Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives! #1
Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives! #1 from Image Comics
by Ram V and Dan Watters
Of all the universal monsters that have had pop culture impact and resurgence over the years, especially with the rise of Horror media popularity- The Creature from the Black Lagoon has definitely had the least significance- which is a shame because it is arguably one of the mostly interestingly designed early 1900’s horror characters with the most big budget/spectacle appeal for film studios and should be the definitive staple of “folklore” and “creature” horror and yet somehow Dracula always seems to win the unspoken cultural bout in popularity. Which is what makes this comic return to the character so exciting- a chance at a new chapter for the beloved “Creature” who deserves to have as many sequels as Friday the 13th.
If you haven’t seen the original film, I have to recommend you take a rainy weekday night to yourself to do that- but also I have to shoutout and recommend the sequel- “Revenge of the Creature” an early film from Jack Arnold which I don’t think is talked about enough. It’s a super compelling evolution from the original, taking us out of the Lagoon to a new setting, and has great commentary about conservationism and exhibitionism.
Ram V and Dan Watters are currently proving just how monumental and inspirational a writing pair they can be with this Universal Monsters venture as well as The One Hand and The Six Fingers futuristic noir detective story that is still ongoing and blowing minds.
If you have been looking to get a better familiarity with the Creature From the Black Lagoon or just want a good old fashioned horror story with a psychological/environmentally poignant edge- then you are in good hands with this exciting next chapter from V and Watters.
SPOILERS AHEAD
We are thrown right into the action in this issue, as we see the nightmarish remembrance of the attempted murder of our protagonist, Kate, by drowning. As Kate rallies herself from her nightmare, she dashes out of her South American hotel room in a rush- clearly on a mission. On Kate’s walk she talks with the editor of her newspaper who pointedly warns Kate not to go looking for “him” in South America, unless she wants “him” to finish the job. Which is a mysterious bit of foreshadowing, layering a complex sense of danger for our protagonist in this strange, far away place, with a murderer potentially lurking around every corner.
Kate ends her scolding conversation with her editor abruptly as she reaches a local pharmacy where her informant tells her- “the American is already gone.” But before Kate can vent her frustration, she notices a commotion outside as the townspeople warn her that the “Creature” has taken another victim. I like in this scene that we establish that the locals view the Creature’s killings as “necessary” or at least with intentional opposed to the outsiders who view it as horrifying.
In the crowd, Kate spots her would-be killer and follows him into the jungle- only to find herself alone. It’s here that we get a really beautiful visual metaphor for Kate’s own tragic circumstances- where Kate watches a bird scoop a fish from the river, only for the fish to wriggle free- and Kate despairs that while the fish will forget, she has thought about her near death every waking moment since it happened. Just as Kate thinks she’s truly alone, we see the shape of a figure in the distance, watching her from the tree line- “The Creature!” Kate staggers back as the Creature shockingly approaches and falls into the raging river, swept up by the current. As Kate is just about to drown for the second time- she is dragged to shore by the Creature itself, concluding our issue.
It’s a simple, but entertaining, and mystery laden issue that truly feels like, “just the beginning” of a really classic horror tale that will give new life to The Creature. Especially given this ending, where we see the Creature continuing to act altruistically or at least, less barbarically than humanity- which is absolutely the kind of fresh, perspective shifting, horror character I think we are missing from popular culture.
-Nicholas Aaron Hodge
