The myth of Frankenstein from Mary Shelley to Gris Grimly: Some intersemiotic and ideological issues

The first two hundred years of Frankenstein, published by Mary Shelley in 1818, have seen several re-writings as well as multiple interlinguistic and intersemiotic translations. The cinematographic productions are innumerable and this tradition is very much present in comic art too. The aim of this article is therefore to analyze Gris Grimly's graphic novel in order to see how this hybrid form of intersemiotic translation challenges the original text. Since the notion of “canon” in all its meanings is based on fundamental dichotomies such as “inclusion” vs “exclusion”, “acceptance” vs “refusal”, the deconstructionist approach of Grimly’s comic art appears particularly relevant, not only in relation to the creature Victor creates, as experienced by readers of the written text, but – more importantly – to the allegorical significance this creature assumes in our contemporary world.