Image Comics’ new line of studios' aborted Dark Universe ever could have been. The Universal Monsters are some of the most recognizable figures in pop culture, and have been subjected to numerous reboots over time. Image struck gold last year with retooled versions of these classic monsters, putting to shame the studio’s recent output.

Image’s Universal Monsters line has brought five of the iconic monsters to the forefront. Written and drawn by some of the best creators working at the moment, including James Tynion IV and Ram V, Image’s Universal Monsters titles honor the spirit of the original films, while introducing exciting new elements to keep the stories fresh. The line kicked off with a new interpretation of Dracula, using Bela Lugosi’s likeness. Subsequent entries focused on the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein, the Mummy and a forthcoming miniseries featuring the Invisible Man.

Universal Studios Tried to Take Fans to a Dark Universe

However, Movie Goers Were Put Off by This Attempt to Reboot the Universal Monsters Franchise

In today’s movie landscape, shared “cinematic universes” are popular, spurred by the success of the MCU. Marvel’s rival DC Comics established their own counterpart to the MCU, while Legendary Pictures has created a universe based around Godzilla and King Kong. In 2017, Universal Pictures announced Dark Universe, a series of films centered around their classic stable of monsters. Kicking off with a new version of The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella, Dark Universe was supposed to have also starred Johnny Depp as the Invisible Man and Russell Crowe as Doctor Jekyll.

However, Dark Universe was dead on arrival when The Mummy debuted in theaters.

However, Dark Universe was dead on arrival when The Mummy debuted in theaters. The film took a beating both critically and commercially, which killed Dark Universe’s momentum. Universal’s original plans for Dark Universe included a robust schedule of movies, featuring classic icons such as Dracula and the Bride of Frankenstein alongside lesser-known players such as the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The slate was ambitious, but The Mummy’s failure at the box office all but brought Universal’s hopes and dreams to an inglorious end.

The Universal Monsters Can Be Viewed As the FIrst "Cinematic Universe"

Did the Universal Monsters Lay the Foundation for the MCU?

That Dark Universe was a failure is surprising, as the Universal Monsters franchise could be viewed as one of the earliest “cinematic universes.” The studio made multiple horror/monster movies during the SIlent Era, including Lon Chaney’s Phantom of the Opera, but the series kicked off in earnest with 1931’s Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi. The movie debuted two years into the Great Depression, and the national mood had soured considerably, making the public more receptive to horror pictures. As a result, Dracula was a hit, leading Universal to commission a Frankenstein movie, which was also a success.

These back-to-back box office hits persuaded Universal that they had something special on their hands, leading to an entire series of films. The Mummy debuted a year later, followed by The Invisible Man in 1933. Bride of Frankenstein, one of the best sequels of all time, premiered in 1935 and The Wolfman arrived in theaters in 1941. The final major entry in the classic Universal Monsters franchise was 1954’s Creature from the Black Lagoon. All of these monsters were slated to appear in Dark Universe films, and they have all been (or will be) in Image’s new line.

What made the Universal Monsters film series so revolutionary for its time was that the movies existed in a shared continuity.

What made the Universal Monsters film series so revolutionary for its time was that the movies existed in a shared continuity. The monsters began crossing over with 1943’s Frankenstein Meets the Wolf-Man. The film was a massive hit, and one year later, Universal brought five of their monsters together in House of Frankenstein, which was followed up the next year by House of Dracula. The continuity the films shared was not as tight as today’s cinematic universes, but they nevertheless laid the foundation for them by demonstrating that characters from different movies could exist together.

Both The Mummy and Van Helsing were directed by Stephen Sommers.

Even before Universal began drafting plans for Dark Universe, there had been attempts to revive the franchise. The most notable attempt was 1999’s The Mummy. Starring Brendan Fraser, the movie was a massive hit and spawned a handful of sequels and spin-offs. The movie is a fan-favorite and has inspired countless internet memes. Even though The Mummy went over well with fans and critics, it still failed to launch a new Universal Monsters franchise, as did 2004’s Van Helsing, starring Hugh Jackman. The Universal Monsters would go back to their dark slumber.

Image's Universal Monster Comics Get What Made the OG Films So Great

The Creators ed that the Universal Monsters Is a Horror Franchise

So what has made Image Comics’ new line of Universal Monsters titles so successful? Why have these books succeeded where the Dark Universe failed? The answer lies in how the creators of each approach the source material. The original Universal Monsters movies were horror pictures that chilled audiences in the 20th century and continue to find new fans today. Many of them are acknowledged as classics of the horror genre, and they all hold up remarkably well. In contrast, Dark Universe largely approached these franchises as action films, evidenced by the casting of actors such as Tom Cruise.

In contrast, Image’s Universal Monsters titles lean into the franchise’s horror roots. Dracula was a bone-chilling story and, rather than being a simple adaptation of the original film, writers James Tynion IV and artist Martin Simmonds injected new life into the property. They used the likeness of the original Dracula Bela Lugosi, which may have led some to write off. Yet Tynion, who has proven his horror credentials in books such as Something is Killing the Children, made something special with Simmonds, something that Dark Universe would have had trouble duplicating.

Other entries in the line also stress the horror elements. Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives, by Ram V, Dan Watters and Matthew Roberts, functioned as a sequel to the original movie. Set several years later, the mini involved a journalist investigating claims of a monster in the Amazon, only to find herself swept up in something even darker. Much like Tynion, Ram V and Dan Watters have penned a number of horror-related titles, and they bring these skills to bear on Creature From the Black Lagoon Lives!

If Image wanted to throw out a real curveball, they could create minis around the lesser Universal Monsters, such as the Phantom of the Opera.

The line will continue to debut new titles throughout 2025. Image has announced a Mummy comic, written and drawn by Faith Erin Hicks, as well as a mini based on The Invisible Man, which will see Tynion take a crack at HG Wells’ iconic mad scientist. At this point, The Wolf Man feels like a given. Image has not announced a Wolf Man book, but it has the potential to be the best of the lot. If Image wanted to throw out a real curveball, they could create minis around the lesser Universal Monsters, such as the Phantom of the Opera.

The Dark Universe Was Mercifully Killed by Universal

Yet Universal Has Not Given Up On Their Monsters, Nor Should They

Universal Pictures has seemingly abandoned the Dark Universe, but they have not given up on their monsters. 2020 saw the release of a new Invisible Man and the studio released a Wolfman remake earlier this year. These films have met with mixed box office success as well as critical reception. The future of the Universal Monsters franchise, however, is as bright as ever, and it is thanks to Image Comics. The creators have honored the verve of the original movies, and succeeded far beyond Dark Universe.