstein, aka Helios, is alive and thriving in New Orleans. Although Victor poses as a philanthropist, he actually is creating hoards of genetic slaves in an abandoned hospital. His control over his creations is slipping, however, and one has become a bloody serial killer, convinced that he can find what it takes to be human if he looks inside enough people. As this installment concludes, a tough female police detective is beginning to believe Deucalion's story, while the violence increases. Booth's vigorous layout and pencils do an admirable job of keeping characters and action clear. Dixon's adaptation also effectively uses Koontz's greatest skill, his breakneck thriller plotting, so that the story races from one ghastly shock to the next. (Feb.)
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Review
" A compelling read.... The odd juxtaposition of a police procedural with a neo-gothic, mad scientist plot gives the novel a wickedly unusual and intriguing feel ... with an elegant cliffhanger ending." -- "Publishers Weekly
"" This is classic Koontz at his best. The plot zips along, the characters are grotesque and funny. The basic elements of Mary Shelley's novel, though slightly altered, fit right in." -- "Fangoria"

"From the Paperback edition."

About the Author
Dean Koontz, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives with his wife, Gerda, and the enduring spirit of their golden retriever, Trixie, in southern California.

Customer Reviews

Almost comes to life
Dean Koontz's Frankenstein trilogy brings the whole story of Frankenstein and his monster into the modern day, exploring modern technology's possible effects.

But the comic book adaptation is not an entirely satisfying experience. Koontz's story is suitably dark and grim, and Chuck Dixon's adaptation of his dialogue has a gloriously menacing edge. But sadly Brett Booth's artwork isn't quite up to the challenge of "Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son," due to his excesses of pouty pretty boys and equally pouty sexpot cops.

A strange scarred man named Deucalion has been living in a remote Buddhist monastery, but now he feels compelled to leave for New Orleans -- because "someone's still alive." Though his disfiguring scars made him a circus freak in the past, he's somehow able to get to New Orleans undetected. No, I don't know how he managed that, but I suspect it was cut for the sake of length.

In New Orleans, a bizarre serial killer called "the Surgeon" has been killing a series of unrelated people. The one thing in common: each one has a body part removed. Detective Carson O'Connor is on the case, but she and her partner are no closer to actually figuring out who the murderer is, or where he will strike next -- how can you predict a killer who attacks for body parts?

Unbeknownst to them, one of the killers is the sociopathic scientist Victor Helios -- once known as Frankenstein. He is coldly creating a new race of subordinate, genetically engineered creatures that are indistinguishable from humans. And as Carson searches for answers to the Surgeon's identity, she comes across Deucalian -- and discovers that the real horrors yet to come.

It's rather tough to bring any classic story into the modern day, and most authors/filmmakers who try end up failing on all levels. It's a tribute to Koontz that he actually brings something new to the mix, whether it's his not-so-subtle allusions to Greek mythology (in the same vein as Shelley) or the darkly angsty Deucalion and his quiet quest, which quickly intersects with the strong-willed Carson.

It's a pretty dark story, full of grotesquely disfigured bodies and grimy little rooms in old theatres. Koontz's noir New Orleans is not a fun place, and any story that begins with a Frankenstein monster having a squid stuck in his stomach is not going to be full of light and puppies -- there are gory killings, creepy visions (including a malformed face telling Victor's wife to kill him), and the chillingly cold-blooded self-admiration of Victor himself. And Chuck Dixon pares down Koontz's dialogue to a lean, elusive little string of lines.

The big problem? It's Brett Booth. He basically does the same thing here that he did during his stint in the Anita Blake series, which was annoying then, but insufferable in this darker, grimier comic book. I understand that it's necessary to work the sex appeal, but come on -- bare-chested in skin-tight pants in TIBET? During a blizzard? Really.

Which brings me back to Deucalion. Booth illustrates this tragic, tormented character as a male model -- he's all bulgy muscles, flowing hair, pouty pretty-boy looks and very prominent groin. Carson is just as cut-and-paste -- she's a feisty, capable detective who inexplicably has skin-tight clothes, huge thighs, collagen lips and hair that sticks out six inches in front of her face when she turns.

"Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son" comic is well-adapted and dripping with dark, bloody atmosphere, and it's a credit to Koontz and Dixon that their world transcends Booth's art.

Superb Adaptation
Death is in the air in pre-Katrina New Orleans. A serial killer has committed a series of ghastly murders and is harvesting organs from each victim. As Detective Carson O'Connor searches for clues, she crosses paths with a dark and mysterious man who calls himself Duecalion. While this stranger certainly holds the answers she is looking for, Carson is not sure she's ready to accept the deadly truth. Now the hope of a city lies in the hands of a created monster that is greater than the legend that surrounds him.

In 2005, Dean Koontz wowed critics and fans alike with his modern day twist on the Frankenstein story set in the Big Easy. Four years later fans are still clamoring for the third and final installment of that series. For reasons not entirely clear (both Hurricane Katrina and Koontz's self admitted hang ups with collaboration have been offered as reasons), that infamous third novel is still nowhere on the immediate horizon. In the meantime I'm thankful that we at least are treated with this superb graphic novel version of the first book.

Comic legend Chuck Dixon takes the helm with the story adaptation and absolutely nails it. All of the creepiness, action, mystery, and intrigue that made the novel so engaging are perfectly represented here. Duecalion's scenes are especially mesmerizing and full of the awe and wonder that surround this legendary monster. Koontz brought so much life and heart to the world's most famous monster and Dixon effortlessly captures those elements throughout the story. Also included in this volume is a nice little short story from Koontz surrounding the evil Victor Helios that fans will surely be drooling over.

Artist Brett Booth simply shines on every page with stark detail and rich environments. The depictions of Duecalion are both magnificent and imposing, while at the same time revealing the charm that makes this character so delightful. The somber tones and careful use of light work closely together to capture the wonder of New Orleans throughout the pages.

I'm more of a book guy, so I always tend to enjoy novels over film or graphic novel adaptations. However, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Prodigal Son. Even if you have read the novel you will still find plenty here to wow you. Those who aren't familiar with the novel can easily jump in and get the gist of one of Koontz's most celebrated stories. The adaptation for City of Night is next, and while I'm sure it will be fantastic, I can only hope that these graphic novels are being used as a big build up for the final book. We shall see.

Marvelous!

If Mary Shelley would be alive, she would be impressed. The team of Dean Koontz, Chuck Dixon, and Brett Booth have taken the concept of life from death, and a monsters' rampage to a new level.

In "Prodigal Son", Herr Frankenstein is no more, in his stead is Victor Helios, philanthropist, and business man. Behind the socially acceptable cover he has established, and behind the walls of his private estate (and former hospital) Hands of Mercy, ungodly research is conducted. For over 200 years, his immortal existence and obsessive quest to create a race of beings he controls has gone one. Now, in New Orleans, a string of murders draws the attention of one Deucalion. Victor Frankensteins' redeemed creation. Investigators Detective Carson O'Connor and Michael Madison find themselves tracking corpses with missing body parts. Hands, eyes, hearts, feet, and forearms indicate a demented killer. From the viewpoint of perfectionist Victor Helios, one of his creations has gone on a rampage. Randal Six is `collecting', and his actions have not gone un-noticed. Another is loose, killing in a copycat fashion, but only Randal is aware of the 2nd killer. Who is he? Why is he on his reign of terror. The `Surgeon' , as the media puts it, is on the prowl...
This is horror, as good as can be presented in the illustrated format. Few writer and artist teams can create the mood and suspense required to sustain the literary momentum. Dixons' narrative conveys the outrage, the brutality, and the sheer animal nature of Randal Six, and Victor Helios. I think the panel that best portrays this is the `meal' that Victor eats that resembles baby puppies...Shelley would have thrown this manuscript into the fire too!

Horror comics are an art form. Alan Moore and John Totleben created the Swamp Thing mystique that oozed terror and fear. This book does the same. Only one page seems a little clumsy, but the other 98% of the book is stunning.

I can hardly wait for Prodigal Son, Volume 2.

[...]
Tim Lasiuta