Frankenstein y el hombre lobo

On the cover, the two graceful, elongated monsters seem to float like characters in a Cocteau movie. Here’s a unique, rarely seen graphic adaptation — artist unknown — of Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943), published in Spain by Editorial Fher, in 1946.

The book, a collection of postcard-like images, is done in expressionistic black and white washes. It is a perfect companion to the film, a wonderful Folk Art rendering of an elaborate fairy tale about two timeless monsters teaming up in an Oz-like quest for Frankenstein’s notebooks. One, lusting for artificial life, seeks a power boost. The other, cursed by the Moon, dreams of permanent death.

The story, told at a pace of one frame per page, 144 in all, is very faithful to the film, some of the art suggesting scenes remembered and reinterpreted by the artist, such as The Monster discovered in a very stylized ice wall. Other scenes, notably the laboratory sequence, are obviously copied from lobby cards or available stills.

Throughout, the anonymous artist’s style shines, his characters fairly dancing off the page. Wolfman Larry Talbot leaps from a speeding wagon and the bendy Frankenstein Monster towers over terrified villagers and strikes poses like Goya’s Straw Mannikin.

There’s very little information available on this lovely and intriguing book. Images measure 18 by 13 cm (roughly 7 by 5.5 inches). I've a seen photo of the cover art printed in purple.

All the illustrations here come from the excellent Spanish blog, El Desvan del Abuelito (Grandpa’s Attic). Click the link to see more great images.

If anyone reading this has any additional information, please share (in the comments, or email me: Frankensteinia at gmail.com) and I’ll update this post.

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When Frankenstein Met The Wolf Man