Many creators speculate as to the fate of Frankenstein’s Monster at the end of Mary Shelley’s classic novel.
George Northy and Caitlin Yarsky’s new Oni Press series Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End answers that question in a unique fashion, by casting a reformed version of the Monster in their story as a Victorian sleuth.
The first issue of Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End (available at your local comic shop on December 9) puts Graft on the trail of monsters such as witches, werewolves, ghouls, and vampires located in the Romanian castle of Death’s End.
We spoke to Northy and Yarsky all about their new series and why it is so much fun telling stories about monsters in this exclusive interview.
How did you both become involved in Prometheus Graft?
Caitlin Yarsky: George and I were paired together for an EC story that also had dark fantasy elements (which is by far my favorite to draw) and we had a great time. So when George came up with Prometheus Graft, he thought of me (for which I’m eternally grateful).
George Northy: As soon as I started thinking of this idea, I knew Caitlin was the perfect artist for this story. To pull off a whodunnit with a large cast of characters, you really need to have each suspect look unique, memorable and be instantly identifiable and Caitlin is brilliant at creating characters with diverse, distinctive, expressive faces. After collaborating with her on the EC story and then reading her own awesome Dark Horse series Living Hell, I had no doubt she’d (excuse the pun) slay this book.
Where did the idea to mold the Frankenstein Monster into a super, Victorian sleuth originate?
Northy: At first, I’d just set out to craft a whodunnit set in a supernatural world of vampyrs, werewolves and witches. But when I started trying to figure out who should take on the “detective” role for this mystery, I remembered that Frankenstein’s Creature from Mary Shelley’s original novel was not this grunting wordless monster like in some portrayals, but a very intelligent and soulful creature trying to understand who and what he is. He was searching for vengeance…but also answers. This ‘living puzzle’ of a man was perfectly suited to solve the ‘puzzles’ or mysteries of others like him and that’s how Prometheus Graft was born.
How would you characterize your version of the creature turned detective?
Yarsky: He seems to fall into the Kind-Hearted-Hot-Monster-Man people have been thirsting over the last few years haha. I think Del Toro would be proud.
Northy: He’s resourceful, compassionate and of course, a bit tortured. Because of his own past misdeeds (in our story, the events of Shelley’s book are all canon) I think he has a very open mind and is unjudgemental about other supernatural style creatures. He is perfectly comfortable in the presence of witches, werewolves, ghouls and humans alike.
You also populate the world of Death’s End with all manner of monsters. How much fun was that for the both of you?
Yarsky: SOOOO fun! Hey, readers- please buy this comic so I can keep drawing monsters, body horror and witches in pretty vintage dresses. Thanks.
Northy: I’m one of those classic “Buffy made me want to create my own worlds” elder millennials, so playing in kind of a playground with all the well-established rules of witches, werewolves and vampyrs, all while simultaneously creating a new mythology and set of rules for Ghouls and Frankenstein’s Creature types was like fulfilling every childhood fantasy I’ve ever had!
What was it like working with each other on the project and what most impressed you about each’s storytelling?
Yarsky: George is a fantastic collaborator. He’s very clear in his vision while being open to the artist’s perspective and potential changes or interpretations. The perfect partner!
Northy: Caitlin’s incredible art speaks for itself but she’s also an incredibly kind and easy-going collaborator. My favorite part of working with her is when one of her visual interpretations sparks a whole new idea that I’m so inspired to dive back into the script to highlight it even more. One example of this is the origin of Prometheus Graft’s cane. Caitlin drew him with one, which inspired a discussion of how we could make it fit into his specific narrative…which led me to altering the script and then to Caitlin drawing one of my favorite panels in Issue One (which I won’t spoil here).
George: Memories of working on your recent EC horror story?
Northy: My EC experience was incredible because the short I wrote (that Caitlin illustrated) was actually my very first published comics script! I’d worked in TV and film previously and I had sold my idea for my comic Yuletide to Oni, but we were still searching for an artist on that so I hadn’t got to scripting it yet. I got an email from my Yuletide editor Matt Dryer (who also edits Prometheus Graft) asking if I had any Christmas horror ideas for EC, since I was already working on something in the ‘spooky Christmas’ subgenre. I replied with a twisted take on the O’Henry story ‘The Gift of the Magi’, they quickly approved it and asked if I could have the 8-page script to them in a week. I said yes having no idea if it was achievable or not…but turns out, it was. It was a great crash-course in comics making and moved so quickly that I was instantly hooked. And of course, it’s how I started working with Caitlin!
Caitlin: Memories of working on Black Hammer?
Yarsky: Black Hammer was the first non-superhero project that already had an established universe, which was a fun challenge. It was also very intimidating, as I LOVED the original story. It was also a weird time (early pandemic). But Jeff was wonderful to work with and I felt honored to be able to add to the canon.
What type of reader would you recommend Prometheus Graft for?
Yarsky: Do you like horror? Fantasy? Guts? Mystery? Hot humanoid cryptids? Then this is for YOU.
Northy: My hope is that fans of the mystery genre and the horror genre (and everyone who overlaps in that) will find a new iconic hero in Prometheus Graft. Basically, you will enjoy this if you liked Kenneth Branagh’s Frankenstein or Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot films OR if you happen to be Kenneth Branagh himself. Side note: If anyone out there actually knows Sir Kenneth, please send him this comic!
Check out all of the covers below, including the main cover by Yarsky and variants by Eric Powell, Gabriel Rodriguez, and Patricia Martin.
