The Woman Behind Frankenstein: Her Life, Her Love, Her Monster!

A Graphic Biography of a Feminist Icon, Brought to Life by Alessandro Di Virgilio and Manuela Santoni

Mad Cave Studios is proud to announce the print edition of Comixology Original, MARY SHELLEY: THE ETERNAL DREAM—a stirring new edition, arriving in English for the first time. This expressively illustrated fictional account follows the life of Mary Shelley, the groundbreaking writer whose imagination birthed one of literature’s most enduring figures: Frankenstein’s monster, with cameos from Romantic-era artists and writers woven throughout.

Written by Naples native Alessandro Di Virgilio (BeccoGiallo, Star Comics, Noise Press) and illustrated by Manuela Santoni (Girl R-Evolution, Storie Proprio Buffe), with translation by Lucy Lenzi and editing by Stefano A. Cresti and Sarah Brunstad, Mary Shelley: The Eternal Dream blends biography and fiction in a haunting narrative told through the eyes of Shelley’s infamous creation.

The extraordinary life of the woman who created one of fiction’s most enduring characters: Frankenstein’s monster. Born at the turn of the 19th century to the famous philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft (forerunner of the feminist movement) and William Godwin (novelist and radical politician), Mary Shelley lived a life in constant flight from social conformity. Her struggle birthed a pop culture phenomenon. Now in print for the first time in English, Mary Shelley: The Eternal Dream chronicles Shelley’s relationships with other important artists and writers, including her eventual husband Percy Shelley, and the “butterfly effect” of love, hardship, tragedy, and inspiration that led to the creation of the infamous monster.

Mad Cave Studios editor, Sarah Brunstad, spoke of the project:

“I’ve never read a graphic novel quite like Mary Shelley. It’s an exquisitely told biography, a black-and-white emotional feast punctuated with brilliant red spot color. Manuela Santoni and Alessandro di Virgilio artfully weave the interpersonal highlights of Shelley’s life with the cataclysmic social changes of her time… An unforgettable read.”

Perfect for fans of literary history, feminist icons, and gothic storytelling, Mary Shelley: The Eternal Dream stands alongside illustrated works like Fun Home, Jane, and The Brontë Sisters. With its unique narrative voice and evocative art, this edition invites readers to see not only the facts of Shelley’s life, but the very heart whose scars brought Frankenstein’s monster to life.

Mary Shelley: The Eternal Dream will be available wherever books are sold on January 13, 2026, and at local comic shops on January 14, 2026. Final Order Cutoff is on December 1, 2025.

Get the latest news on Mad Cave Studios on social media, or visit www.madcavestudios.com to check out the full lineup of new releases, licenses, and celebrated creator-owned titles!

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!