Out this week from Monkeybrain, Jeremy Holt and Francesca Ciregia team-up to bring you “Art Monster.” Starring Victor, a young man in art school struggling for inspiration on the verge of his expulsion, the series is a re-imagining of “Frankenstein,” the classic story by Mary Shelley, and takes the troubled scientist and throws him into a more modern scenario, along the lines of Daniel Clowes’ “Art School Confidential.” It’s an interesting mix, kind of Chip Kidd-esque looking at it from a distance, although up close and personal you get a more Stuart Gordon Re-Animator vibe when looking at the art by Ciregia.
And, for those of you who are regular readers of the site, you may even remember Jeremy mentioning “Art Monster” back in the final installment of his column Strange Love, where he had alluded to bringing the book to Monkeybrain with Joe Eisma, although at the time he was admittedly a touch pensive as to whether it would get picked up or not. And look where we are now! Congrats, Jeremy!
Take a look at a preview below:
The book can be pre-ordered here. Here’s the solicit:
Art Monster #1
Writer: Jeremy Holt
Art: Francesca Ciregia
Colorist: Renzo Podesta
Letterer: Adam Wollet
Price: $.99
Pages: 16
Rating: 15+Victor, a struggling artist in his seventh year of art school, is unable to complete the requirements for his degree. With expulsion looming, he is further sidetracked by meeting Erin, a beautiful and talented furniture designer. Around the same time, he also meets Ivan, a successful performance artist with a penchant for bizarre interactive exhibitions. Unbeknownst to Victor, these serendipitous interactions are the catalyst for what will become his artistic breakthrough.
