Pre-code horror from Don Heck -- an October repost

About a decade before co-creating Iron Man, Don Heck was producing stylish (if not overly coherent) horror tales like "Human Cross."

Frankie as Hamlet

In his first incarnation, Briefer's Frankenstein was almost completely evil with only the suggestion of pathos. In his last incarnation the balance was reversed. Here the evil was almost always human.

(and yes, I'm sure the allusion in the final image was deliberate)

Stephen Crane Meets Frankenstein...

or maybe not, but this depiction of an open boat on a lonely sea is awfully well done. Notice how Briefer suggests the rhythm of the ocean and the way the monster's body language in the half-flooded boat captures the pensive mood.

The middle phase of the monster's Prize run is justly celebrated, but Briefer didn't stop being good when his creature stopped being funny.