Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1

Part of DC's 2011 New 52 launch, this opening chapter drops readers straight into the world of S.H.A.D.E. with a cover by J. G. Jones that demands attention: a stitched-together, bolt-necked Frankenstein charges forward wielding both a sword and a massive minigun, flanked by a green-skinned female monster and a masked young woman with pistols drawn, while shadowy figures loom behind them and monstrous tentacles curl at the edges of the frame. Writer Jeff Lemire and artist Alberto Ponticelli kick off "War of the Monsters Pt. 1: Monster Town, USA," promising a pulpy, action-packed take on one of literature's most enduring creatures reimagined as a government operative. If you've ever wanted to see Mary Shelley's monster go full action hero, this is a very solid place to start.