The Dungeon of Frankenstein (18 pages)
Visiting the Central European town of Ingoldstadt (sic) for the First Psychic and Supernatural Convention, psychic Elliott Kane is invited by Dr. Donald Frankenstein, the latest heir to that tragic family name, to perform a seance at the ancestral castle. Kane conjures the spirit of the original Victor Frankenstein, and the modern doctor seizes the opportunity to record the infamous scientist's knowledge of human brain transplanting. Kane awakens from his trance and demands an explanation. The scientist shows Kane his laboratory in the basement, and tells him how he has revived Frankenstein's monster. Further, the modern Frankenstein is creating a female monster as a mate for the creature. Outraged, Kane destroys the brain intended for the female, but finds himself face to face with the enraged monster itself.
Meanwhile in town, Dr. Adam Spektor and his secretary, Lakota Rainflower, are also attending the convention, and go to the castle to meet their friend Elliott. While Spektor searches for a way into the apparently abandoned edifice, the Monster kidnaps Lakota and takes her to the dungeon laboratory, telling Dr. Frankenstein he has found a new brain for the female. The scientist begins to make preparations for the operation in the presence of a chained Elliott Kane, whom Frankenstein has convinced the monster not to kill. Kane gives off a psychic vibration which leads Dr. Spektor to the dungeon.
Frankenstein hesitates to begin the operation, dreading having to take a human life, giving Spektor precious moments to intrude into the scene. The monster attacks Spektor, but Spektor defends himself with a flaming torch, which he uses to ignite the laboratory into an inferno. Frankenstein meanwhile has decided he cannot bring himself to kill Lakota, and uses a torch to fend off the monster while Spektor, Lakota, and Kane escape from the castle. The caste is destroyed in a terrific explosion leaving the three friends to gaze at its ruins, while Spektor wonders if Frankenstein's monster is truly dead.
Temple of the Lion (8 pages)
The back-up story recounts the origin of Simbar, the Lion-Man. Two explorers, Samuel Barr and Thomas Gordon, find the ruins of an obscure temple in Africa, which appears to have belonged to a lion-worshipping cult. They are warned by an old witch doctor to leave the ruins in peace. The two men have a falling out when Samuel tries to steal a golden lion statue. The two men scuffle and Sam inadvertently kills Thomas. The old witch doctor, who has seen the whole thing, causes Samuel to be attacked in the jungle by a strange lion. The witch doctor uses the Lion God's potion to nurse Samuel back to health, but also turns him into a were-lion. The witch doctor tells him he is now Simbar, Lord of the Lions, and sends him into the jungle to rule the beasts, with a promise that he may, perhaps one day, become human again.
First appearance: Frankenstein's Monster
Note: When Spektor gives his lecture on Frankenstein, the book on his dais, and to which he makes reference, is The Frankenstein Legend by Don Glut. This is a book Glut actually published in 1974, essentially a hardcover guide to everything Frankenstein.
Log in to comment