Kidnapped by a mutilated Darwin Collier, Kate Marsden needs to escape from the serial killer before he transforms her into a similar monster. All the while, Professor Thompson hunts after the beast that scarred him years ago. As Collier comes into conflict with the Gill-man, only one monster can win in this conflict. Dan Watters, Ram V, and Matthew Roberts dive into the heart-pounding finale of Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! Issue #4, where no one can be genuinely untouched by the darkness of the Black Lagoon. 

Dan and Ram position Collier and the Gill-man as a mirror of how we define monsters. Collier, a human, willingly crafts his body to appear more monstrous through modification, unlike the Creature, who was born “monstrous.” Even before his transformation, Collier’s murderous nature defined his horror, and he felt the need to portray it physically by copying the Gill-man’s appearance. Although he murders several people, it becomes harder to define the titular creature as a monster due to him killing people invading his land. Still, it never sees it as a glamorous and beautiful action. Collier’s mimicking of the Gill-man represents his shallow views of the creature, where he holds no genuine respect for the majesty of the Gill-man but only appreciates his violence. 

Like previous Universal Monsters stories, the two writers showcase the destructive and tragic nature of humans descending to the depths of darkness. Despite surviving her initial experience of the dark waters, Kate does not experience similar luck in the Black Lagoon a second time. She no longer sees the bright sunshine, but her soul can only drown by what she experienced and chose to do. Kate’s ending feels like a real tragedy with plenty of weight and horror as her desire for revenge leads her to the outcome. If the Gill-man serves as a fictional reflection of our fears, then Kate is a more realistic and human version. Monsters do not lurk in our waters or hunt in our caves, but the dark and horrific nature of humanity lurks in our hearts and minds, waiting to surface.

Matthew’s artwork has proven to be an essential and critical part of the series, as he delivers on the dramatic beats of the final issue. With moments of brutal violence, regret, and horror, he conveys all of it masterfully. With a haunting final page, I felt like the Gill-man was looking directly into my soul. Along with colorist Trish Mulvihill and letterer DC Hopkins, the art of the finale hits a high note. 

Dan, Ram, and Matthew have taken readers to the bottomless pits of the water in Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! Issue #4. After touching the waters of the Black Lagoon, one can never be the same again. And much like the original film, the story can only end in a tragedy. Diving into the depths can make it easy to get lost in the darkness. The absolute horror is not what we find in the darkness but in how the darkness shapes us and forces us to lose our humanity.

Story: Dan Watters and Ram V Art: Matthew Roberts 
Color: Trish Mulvihill Letterer: DC Hopkins
Story: 9.4 Art: 9.7 Overall: 9.7 Recommendation: Read

Skybound provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Still, on the hunt for serial killer Darwin Collier, Kate Marsden cannot feel at peace until she puts the man down. While searching, she runs into Doctor Thompson, Christiano, and the Gill Man, who reside in the Black Lagoon. Yet, she accidentally made contact and an intentional connection with the titular monster while exploring the Amazons. As Collier and the monster close in deeper to the group, Kate will face a true blood and flesh monster. Dan Watters, Ram V, and Matthew Roberts deliver the heart-pounding penultimate issue of Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! Issue #3

Building off of the resonant themes from the original film, Dan and Ram push the continuing narrative in exciting and resonant angles that align with what came before, especially with the notion of explorers encroaching onto foreign land to find answers and what makes someone view another being or creature as monstrous. The social and political commentary within the classic Universal Monster films carries over to Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! Issue #3. Along with the different perspectives of the characters, it serves as a natural continuation and evolution where it feels modern but never abandons its roots. 

And with its status as a sequel, Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! Issue #3 acts in conversation with the original Creature from the Black Lagoon and the original two sequels that followed it. Considering how issue three ends, it becomes apparent that Dan and Ram have fully embraced the trilogy and found the interesting strands that may not have worked in the original sequels but reworked in the comic, especially with The Creature Walks Among Us, where the pair takes inspiration for Collier’s fate. As man and monster became more blurred as the series went on, the pair tasked themselves to push beyond what came before and enter new territory. 

With the hauntingly gorgeous Black Lagoon, Matthew continually delivers incredible work capturing the horrific beauty of the world. Diving into the most explicit horror part of the series, Roberts delivers some excellent body horror mixed with the more suspenseful aspects. His work, along with colorist Trish Mulvihill and letterer DC Hopkins, helps make the book feel akin to a long-lost film sequel and ties it expertly into the iconic world and setting. Even if many decades have passed, the artistic talent makes the book feel like a homecoming to an iconic property.

With one more issue left of this incredible miniseries, Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! Issue #3 lives up to the extensive legacy of the original iconic film. As Dan, Ram, and Matthew take the series in fascinating directions, they always retain the core identity of what makes the film work so well. The idea of horror has changed since 1954, but Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! Issue #3 brings a modern and innovative sensibility that forces people to swim in the Black Lagoon to find real monsters.

Story: Dan Watters and Ram V Art: Matthew Roberts 
Color: Trish Mulvihill Letterer: DC Hopkins
Story: 9.4 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Read

Skybound provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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