Back in 2022, the Dark Horse Comics miniseries Frankenstein: New World detailed what happened next following the destruction of all life on Earth after the events of the Hellboy: B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth story arc. After Frankenstein’s monster aided the remnants of humanity in escaping underground in order to survive, he entered a slumber for millennia, his mission accomplished and humanity’s survival ensured.
This February, however, the monster awoke, thanks to the returning creative team of writers Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, and Tom Sniegoski; artist Peter Bergting; colorist Michelle Madsen; letterer Clem Robins; and editor Katii O’Brien. In Frankenstein: New World – The Sea of Forever, Frankenstein and a young child named Lilja set forth to stave off an evil that has festered and grown while Frankenstein slept.
I spoke with Tom Sniegoski recently about the idea behind Frankenstein: New World – The Sea of Forever, where we find Frankenstein at the beginning of the miniseries, his personal history with the character, and the malleability of Mary Shelley’s creation.
To say that Tom Sniegoski is prolific would be a disservice to the word. Sniegoski can claim a wide and varied bibliography with novels and comics that run the gamut of subject matter and tone. From his work on the first New World miniseries to his current writing on his Dynamite series The Herculoids and beyond, Sniegoski is one of the most nimble writers of this generation of comic creators, something the first issue of The Sea of Forever shows in spades.
Frankenstein: New World – The Sea of Forever #1 cover
FreakSugar: Before we get into Frankenstein: New World – The Sea of Forever, what is your history with the world of Frankenstein and his world? Which iteration of the characters did you grow up with?
Tom Sniegoski: Well, I was certainly a “monster kid” growing up, so the Frankenstein Monster was most definitely a familiar sight. I grew up with Boris Karloff’s version of the monster, in the first Universal Monster movies, followed by Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. and Glen Strange. Then there were the Hammer films with Peter Cushing taking the role of the brilliant, yet twisted, Dr. Frankenstein with Christopher Lee and a host of others, taking the role. The Frankenstein Monster of the comics in the 70s, both Marvel, and DC also played a huge part in defining what I perceive to be the ultimate Frankenstein’s monster.
FS: For the uninitiated, what is the conceit of New World and the original story that established this, well, new world?
TS: Oh boy, let me see if I can keep this simple. At the end of Hellboy: B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth, all life on the planet was destroyed, and what remained of humanity went to live deep below the Earth. One of those who ushered the survivors of humankind to safety was Frankenstein’s monster, and he’s been in a kind of deep meditative state for thousands of years, while humanity flourished in their new underground habitat.
But a dream of something incredibly evil, about to be born into the new world that has been taken shape over the thousands of years, drives Frankenstein and a child named Lilja (who also shared this terrible dream!) on a quest to stop this evil in the strange new world that has evolved on the surface above. Phew!
FS: Where do we find Frankenstein in the beginning of The Sea of Forever?
TS: In the new series, we find Frankenstein and Lilja continuing their exploration of the new world, while still attempting to discover and hopefully thwart the evil that has continued to fester. In this series they’re beginning to understand how dangerous this new evil truly is.
FS: This is your second collaboration with the creative team in the New World series. What is the collaboration process like with you all?
TS: Christopher Golden and I have been working together since the Stone Age, so there’s a kind of shorthand to the way we work. We plot the book out together, run everything by Mike to see if it’s what he envisioned, and once that’s approved Chris and I start fleshing out the plot, and then breaking the book down by scenes and then we go to script.
Once we’re finished with that, it goes to our amazing editor over at Dark Horse–Katii O’Brien—and from there, we get her notes and edits. After a quick polish, the book then goes to the great and powerful Peter Berting who works his magic on the art, taking our words and turning it into a veritable feast for the eyes. Once the art is done, Michelle Madson does her beautiful coloring work, followed by the great Clem Robins who does our lettering. It is quite the team effort!
FS: It has to be a thrill to be able to help this post-apocalyptic world grow and evolve. What has been your favorite part of playing in the Hellboy universe?
TS: It is an absolute joy to be allowed to play in this sandbox. Hellboy is one of my favorite comic book characters ever, and to get to be part of his history is an incredible honor. If I had to pick one favorite thing, amongst so many, I would have to say my involvement with the Young Hellboy stories. They’re just incredibly fun to work on.
FS: Frankenstein and his world have been imagined and reimagine since his inception by Mary Shelley. Why do you think he’s such a malleable character?
TS: Jeez, that’s a tough one. There’s just something fascinating about Mary Shelley’s creation, and what others have added to the mythos. The monster is just such a versatile creation, there is just so much that you can do with him. You start with the basics, what everybody knows, and then build from there. The coolest thing is that, with very little work, you can do just about any kind of story imaginable with the character—Sci-Fi, Horror, Action Adventure, Crime, even Romance!
FS: Are there any other projects coming down the pike you’d like to discuss?
TS: There are quite a few things I still can’t talk about (catch me later!) but one of the things I’m super excited about, besides Frankenstein: New World—The Sea of Forever, is that I’m writing The Herculoids comic for Dynamite Entertainment, based on the old, 1960’s Hanna-Barbera, animated series.
FS: Is there anything you can tease about what we can expect to see in the series?
TS: Hmmm. Let’s see . . . well, readers will get an opportunity to further explore this strange, new world as well as the evil we introduced in New World getting stronger and getting to be a really big threat. I really don’t want to say much more, other than there is a strong story connection to a really popular Hellboy from a few years back.
FS: If you had one last pitch for Frankenstein: New World – The Sea of Forever, what would it be?
TS: If you liked New World, you’re going to LOVE The Sea of Forever!
Frankenstein: New World – The Sea of Forever #1 is out now from Dark Horse Comics. Issue #2 goes on sale Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
From the official description for issue #1:
Frankenstein and the young Lilja navigate the world above ground to follow Lilja’s vision, but an ancient and familiar evil follows them wherever they go.
Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, Tom Sniegoski, and Peter Bergting return to the New World that Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. gave their lives to save.
• Continues the Hellboy universe story post-B.P.R.D.
• Four issue series.
And the official description for issue #2:
Unknown attackers strike in their pursuit of Frankenstein and Lilja, so they look for help underwater only to find a powerful creature who has her own dark means of survival.
Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, Tom Sniegoski, and Peter Bergting return to the New World that Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. gave their lives to save.