FRANK von FRANKENSTEIN
Real Name: Frank von Frankenstein
Identity/Class: Human (15th century A.D.);
citizen of the Holy Roman Empire
Occupation: Lord/master of Castle Frankenstein
Group Membership: Teutonic Knights, von Frankensteins;
Affiliations: His fellow Teutonic Knights (none identified)
Enemies: Vlad Dracula; numerous "heathens" he forcibly converted or slew.
Known Relatives: Arbogast von Frankenstein (ancestor);
Georg von Frankenstein, Hans von Frankenstein (descendants; see comments)
Aliases: None revealed
Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
formerly Castle Frankenstein, on
the northern edge of the Magnet mountain on the banks of the river
Rhine, in the territory of Hesse/Hessengau
First Appearance:
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#37 (January, 1992)
Powers/Abilities: Frank von Frankenstein was a fierce warrior, highly skilled at swordfighting, and he was an experienced equestrian (presumably also at combat on horseback).
He wore metal armor, including a helmet, and he wielded a shield and a sword in combat.
Height: Unrevealed
(he appeared to be a few inches shorter than the 6'5" Dracula, although
their postures may not have matched up, so perhaps 5'11" to 6'1")
Weight: Unrevealed (based on the above heights, perhaps 190 to 210 lbs,)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black (including full beard)
History:
(Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#37 (fb)) - In the year 1440,
Frank von Frankenstein -- one of the fanatical band known as the
Teutonic Knights -- converted the "heathens" of eastern Europe at
the point of a crimsoned sword.
He had many such "triumphs" of religious frenzy over reason...but he was most fiercely resisted by Vlad Tepes, also known as Dracula (At this time, Dracula was merely a warlord--it was only after his death that he would become the ill-famed Lord of the Vampires). Vlad was a warrior to be feared, even in life.
Ultimately the Transylvanian tasted the sweet wine of victory, and Frank and the German knights were impaled on stakes, as was Vlad Tepes' wont.
Comments: Created by Jean-Marc Lofficier, Roy & Dan Thomas, and Geof Isherwood.
The von Frankenstein family sold their castle to the state in 1662. In 1732, Konrad Dippel received the title to Castle Frankenstein, founding a new dynasty of von Frankensteins. Thus, most von Frankensteins -- including, to the best of my knowledge, Alphonse Frankenstein, Anna von Frankenstein, Basil von Frankenstein, Elizabeth von Frankenstein, Ernst von Frankenstein, Jason von Frankenstein, Konrad von Frankenstein, Lenore von Frankenstein, Ludwig von Frankenstein, Maximilian von Frankenstein, Veronica von Frankenstein, Victor von Frankenstein, Victoria von Frankenstein, and William von Frankenstein -- are not blood relatives of Frank.
The Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#37 flashbacks noted that, "while history had missed the fact, a Frankenstein suffered a horrible death. He was not the first -- and far from the last to do so."
In the letter page to Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#37 credited Frank von Frankenstein's encounter with Dracula in Dracula Lives#2. I checked the issue, which features two Dracula stories, including one with the human Vlad, but didn't see any Frankensteins (just Turks and Creoles). Can anyone tell me where that story comes from?
Castle Frankenstein is described in (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#37 as "On the banks of the River Rhine, in the state of Hesse, near Darmstadt, in the nation-state known as Germany, a grim medieval fortress perches on the forest-shrouded nother edge of Magnet Mountain."
Frank von Frankenstein originally was covered within the von Frankensteins profile, first posted 01/06/2002. The von Frankensteins profile attempted to be all-encompassing, but it is limited in terms of breadth and depth. Hopefully profiling each of the von Frankensteins individually will allow superior coverage; I will whittle away at them slowly over time. Two down, at least 14 to go...
Frank's profile was completed 09/14/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Arbogast von Frankenstein should be distinguished from:
Appearances:
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#37 (January, 1992) - Jean-Marc Lofficier,
Roy & Dan Thomas (writers), Geof Isherwood (artist), Mike Rockwitz
(editor)
First posted: 09/16/2021
Last updated: 09/15/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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