Compass Comics; crowd-funded

In a life in and out of foster homes, young Joe Pratt thought he was alone, finding his way as a pizza delivery boy. About to fall prey to a coven of vampires, he is rescued by the Frankenstein Monster, who tells him that he is the last of the Frankenstein line. This sets in motion a chain of events Joe could never have imagined.

With The Chenoo, Alien Alamo, and his upcoming book, The Ghosts of Matecumbe Key, Bane co-creator Graham Nolan has been carving out a universe with original material created for Compass Comics line. For this one, though, he takes a bit of a step back, but only to a project that seems to fit right in with his more recent efforts.

Joe Frankenstein Part 1 collects the first two issues of a series Nolan and his Bane co-creator Chuck Dixon originally published in 2015 through IDW. It adds the 10-page prologue, which was previously only available in the now out-of-print hardcover collection. Combine that with some behind the scenes extras and the sterling production values Nolan has featured with his other Compass Comics offerings, and this book starts out and ends up as a winner.

– J.C. Vaughn