Junji Ito Collection: Frankenstein
Junji Ito Story Collection: Frankenstein
Published in Japan in 2013
It was really bound to happen; Me reviewing an interpretation of Frankenstein. Well, here it is Jungi Ito story collection Frankenstein.
This particular collection even though named Frankenstein, the book is shared with ten other Junji Ito original stories. Including, some of my favorites like Pen Pal, The Strange Tale of Oshikiri, and Face Firmly in Place. Frankenstein however, without a doubt, did not disappoint me. Not much of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein story was changed. The Story line stays consistent with the Frankenstein story we all know and love today.
The story takes place a few years after Victor Frankenstein created his monster. When the story opens we are introduced to Captain Walton and his ship/crew. On his voyage to the north pole, the ship comes across a gigantic man, in the middle of the ocean. The man comes and goes so he tries to forget about it. The next morning he realized there is another man stuck on his ship. To his surprise, the man was called none other than Victor Frankenstein and lets just say he wasn’t in the greatest shape. Walton insists on Victor staying on board until he is back on his feet. Victor refuses and wishes to continue his journey towards the North Pole. Given that he was headed that way Walton stood firm on his offer. Shocked about Waltons urge to move forward with his voyage due to the weather conditions. Victor confesses that he sees the same ambition he once had many years ago.
“You seek for knowledge and wisdom as I once did...it is only natural for a man to pursue knowledge. But the result of that is this man before you know.”
He then proceeds to tell Walton his story and who/how Frankenstein's monster came to be. Like I had mentioned prior, Ito stays true to Mary Shelly’s original story. He begins with his fiance and how they met , when they were kids. Explaining his fiance story is important because to his family it’s important he get married and have a successful career. That said after the passing of his mother he went off to study.
“A few weeks after my mother passed I set out alone to Ingolstadt.”
When he went to study, it was his professor, Professor Waldman, who initiated his thirst for knowing more.
He discussed his belief in Agrippa and Paracelsus, with his professor. The ambition in him really sparks in him when Waldman said he would support any resources Frankenstein needed.
I should explain. Conelius Agrippa and Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus Von Hoheneim) were early scientists that really inspired Victor. Leading to him creating his creation / monster. Agrippa wrote a couple books touching topics on black magic and alchemy. Paracelsus believed human life could be created through alchemy and that it would possibly one day make human kind immune to death.
A whole year went by, Frankenstein hopping from graveyard to graveyard. Everyday sewing and piercing his creation together. Finding the right body part to be compatible with one another. The night finally came when he finished what he referred to as an ideal human.
“I’ve done it. I’ve finally completed it. The ideal human being...ideal…”
Naturally though, when he saw his creation rise from the table, he passed out. By the time he woke up the monster had fled. Months went by and Frankenstein did not hear from or about his monster. That said, Frankenstein took the monster for dead. Assuming the creature would not last the outside world long. It did not take much longer for the monster to surface and with quite a resentment for his creator. So, he does what every normal resentmenting monster would do. He goes on a killing spree specialized to Frankenstein’s family.
I had mentioned Ito stays real close to Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. The monster asks Victor to create him a companion that will love him for who he is because they would be one and the same. The monster shares with Frankenstein his story and how very much like the original Frankenstein he met a nice family in a small cabin one day he was running through the woods. They of course were not aware he was living in their back shed. He would watch them through a hole in the wall so he grew attached to them. When he got the courage to come out and talk to them they reacted in fear and attacked him. The agony was too much for the monster.
“I’ll have my revenge! On the humanity that made me suffer…”
We all know what happens from here. Frankenstein refuses to make another creation, like the one that stands before him. His monster ununderstanding on why he will not do it, he starts killing every single loved ones he has. He started with the youngest (William), he killed him in the woods. Then, the maid (Justine) who he framed for the murder of William. After those two traumatizing deaths, Frankenstein finally did what the monster was asking of him. Once again, he attended multiple funerals looking for all the right parts for his new monster.
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Naturally, when Frankenstein had accomplished to finish making his lovely companion, she reacted to the monster like everyone had been reacting to him. Her first glance at the monster she completely freaked out, reached for a pair of scissors, and cut him right across the face
The monster then continues his all so fun murder spree. He kills his best friend, father, and his soon to be.
Now, Victor is still telling Captain Walton… remember? He concludes, with circling his reason for washing up on his ship was because of this ongoing race he has with creation.
The story ends with Victor Frankenstein dying of the cold and exhaustion. As Walton is turning his ship back to where they came from, they hear a loud human cry.
