Monday, October 14, 2019

Countdown to Halloween 2019 Day 14: Gotham City Monsters #1 and #2

Gotham City Monsters is a six issue mini-series from DC Comics that started last month. The cover of #1 features Killer Croc, Frankenstein, Andrew Bennett, Orca and Lady Clay. The story takes place in MonsterTown, a section of Gotham City where monsters dwell. Andrew Bennett battles mad vampire monks before searching for their new king. Killer Croc is bummed because he can't find a "normal" job due to his looks after being released from the Suicide Squad. His friend, Tusk, offers him some opera tickets at the Magus Theatre, which he refuses. Frankenstein basically tracks down a possessed minotaur in a bar before setting him on fire. Grace Balin aka Orca attacks a ship in the harbor with a shipment for Bane, who now rules Gotham City, before retreating to her cave. Sandra Fuller aka Lady Clay flies to her apartment before heading to the Magus theatre. She enters disguised as man in a suit.

In the MonsterTown Station, Frankenstein learns from a talking mandrill that his master is giving an opera and would love for him to attend. A group of mandrills move a giant cauldron filled with bubbling green goop inside the Magus Theatre. Andrew Bennett joins a watchful Frankenstein on the roof of the theatre. They share information about Melmoth, the Monarch of Mars. Frankenstein literally cuts Bennett in half with a giant sword because he had bitten one of the vampire monks tainted with Melmoth's blood.

Inside the Magus Theatre, the mandrills are on stage with the cauldron while music is playing. A magician named the Red Phantom is being held captive in one full-length mirror while a demonic Melmoth is in another. The green goop goes to the enthralled audience including Tusk and Lady Clay like stardust before they start foaming at the mouth. I won't spoil the ending but it's a good one so pick up Gotham City Monsters #1.
Cover of Gotham City Monsters #1 from DC Comics
The cover of Gotham City Monsters #2 features a demonic Melmoth stepping out of the bat-signal while holding Andrew Bennett. At his feet are the defeated bodies of Frankenstein, Lady Clay and Orca. I won't go into much detail about this issue except to say that there is more to the Red Phantom than him being just a vaudeville magician. Also, Frankenstein enlists the aid of Lady Clay, Orca and Killer Croc. Bennett tries to face a human-looking Melmoth on his own.
Cover of Gotham City Monsters #2 from DC Comics

I really wasn't expecting the first two issues of Gotham City Monsters to be all that but they are and I can't wait to read the rest of the mini-series. I would like to see this title become a monthly or another mini-series in the future. Also, the Red Phantom needs his own series and become a member of Justice League Dark.

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