Universal Monsters: The Creature From The Black Lagoon Lives! #1

Universal Monsters: Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives!

by Dan Watters, Matthew Roberts (cover_art), Dave Stewart (cover_art)

MINISERIES PREMIERE
A NEW HORROR DREAM TEAM RESURRECTS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC MONSTERS 
Acclaimed creators DAN WATTERS (HOME SICK PILOTS, Lucifer), RAM V (The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, Detective Comics), and MATTHEW ROBERTS (MANIFEST DESTINY) rise from the depths for an all-new epic.  
Years after the events of the original film, journalist Kate Marsden hunts for a notorious serial killer in the heart of the Amazon. Hot on the trail of this madman, she soon encounters an unexpected new threat—but is it friend or foe? Or is it simply...THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON?

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels

35 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2024

About the author

Dan Watters is a UK based comic book writer. His first book, LIMBO, was released through Image Comics in 2016. He has since written THE SHADOW at Dynamite Comics, and ASSASSIN’S CREED and WOLFENSTEIN for Titan Comics.

Currently he is writing the relaunch of LUCIFER for Vertigo’s Sandman Universe, as well as DEEP ROOTS for Vault Comics. Deeply rooted in London Town, and firmly of the Devil's party.

Reviews

[Benji's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid first issue. It's good to see my favorite Universal Monster, Gillman finally getting something new!

Journalist Kate Marsden is on the hunt for a serial killer--one who tried to drown her not too long ago. She has a lead, and it takes her to a location with a legend floating around about a creature in the lagoon who likes to drown his victims. It couldn't be a better lead than that, right? That's gotta be the guy. Right?

Well, about that...

Good art and a good story make this an exciting read! Looking forward to the next issue.

[Doc · Rating 4 out of 5]

It comes from the depths

This is a review on all 4 comics of the mini series, Being about not only hunting a serial murderer but also a classic monster taking care of his own business this series may be hard for sensitive readers.

The Creature from the Black Lagoon is an iconic monster whose story is told in several movies (the last one had more of a Frankenstein feel though for lack of spoilers) so it is not a surprise to see it being reinvented for a modern audience set long after the main movie. With the main character knowing the horrors of drowning and the burning hatred for a murderer this story has horror, madness, and to a degree romance spreading over 4 volumes.

Honestly the creature is literally a being of few words save for the occasional half fish sounds so he is kind of a background character save for when his strength is needed or when the MC reflects how almost drowning twice has changed her. In addition the villain of the story is gloriously deranged as he eventually explains his methods and shows his mad workings at last.

Of course one of the things I really enjoyed the most about this series is the artwork. This is especially true when the MC finds herself hallucinating at times thanks to the brain damage from her past drownings showing not only vibrant colors but faces and symbols melding in the scenery in unusual ways. All in all it was not one of my favorite reads but I still found myself enjoying it anyway and it gets bonus points for bringing back one of the coolest fish people in lore. :)

[mooniepal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty sweet! Never seen the original Creature of the Black Lagoon; but this comic makes me want to 😸 I'm a slut for a spooky near death experience that changes the course of your life forever 🤌

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!!! The writing, the illustrations, and the way the panels were designed worked great! This was definitely an exciting start to a new series!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you seen the 1954 black and white movie? I have. I was pleasantly surprised that the story starts off as a mystery rather than horror. It’s a different start. The story is focused on developing the lead character in Kate Marsden. Through that development you are able to be immersed in the world this story is set in. Not having Kate hunting down a mysterious creature for thei story was also a great idea. This direction allows Creature from the Black Lagoon to be talked about. With the focus on Kate investigating a shady person with a dark past to be the focus. In the process we see the antagonist of the story being built up. In his own way the person Kate is looking for has his own dangerous legend being shown in the forefront. It all plays well to work in contrast to how Creature from the Black Lagoon is developed in the background. This was an amazing experience for me to read.

It’s an an engaging start to a story that I found myself immersed in as soon as I open the comic book. Dan Watters and Ram V develop a story that is developed with each turn of the page. It makes the story be something that you are uncovering alongside the lead character. I have complete confidence that the book will become a horror novel as one reads the rest of this mini series.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this comic from the publisher. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Joseph R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reporter Kate travels to South America in pursuit of a serial killer who tried to killer by drowning months earlier. She has a hard time keeping up with him because she has some serious post-traumatic stress and some brain damage from nearly drowning. Her desperate investigation leads her into the depths of the jungle where she gets more than she bargained for, i.e. more than one encounter with the Creature.

The art in this story is quite good, fitting the horror theme and Kate's mentally unstable state. The book describes it as anoxic brain damage which is a real affliction where the brain is damaged by extended oxygen deprivation. She is not depicted as a damsel-in-distress. She's a hero with a debilitating condition that heightens the drama. The story is well-paced and satisfying without being earthshaking or over-the-top. I liked it and might try other Universal Monster graphic novels.

Recommended for Creature fans.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journalist Kate Marsden is chasing a killer, Darwin Collier, after coming close to death herself, at his hands. She hunts him down to the depths of the Amazon basin, Peru... and there she stumbles into the territory of the Creature and the drug gangs that Collier is working for. As the hunt unfolds and the waters are both metaphorically and literally muddied (and bloodied) Kate discovers how far she'll go to get her story and exact retribution, whilst the Creature looks on...
Matthew Roberts' art is excellent and going by the extra material at the end of the book it may well have worked just as well in black & white...

[John Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I truly did love those movies when I was a kid, THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON ( filmed in Florida! )and THE CREATURE WALKS AMOUNG US.
The Creature does not really translate to comics nor the 21st Century.
An FBI Agent is fervently on the trail of a killer, Who for what ever reason ends up in the Central American? swamps.
She runs into a scientist who is hunting The Creature. For some Godsdamned reason.
All in it would probably have made a decent RKO movie in the Before Times. As a comic.... meh

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

That cover is legendary. Knew nothing about the character beforehand. The art is good but the writing just OK. The story seemed predictable even if I had no prior knowledge. The main character is typical and uninteresting. Haven’t decided if I’m interested enough in continuing it

[Femme Power Comix · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Lizzie Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait for the next issues!’

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amphetamine fuled drowning nightmare. The universal monsters comics are instant classics themselves.

[Shawn Robare · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little light with an off-screen story that feels very much unrelated to the Creature mythos. We’ll see where it goes…

[Nes🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The covers for this series is what drew me in, I’m hoping the story can keep me entertained!

[Dennis Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid & interesting story. 3.75/5

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the Dracula graphic novel, but as a sequel to the original movie it certainly wasn't bad.

[Nicole Geub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great art. The story has drive. Let's see where this goes

[alejandro galvez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its decent.

I am intrigued so far. I will be checking out book #2 for sure. Give it a shot. You just might like it.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always wondered why this movie wasn't remade (I just jinxed it)
Not familiar with this writer, seems interesting so far.

[Musings of the Moonchild · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stunning art to accompany gorgeous prose. Beyond exciting to venture back into the deep.