Universal Monsters: Creature From The Black Lagoon Lives! #1: Those Are Some Murky Waters!

Creature From The Black Lagoon Lives! #1 follows the end of the original 1954 film which ends with the apparent death of the creature as the merry band of protagonists scarcely escape with their lives. This original story, much like the Universal Monsters: Dracula book that just concluded, introduces a wholly original take on the mythos of the original story, through the artistic lense of a talented creative team. This introductory issue sees a journalist, Kate Marsden, hunting down a serial killer who has been drowning people. She has a personal connection with this individual since she was one of the attempted victims, creating personal takes. But as the title suggests, this hunt for a serial killer is about to get much more bizarre than anyone thinks.

The writing duo behind this book, Ram V and Dan Watters are some of the best writers in comics today, and seeing both of their names on this book will definitely be a selling point for the series. Outside of the obvious, Creature From The Black Lagoon Lives! #1 stays very grounded in reality, with the journey and mystery playing an important role outside of being the vehicle to guide us to the eventual monster reveal. It is clear that this creative team has a lot to say about this world, the characters within it, and the circumstances they find themselves in. In today’s age where a lot of old properties are being revived, it’s nice to see creators go the extra mile to genuinely create something of substance.

The art from Matthew Roberts and colors from Dave Stewart add a great deal to the ambiance and nuance of this world. Roberts’ pencils provide a cartoonish look into this world that is full of expressive characters and terrifying realism. This cartoonish style juxtaposes the grittier scenes of Kate’s near-death experience nicely, showcasing Roberts’ multifaceted approach to the art direction. Stewart adds a lot of vibrancy to this world while also adding to the dread of the monster panels. Together, this art team is able to tackle all of the facets of this book equally, creating an overall pace and structure that is an absolute joy to look at.

One of the best parts about this Universal Monsters line is seeing these all star creators take on characters based on their original incarnations, providing unique takes. That means that Creature From The Black Lagoon Lives! is much different than Dracula when it comes to tone, story structure, and even the way that the creative team approaches the subject material. This issue wastes no time in setting the ground rules for this universe, while also establishing a protagonist who can guide audiences across this journey. Where that journey goes is yet to be seen, but if Creature From The Black Lagoon Lives! #1 is any indication, this is going to be a fun ride.