UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: THE MUMMY #2 – Review

UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: THE MUMMY #2, by Image Comics & Skybound on 4/23/25, finds an older Helen returning to Cairo to reconnect with old acquaintances when a new mummy exhibit stirs ancient memories.

Credits:

• Writer: Faith Erin Hicks
• Artist: Faith Erin Hicks
• Colorist: Lee Loughridge
• Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
• Cover Artist: Faith Erin Hicks (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: April 23, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 36
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

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Analysis of UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: THE MUMMY #2:

Plot:

As a young teen, Helen Grosvenor was inhabited by the soul of Ankh-Es-En-Ammon when an ancient crypt was unearthed in Universal Monsters: The Mummy #1. Ten years later, Helen returns to Cairo to visit with old acquaintances. She has since made peace with the second soul and speaks to it as a traveling companion. Now, Helen attends a party to celebrate the discovery of a new mummy – that of Ankh-Es-En-Ammon. She also meets the handsome son of one of her benefactors – Frank Whemple. After the party, Helen hears a strange voice calling to her, and we learn a security guard at the museum was killed by a person wielding the Scroll of Thoth. The scroll is said to raise the dead.

Later, Helen wakes up in Whemple’s house when she is found trying to break into the apartment. Soon, a strange man knocks on Whemple’s door, and as soon as Helen sees him, she realizes his old, withered body contains the soul of Imhotep, Ankh-Es-En-Ammon’s true love.

Artwork and Presentation:

Faith Erin Hicks’s soft, Young Adult (YA) brand of visuals will appeal to younger readers who are into Titan’s adaptations of Life Is Strange or Rivers Of London. Hicks opts for a tale of strange romance and self-discovery rather than scares, so you won’t find anything in the art that’s remotely scary.

Art Samples:

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Character Work:

Helen Grosvenor is the focal character of the series, so you get a very close view of how she handles her transition from teen to spinster adult and how she chooses to deal with the gossiping nature of the people who view her as “strange.” In a soft, non-challenging way, Hicks shows Helen growing a thick skin and a bit of courage.

Structure:

Hicks’s story structure loosely follows the events of the classic Universal film by introducing more characters from the film and pushing the plot along roughly the same path. It’s difficult to critique the narrative too much since it’s a retelling of a classic film from a different point of view.

Strongest Point(s):

The highlight of this issue is the mildly amusing, three-way conversation between Whemple, Helen, and the voice inside Helen’s head. The conversation doesn’t happen all at once, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome, but the net effect is… cute.

Weakest Point(s):

For a comic based on a classic monster story, Hicks’s approach is about as scare-less and urgent-less as you can get. The pacing is steady but low, and the dramatic impact hits with the force of a half-inflated balloon.

Final Thoughts:

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UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: THE MUMMY #2 continues Helen’s adventure when she returns to Cairo years later, only to be caught up in Imhotep’s grand scheme. Faith Erin Hicks follows the events and the characters from the original film close enough to be recognizable, but the story and art lack anything resembling scares, urgency, or energetic pacing.

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