2026/11/02 20:03:36 +00:00 | Derek Anderson
Resurrecting The Creature from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus as a clever detective solving all manner of macabre cases, writer George Northy and artist Caitlin Yarsky have teamed up for a “monster mashup murder mystery” with their new four-issue comic book series Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End.
With the first issue of the supernatural whodunnit haunting shelves on December 9th (and its final order cutoff being today) from Oni Press, Daily Dead had the great pleasure of catching up with George and Caitlin to discuss their ambitious new take on the classic literary and cinematic character, the eclectic inspirations behind their new comic book series, the immersive nature of murder mysteries, and plans for a future sequel involving another killer case for Prometheus Graft to solve (including his continued exploration of his own enigmatic past).
Below, you can read our full Q&A with George and Caitlin, and we also have the official press release with more details, as well as a look at preview pages and the cover art gallery for Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End, featuring variant covers by Eric Powell, Gabriel Rodriguez, and Patricia Martín.
Thank you for taking the time to answer questions for us, George and Caitlin, and congratulations on Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End! How did you initially decide to tell this unique continuation and reimagining of Frankenstein’s Monster as the world-famous detective Prometheus Graft?
George Northy: Thank you for having us! The concept was pieced—or rather, grafted—together from a couple different things, not unlike Prometheus himself. I’d set out originally just to think up a twisty whodunnit that followed all the rules of that genre, but also incorporated the monster mythologies of creatures like vampyrs, werewolves, and witches. The Frankenstein’s Creature piece of it came to me only after I’d started to brainstorm who the detective for a mystery like this might be. The fact that Shelley’s original Creature was brilliant, tortured, and already a living puzzle himself really made it all stitch together and sort of had me screaming to myself: “It’s ALLLIIIVE!!”
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is one of my all-time favorite books (and Bernie Wrightson’s illustrated edition is a tremendous work of art), and I’m always excited to see new adaptations of Shelley’s timeless story. Do you have any personal favorite memories of reading the novel or watching any of the film adaptations that you reflected back on while working on this comic book series?
George Northy: I remember reading the novel as a pretty young kid and being shocked at how The Creature was such an intelligent, soulful, sympathetic character. Before that I’d only seen riffs on the Universal Monster version, generally as a giant, grunting hulk who could barely speak. Even at 10, 11, or however old I was, I quickly saw Viktor Frankenstein as the obvious true villain of the story. I also loved Kenneth Branagh’s 1994 version with Robert De Niro as The Creature and Helena Bonham Carter as Elizabeth. I think Branagh/De Niro’s portrayal is definitely the closest to what I’m picturing as the backstory for Prometheus Graft.
Caitlin Yarsky: I read it for the first time a couple years ago and was struck by how intelligent The Creature was and the eloquence of his speeches once he met up with Frankenstein (my only exposure until then had been the movies). I was also shocked that neither party could take any responsibility for their actions. Both had wronged the other, but the blame was always being shot at the other. My favorite adaptation (or spoof?) is by Young Frankenstein. My favorite scene was the dance to “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”
Caitlin, I absolutely love how your artwork depicts Prometheus as a beautiful “living puzzle” of sewn-together skin and compatible body parts. How did you come up with this distinctive and elegant look for Frankenstein’s Monster?
Caitlin Yarsky: Thanks! George had a specific vision for him, but we went back and forth many times with character concept art to nail down his whole look. We wanted him to feel like a Victorian gentleman who exuded kindness but ultimately seemed a little bit lost (existentially). We also wanted his size to be almost alarming—my personal touch was having his suit be completely black so that he felt like a graphic element and took up a lot of space (or he would get cut off to emphasize his large frame).
George, with this story taking place 100 years after the events of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, how vital was it for you to get into the headspace of Prometheus and imagine how that century-long passage of time would shape him into becoming the clever yet haunted sleuth we see in this comic book series?
George Northy: It felt like a great way of hitting the ground running to set it this long after the events of the novel and skip any kind of “origin story.” If you want his origin, just read Shelley’s iconic book! Also, when you look at characters like Hercule Poirot or Benoit Blanc, they usually come into a mystery already well-established as a detective with a reputation, so I wanted to echo that. In this story, while Graft started his journey of mystery-solving to uncover who he really is a hundred years ago, I think he’s sort of given up on that quest and is instead now content to help others solve their mysteries. But perhaps the events of this book and the people he meets within it might renew his desire to continue putting those puzzle pieces together. We’ll see.
I absolutely love the gorgeous, Gothic, and gory backdrop of the Death’s End castle in this series—it’s reminiscent of the blood-splattered estate in Ready or Notand the atmospheric mansion from Clue. What was it like to bring this immersive setting to life through writing and illustrations, respectively, as if it were its own character?
George Northy: The single location felt essential to keep this solidly in the whodunnit mystery genre, so that was really key. I think I referenced one castle in Romania, but generally left it to Caitlin to find the look and feel of the setting and she killed it. The one thing I was very specific about was to give this castle a hedge maze to rival the one at The Overlook in The Shining (with maybe a touch of Saltburn in there, as well) because well… you can’t not have a murder at the center of a hedge maze, right?
Caitlin Yarsky: There were a ton of references, places both real and from animated movies, that helped bring it all together. I wanted the area to have an eerie old-growth forest with twisted gnarled trees, and then juxtapose it with the ornate, Gothic vibe of the castle and costumes. Plenty of inspiration from French animation (like The Triplets of Belleville and The Illusionist), old 2D Disney films, and European comic art (a lot of which is Moebius-inspired).
In his quest to solve his latest creepy case, Prometheus crosses paths with vampyres, werewolves, and witches during their centennial pact at Death’s End. How much fun was it to make your own monster mash in this story and show vastly different types of supernatural beings interacting with one another (sometimes in a friendly manner and other times not so much)?
George Northy: That idea of a monster mashup murder mystery was really the whole germ of this book. I really love stories that mash up all these monster mythologies and create one world they all can exist in with politics, rules, and intrigue; from Buffy (which Caitlin and I are both huge fans of) to those Underworld movies with Kate Beckinsale. I also was excited to play with the rules of these creatures and figure out elaborate ways to kill them off in keeping with their mythological weaknesses (sunlight, stakes, silver bullets, etc.)
Caitlin Yarsky: This was such a blast! Some of my favorite things to draw/design are: facial expressions, monsters, and vintage costumes/places. Prometheus Graft is basically ALL that, so I was in heaven.
Even after a century of introspection, Frankenstein’s Monster is still seeking to fully understand himself. How important was it to explore Prometheus’ continued internal struggles as he strives to solve the puzzle of his own past while solving complex mysteries in the present?
George Northy:That is really his core dramatic question and it’s going to be a thread running through every Prometheus Graft mystery (if we are fortunate enough to do more). He’ll always be solving whodunnits that resolve by the end of each arc, but really this larger series is a kind of a… “who-am-I?” Though Graft might gain a few pieces of his puzzle each arc, it won’t completely come together for a good long while. But just to tease, in issue four after the slayings at Death’s End are solved, we have a bit of a cliffhanger planned that will hint at where we might be headed next. I’ll leave it at that for now.
Do you each have a favorite moment in particular in this series that you’re especially excited for readers to experience?
George Northy: What excites me most is the “play along” aspect of the murder mystery, especially since we will be releasing issues month to month, so we’ll be able to see readers’ theories about who the killer is and what’s really going on. I’m sure I’ll be looking at all the theories and making myself sick when I see clever readers get too close to figuring it all out… but I’ll have to keep reminding myself that’s part of the fun and it means I did my job right.
Caitlin Yarsky: I agree, I’m hoping this more interactive format will get people excited and that we’ll get lots of feedback when certain clues are revealed.
You’ve both had the pleasure of collaborating with Oni Press on previous comic book series that I’ve really enjoyed, including Yuletide and Dead Teenagers. What has it been like to work with the amazing team at Oni once again on this series?
George Northy: Oni Press is a dream to work with! I mean, they’re my first and only publisher so far, which means I have nothing to compare them to, but it’s just been a breath of fresh air to work with a group of creatives who support and share your vision and only look to help you achieve it and get it out into the world. It’s a very different experience than what I’m used to working in TV and film, I’ll just say that.
Caitlin Yarsky: I’ve got nothing but good things to say about Oni! They’re taking chances, letting creators shine, and they make promotion and marketing a big priority (which makes it a lot easier for us to get the word out).
In addition to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and its cinematic adaptations, were each of you inspired or influenced by any favorite murder mystery movies, books, comics, video games, or TV series while working on this series?
George Northy: Absolutely. The Knives Out films really reawakened a love for the whodunnit for me and now I think I’ve seen virtually every Agatha Christie adaptation ever made—Evil Under the Sun from the ’80s and A Haunting in Venice (the most recent Kenneth Branagh Poirot film) are two I really enjoyed. Oh, and The Last of Sheila is another one that’s bonkers fun with a truly wild story behind it… it was co-written by Anthony Perkins and Stephen Sondheim! In the realm of comics, Hellboy is a huge inspiration for this project.
Caitlin Yarsky: Not murder mysteries for me personally, but I’m a huge fantasy/horror/sci-fi nerd, so I took plenty from all that I’ve absorbed over the years. Buffy was my favorite show growing up and definitely finds a way to influence stories I work on today.
Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End will be released as a four-issue series, but do you have plans to tell more stories featuring Frankenstein’s Monster solving macabre mysteries? I already want to read an entire series about Prometheus’ encounters with Doctor Jekyll in the case that took place in London before this story!
George Northy: Oh, absolutely! I have a sequel mystery already outlined and ready to go, also a truly crazy blue sky brainstorming document of random titles with one sentence blurbs that could become future Prometheus Graft mysteries. And that Jekyll reference… revisiting that case (and perhaps seeing some of their original encounter in flashback) just might be one of them!
With Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End #1 being released by Oni Press on December 9th (just in time for the holidays!), what other projects do each of you have coming up that you can tease for our readers?
George Northy: My first creator-owned comic Yuletide (also published by Oni) was just released in trade paperback and I think is a perfect stocking stuffer for the spooky Christmas-loving kid (or adult) in your life. In other projects, I’m currently writing a live-action musical for a streamer that’s actually a kid-friendly take on the “murder” mystery. I guess I’m solidly in my “whodunnit era” and I’m not mad at it at all.
Caitlin Yarsky: I am drawing a new Magic: The Gathering miniseries again with writer Michael Conrad for Dark Horse, so keep an eye out!
From the Press Release:ONCE MANKIND’S GREATEST MONSTER … NOW THE WORLD’S GREATEST DETECTIVE!Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award–winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997, is proud to announce PROMETHEUS GRAFT: THE SLAYINGS AT DEATH’S END #1 – a taut and twisting murder mystery teaming rising star George Northy (Yuletide, EC’s Shiver SuspenStories) and Eisner Award–nominated artist Caitlin Yarsky (Dead Teenagers, Black Hammer) for a first-of-its-kind comics whodunnit with infinite surprises and even more stitches! This December, you’re invited to a remote Romanian castle as the infamous, undead spawn of Dr. Frankenstein – now reborn as the world’s most brilliant criminal investigator – is tasked with solving a monstrous murder that could lead to the end of humanity itself…
Decades after his creation, the creature once known as Frankenstein’s Monster has reinvented himself as Europe’s most formidable mind. After years underground, his scars have faded and his genius-level intellect has tamed his hulking nature . . . revealing an extraordinary talent for solving the world’s most inexplicable mysteries. Today, he is Prometheus Graft: gentleman detective, expert investigator . . . and something still not quite entirely human.
Now, on the cusp of a new century set to be ruled by science over superstition, Graft believes he his finally conquered his monstrous past . . . until he is summoned to the remote Romanian castle of Death’s End, where an immortal lord has assembled Europe’s most feared supernatural beings to broker a long-lasting peace. But their fragile treaty will soon be shattered when the corpse of one of the prominent guests is found murdered in the castle’s hedge maze . . . turning witch against werewolf and vampire against ghoul as suspicion and bloodshed spiral.
With only his instincts and a bloodstained trail of clues to guide him, can Prometheus Graft solve the slayings at Death’s End before a new day breaks . . . and all hell follows with it?
“I’ve always adored an Agatha Christie-style whodunnit and wanted to create a classic detective tale with a supernatural twist,” said writer George Northy. “But who to cast as the Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes or Benoit Blanc of this monster mash-up mystery? Then it came to me: The Creature in Mary Shelley’s iconic FRANKENSTEIN was brilliant, tortured and a ‘living puzzle’ himself. What if he set out to try to solve the mystery of what he really is—and who exactly makes up his disparate, grafted-together pieces—and, along the way, discovered a talent for solving all manner of occult mysteries? That became our hero detective, Prometheus Graft. In his debut mystery, Graft is invited to Death’s End Castle to observe a peace treaty renewal between clans of vampyrs, witches and werewolves—but instead must solve a series of brutal slayings to avert all-out paranormal war.”
“As someone who loves all things supernatural, PROMETHEUS GRAFT is an absolute playground for me,” said artist Caitlin Yarsky. “It’s been a joy creating a look-and-feel for the world with George, who gave me parameters but then let me run wild with whatever inspiration I came across. It’s a real partnership; we’ve worked hand-in-hand to bring readers a story with a unique blend of classic murder mystery, dark fantasy and gothic horror.”
From the ashes of Frankenstein’s destruction, a new kind of detective will be born this December, only in PROMETHEUS GRAFT: THE SLAYINGS AT DEATH’S END #1 – featuring covers by series co-creator Caitlin Yarsky (Dead Teenagers, Black Hammer), alongside Eisner Award winner Eric Powell (The Goon), Eisner Award winner Gabriel Rodriguez (Locke & Key), and Patricia Martín (EC’s Blood Type)!
For more updates on Oni Press, visit them on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram.
PROMETHEUS GRAFT: THE SLAYINGS AT DEATH’S END #1
WRITTEN BY GEORGE NORTHY
ART BY CAITLIN YARSKY
COVER A BY CAITLIN YARSKY
COVER B BY ERIC POWELL
COVER C BY GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ
COVER D BLANK SKETCH
VARIANT COVER (1:20) BY PATRICIA MARTíN
FULL ART COVER (1:50) BY ERIC POWELL
ON SALE DECEMBER 9TH, 2026 | $4.99 | 32 PGS. | FC
FOC: 11/2/2026“
ALSO AVAILABLE AS A FULL ART COVER (1:50)
VARIANT COVER (1:20) BY PATRICIA MARTíN
INTERIOR ARTWORK BY CAITLIN YARSKY
