Universal Monsters: The Mummy #1: “Death is but the Doorway to New Life”

The Universal Monsters will always be on an island reserved for themselves. They continue to be beloved characters and stories that continue to entertain generation after generation. While there have been many a retelling of these timeless classics, Hicks and Company hold nothing back in making this their own, and I am here for every heart-pounding panel. 

What a great way to start this mini-series. Every now and then, we get graced by a creative team that just nails every aspect of a book, and that’s exactly what Hicks, Loughridge, and Otsmane-Elhaou have done with the Mummy #1. Hicks’ sets a pace and tone that is not only captivating, but at the same time, the characters take on a life of their own. From Helen’s realization of how things are in 1920s Egypt to her relationship with Essam, you can feel her passion for life and her love and frustration with her parents. That’s one of the great things about this book is the way Hicks makes you care about these characters in a way that feels new and refreshing.  

Hicks’ storytelling does a phenomenal job at finding the right recipe for modernizing a classic and not to mention that Loughridge and Otsmane-Elhaou operate as a visual bulldozer from cover to cover. Horror is comforting and fun, and that’s what this book is. I can’t recommend this enough.