Watching the debut episode of the new AMC series ELI ROTH’S HISTORY OF HORROR, dedicated to zombies, the argument was made that Frankenstein, the Monster as opposed to the scientist who created it, is a zombie.
—in my original work FRANKENSTEIN: THE UNTOLD STORY I explain why it is accurate to refer not just to the scientist as “Frankenstein” but the Monster as well (pardon the shameless self-promotion—sorry/not sorry)—
The consensus on the show was affirmative, that yes, Frankenstein is a zombie. By the broadest possible definition, maybe, but I’d have to disagree. The Monster is far more than *just* a zombie. For one thing, there’s his intellect. His brain may be damaged, according to the classic Universal movie (as opposed to the novel, where the Monster is actually quite eloquent), but he still retains his senses. Zombies generally do not. Then there is his superhuman strength. Your average zombie is no stronger than he was in life. Frankenstein does not continue to decompose as he goes, the way a zombie does. And lastly, there’s no craving of brains. In fact, Frankenstein doesn’t practice cannibalism at all. Judging by all these differences, then, I would proclaim that no, Frankie is NOT a zombie. A distant cousin, if anything.