UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: THE MUMMY #3, by Image Comics & Skybound on 5/28/25, opens Helen’s eyes to the tragic love story in ancient Egypt that drove Imhotep to commit an unspeakable act.
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: May 28, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: THE MUMMY #3:
Plot:
Imhotep asserted his will on the family and friends of Helen Grosvenor in Universal Monsters: The Mummy #3. Now, the villain summons black tendrils of death to strike down Frank Whemple’s father and claim the Scroll of Thoth for its resurrection powers. With the scroll in hand, Imhotep summons Helen to his sanctum and casts a spell to show her the past.
Imhotep and Ankh-Es-En-Amun were deeply in love, although their stations in life forbade it. When a deadly plague claimed Ankh-Es-En-Amun’s life, Imhotep, mad with grief, used the Scroll of Thoth back to life. The ritual failed, and Imhotep was mummified for eternity as punishment for his blasphemous deeds.
Helen runs away when she realizes the truth – the voice inside her head she befriended when she was a girl is the spirit of Ankh-Es-En-Amun, and the spirit wants to live again by taking over Helen’s body.
Artwork and Presentation:
Faith Erin Hicks’s indie art is a suitable match for teens and tweens who want to read safe, sanitized horror without giving them nightmares. Hicks’s attention to detail for the ancient costumes is commendable, and the scene transitions/progression is solid.
Art Samples:
Character Work:
As with the rest of Skybound’s Universal Monsters adaptations, the focus shifts to a different point of view. In this case, Helen remains front and center as a young woman who feels betrayed by the voice in her head, torn by the conflicting emotions that are not entirely her own, and terrified at the prospect of losing control of her body and future. If Hicks’s goal was to present that range of emotions through Helen, then the goal was achieved.
Structure:
The plot and the flow are where this story takes an odd turn compared to the previous two issues. In Universal Monsters: The Mummy #3, the alternate point of view turns back to an almost near reproduction of the films (both the 1932 original and the 1999 remake) in tone, action, pacing, and plot development. Instead of finding the story within the story, Hicks retells the same story with a few tweaks so it feels less original.
Strongest Point(s):
The highlight of Faith Erin Hicks’s script is the portrayal of urgent pace and dawning horror for Helen when she learns the forces of evil are conspiring against her. Where the drama was lacking in the previous issues, Hicks cranks it up in this issue with personal stakes.
Weakest Point(s):
As noted in the structure section, this issue works well because it almost directly apes the Universal films in terms of plot progression, pacing, urgency, and stakes. Unfortunately, those positives mean the issue lacks the fresh perspective or surprise twist that would make it an original adaptation.
Final Thoughts:
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UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: THE MUMMY #3 picks up the pace and drama for an entertaining, albeit toothless, read. Faith Erin Hicks’s take on The Mummy closely mimics the 1932 and 1999 films for a cool reveal, and Hicks’s tween-friendly art is safe for young readers. That said, a close match to the films comes at the expense of originality.
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