If you know your Universal Monsters, this is one Kickstarter campaign you won’t want to miss. The legendary comedy duo Abbott and Costello are returning to comics for the first time in more than 50 years, and they’re bringing some familiar monsters along for the ride!
Monstrous has officially launched its Kickstarter campaign for Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters, a new series featuring three full length comic books written by Bram Stoker Award winner James Aquilone, with artwork by Dave Acosta, George Quadros and Zac Atkinson.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were among America’s biggest entertainment acts during their heyday, becoming comedy icons whose influence continues to reach new generations of performers. Horror fans, meanwhile, will remember the duo’s classic monster films, particularly 1948’s Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, which brought them face to face with Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster and the Wolf Man. The combination of classic monsters and the duo’s signature comedy made for an enduring piece of Hollywood history.
Now, the comics are taking that formula in some new directions.
The first issue, Abbott and Costello Meet the Night Stalker, sends the pair into the supernatural world of Carl Kolchak. The second issue pits them against the subterranean Morlocks from H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine, while the third throws them into cosmic horror with H.P. Lovecraft’s legendary Cthulhu.
Each issue will also feature Abbott and Costello comic strips, along with a selection of variant covers from acclaimed artists. The Kickstarter campaign will offer additional collectibles, including T-shirts, trading cards and original artwork.
“Abbott and Costello were my introduction to horror as well as comedy,” says Aquilone. “They’ve been a huge influence on my work and it’s unreal to be bringing my heroes back to comics in a genre that is near and dear to me — horror-comedy, which might not exist without Abbott and Costello.”
For fans of vintage monster movies, classic comedy and collectible comics, this looks like a fun way to bring two sides of Hollywood history together.
Ready to back the project? Head over to the official Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters Kickstarter campaign to check out the comics, covers and available rewards.
