4 Universal Monsters Who Deserve a Reboot (And 4 Who Already Got Great Ones)
The Universal Monsters were introduced to the world back in 1923 with The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and from there, the studio released more films and built up its monstrous roster. Since then, these monsters have dominated pop culture through sequels, remakes, in-person attractions, and now comic books from Skybound Entertainment, an imprint of Image Comics.
The first title for Skybound’s Universal Monsters comics was Dracula by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds, and two other monsters got their own books down the line, including Michael Walsh and Toni-Marie Griffin’s Frankenstein and Dan Watters, Ram V, Matthew Roberts, and Dave Stewart’s Creature From The Black Lagoon Lives! Skybound appears to have more Universal Monsters comics up its sleeve, with The Mummy hitting shelves March 26th, 2025. There are also many more Universal Monsters to adapt to the comics, giving audiences a great substitute for the failure of the Dark Universe.
8
Needs a Comic Reboot: The Invisible Man
Directed by James Whale (1933); Directed by Leigh Whannell (2020)
Of the Universal Monsters who have not gotten a Skybound comic yet, one of the first to come to mind is The Invisible Man. Like Frankenstein, this Universal Monster does not have supernatural ties. Instead, in the original book by H.G. Wells, a scientist devoted to his work finds a way to turn his body invisible, and the movie of the same name follows this story, as well as the scientist’s descent into insanity. Later adaptations of this Universal Monster, like the 2020 film, would blend sci-fi and horror, turning the Invisible Man into an abusive stalker who torments his ex.
Related
The Invisible Man 2: Will It Happen? Everything We Know
Leigh Whannell’s 2020 upgrade to The Invisible Man left plenty of room for a sequel, but will another take on this horror classic happen?
This reworking of the classic story was a great way to bring the Universal Monster into the modern day, and it is proof that this character can be adapted in many ways. Bringing The Invisible Man to comics would allow a creative team to do just this. Plus, with comics being a visual medium, it would be interesting to see the use of negative space to tell this story, and it is the perfect comic to embrace an abstract art style.
7
Has a Comic Reboot: Dracula
By James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds
The first comic in the Universal Monster line-up of Skybound comics is Dracula by the same creative team as The Department of Truth, James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds. With haunting yet beautiful art by Simmonds, Dracula recounts a patient’s experience with his strange neighbor. While his doctor tries to find logic for his patient’s claims, that gets harder to do once Count Dracula gets more and more in his life. This is a powerhouse Gothic comic from a powerhouse team.
6
Needs a Comic Reboot: Dracula’s Daughter
Directed by Lambert Hillyer (1936)
Following the success of Skybound’s Dracula, it would make perfect sense for there to be a follow-up comic. Instead of featuring more of the Count, though, it could follow the lead of Dracula’s Daughter, Countess Marya Zakeska. In the film, strange events surround the Countess, leading Dr. Von Helsing to think she is a vampire. However, the Countess is not a monster who relishes vampirism. Instead, she wants to be free of this curse. Unlike many other Universal Monsters, the source material for Dracula’s Daughter is not so cut and dry.
Related
Nosferatu Skips Over A Dracula Story That Was The Basis For An Entire Vampire Movie 2 Years Ago
Count Orlok’s voyage to Wisburg isn’t a major part of Nosferatu despite being the basis of an entire horror movie that came out in 2023.
As documented by the American Film Institute, some sources believe this film is based on “Dracula’s Guest,” an unpublished chapter of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which would eventually be published over two decades after the author’s death. Others believe Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu was a massive inspiration for the film, especially given the queer themes and undertones of the movie. Because of this, a comic team could take a lot of liberties when exploring Dracula’s Daughter, making this underrated Universal Monster a new favorite.
5
Has a Comic Reboot: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives!
By Dan Watters, Ram V, Matthew Roberts, and Dave Stewart
The next Universal Monster to get a comic book from Skybound was the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and his comic served as a more direct follow-up to the original movie. Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! is more of a crime-thriller than the original 1954 movie. In the comic, an investigative journalist searches for a serial killer for personal and professional reasons; however, she soon discovers something else is lurking in the shadows of the Amazons. Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! makes readers question who or what are the real monsters in our world while delivering a unique take on the classic story.
4
Needs a Comic Reboot: The Wolf Man
Directed by George Waggner (1941)
The Wolf Man, like Dracula’s Daughter, does not have a clear source. Instead, it is inspired by centuries-old folklore about werewolves. The 1941 movie sees a man bitten by a werewolf and his subsequent transformation into the titular monster. The Wolf Man was remade in 2010 with the title The Wolfman, and it is more of a period piece than the original. Fast-forward to 2025, and The Wolf Man got another full-on reboot and new take, one that was not universally well-reviewed.
Despite the reception of The Wolf Man, this Universal Monster deserves another shot, and comics may be a better medium for the monster.
While 2025’s The Wolf Man did not succeed where The Invisible Man reboot did, both movies do bring these classic Universal Monsters into the modern day. Despite the reception of The Wolf Man, this Universal Monster deserves another shot, and comics may be a better medium for the monster. There are so many directions to take The Wolf Man. After all, folklore and Gothic comics, like Somna by Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay, have found devoted audiences. A comic version of The Wolf Man could deliver something more contemporary, completely reinventing the werewolf for the modern age.
3
Has a Comic Reboot: Frankenstein
By Michael Walsh and Toni-Marie Griffin
Frankenstein’s monster is one of the most beloved literary and movie monsters. At the time of this writing, Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein is set to release just a few weeks after The Bride!, which is Maggie Gyllenhaal’s take on The Bride of Frankenstein. This monster is relevant to this day, and that is true for the comics. With vibrant colors, Skybound’s Frankenstein sees Dr. Frankenstein create his monster, but there is a surprise witness: the son of a man whose hands are now the monster’s. This comic book is a unique yet welcoming perspective on Frankenstein, making it a stand-out series from Skybound’s Monster line.
2
Needs a Comic Reboot: Bride of Frankenstein
Directed by James Whale (1935)
Whereas Frankenstein’s monster is one of the most beloved monsters in cinematic and literary history, the best Universal classic monster movie is without a doubt The Bride of Frankenstein. While she does not appear for most of the movie, she has had a massive impact on pop culture, even becoming one of the leading characters in James Gunn’s Creature Commandos animated series. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, though, the Bride is not even a character. Dr. Frankenstein does start to create the Bride for his monster, but he destroys her before she comes to life.
Related
The first reactions to The Bride spell trouble for Maggie Gyllenhaal’s 100 million Frankenstein adaptation despite its star-studded cast.
Books, films, cartoons, and even comics take a lot of liberties when it comes to whom the Bride is and what she could be. In both Bride of Frankenstein and Creature Commandos, she is a woman who rejects what and who she is made for, and that is a powerful story in and of itself. Plus, given how many liberties can be taken with the Bride, a comic featuring her could either build off the prior Frankenstein comic or be something entirely new.
1
Has a Comic Reboot: The Mummy
By Faith Erin Hicks and Lee Loughridge
Skybound released the first issue of its latest Universal Monster comic in 2025, and The Mummy is ready to twist what we know about this Universal Monster with this comeback. While the titular character is the Mummy, the heart of this Skybound comic is none other than Helen Grosvenor, who was a key player in the original Universal film. In this comic, Helen is called by an unknown force to an Egyptian dig site, where she will play an unexpected role in the resurrection of the Mummy. Like Frankenstein, the perspective of The Mummy is a unique one, making it stand out from the Universal Monsters film it’s based on.
Source: American Film Institute
Universal Monsters is a franchise from Universal Studios that began in 1923 with The Hunchback of Notre Dame. While many characters are based on novels released prior to the films, actors such as Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, and Claude Rains helped the classic monsters become instantly recognizable. Movies like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, and The Wolf Man may be some of the most critically acclaimed films in the franchise, but Universal has kept the characters popular in recent years through films such as Renfield in 2023 and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride!.
- Movie(s)
-
Phantom of the Opera, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Wolfman, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, Van Helsing, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), The Wolfman, Dracula Untold, The Mummy, The Invisible Man (2020), Renfield, The Last Voyage of The Demeter, Lisa Frankenstein, Abigail, Wolf Man, The Bride!
- Cast
-
Béla Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman, Elsa Lanchester, Dwight Frye, Colin Clive
- Character(s)
-
Erique Claudin, Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr. Henry Frankenstein, The Mummy (Imhotep), The Invisible Man (Dr. Jack Griffin), The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man (Lawrence Talbot), The Gill-Man, R.M. Renfield, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing
