“Yesterday’s” Comic> The Army Of Doctor Moreau #1

It could be worse. It could be Marlon Brando’s version.

The Army Of Dr. Moreau #1

Monkeybrain Comics (2013)

WRITER: David F. Walker

ARTIST: Carl Sciacchitano

COLORIST: Sara Machajewski

November, 1939: An American and a British intelligence agents meets with H.G. Wells after Winston Churchill is given files of a Nazi operation in Panama. Wells tells them that his book, The Island Of Doctor Moreau, was loosely based on the actual work of a French vivisectionist named Meraux, and that Edward Prentiss was actually there. He confirms and builds on Wells’ account but the British agent thinks they’re both full of crap. In Panama the agents learn that some animals were brought from the island but the crew that brought them returned to an island and never came back. And sure enough a Nazi scientist is trying to create a monster army.

What they got right: The idea of Nazis using science or the occult to create a monster army is not a new concept. Connecting it to Doctor Moreau is at least a different angle. The art is pretty good and the story is set up well.

What they got wrong: I’m just not sure why they didn’t just use Moreau, who I believe is in public domain, creating this Meraux guy instead. It’s not like he’s going to be there. Despite changes made to Prentiss account both by Wells and Prentiss himself to reduce the odds of finding the place and continuing the mad doctor’s experiments, Moreau/Meraux isn’t a part of this story (or if he is this issue doesn’t show it) since it takes a whole century change (a few decades but from the 1800s to the 1900s) after the events of the novel.

What I think overall: While not my genre the story starts decently and it might be interesting to see where it goes should the opportunity arise. This is the only issue I have thanks to ComiXology.