SOON TO BE A NETFLIX FILM FROM ACADEMY AWARD–WINNING VISIONARY GUILLERMO DEL TORO

Mary Shelley’s timeless gothic classic accompanied by the art of legendary illustrator Bernie Wrightson live on in this gorgeous illustrated adaptation of Frankenstein—featuring an introduction by Stephen King.

Few works by comic book artists have earned the universal acclaim and reverence that Bernie Wrightson’s illustrated version of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s Frankenstein was met with upon its original release in 1983, which vividly presented the timeless, terrifying tale of one man’s obsession to create life—and the monster that became his legacy. A generation later, this magnificent pairing of art and literature is still considered to be one of the greatest achievements made by any artist in the field. This book includes the complete text of the original groundbreaking novel and approximately fifty original full-page illustrations by Bernie Wrightson—created over a period of seven years—that continue to stun the world with their monumental beauty and uniqueness. This edition also contains introductions by #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King and author Mary Shelley, as well as supplemental material including a history of the novel, a chronology of Mary Shelley’s life and work, and the historical context of Frankenstein for readers.

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Published Apr 27, 2021

288 pages

Average rating: 7.66

891 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

jeabot
May 30, 2024
6/10 stars
Not the story I expected

I had no idea the tragedy that befell Frankenstein after he created his monster. Why did he marry when he had been warned? Senseless tragedy. I know it's a classic but it was not to my taste.
Ibekimbo
Oct 21, 2025
🌩️ It’s absolutely sublime!!! I fell completely in love with this book — the writing, the emotion, the ache of grief and loneliness. It’s so beautifully written that I found myself pausing just to absorb certain lines, annotating every few pages, and even googling new words because I didn’t want to miss a thing. I cried more than once, especially for the creature — he broke my heart in the most human way. The way Mary Shelley explores isolation and longing is just so haunting and poetic. This may honestly be my favorite book. It captivated me from the very first page and stayed with me long after I closed it. Now I can’t wait to dive into The Sorrows of Young Werther next — it feels like the perfect follow-up to this wave of emotion.
Jo Mama
Oct 20, 2025
8/10 stars
I listened to this as an audiobook and really enjoyed it! I thought the old world language would make it harder, but I think it was easier to understand hearing it rather than reading it.
JJM
Oct 19, 2025
8/10 stars
Host: McAfees I enjoyed this book. Much more poetic than I thought it would be and does not really align with the pop culture notion of who Frankenstien is today.
abookwanderer
Oct 09, 2025
6/10 stars
3.5 stars

I listened to the first half of this book on audiobook, but I wasn't really connecting with it, so I picked up my physical copy to finish it. I enjoyed reading it more than I did listening to it. It wasn't as creepy as I was expecting, but well-written and worth the read. It's not one I would pick up again, though.

#popsugarreadingchallenge2021 (prompt #25 - A book that was published anonymously)

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