People have been fascinated with Frankenstein ever since Mary Shelley’s novel was published almost 200 years ago. 

It has inspired films, TV and radio shows, plays, comic books, novels, video games, music, stamps, and even a breakfast cereal! Actors have made their careers playing the role, bands have taken the name and toys have been created. 

How many of these Frankenstein-inspired creations have you heard of?

Films
Boris Karloff in the 1931 film and its sequel Bride of Frankenstein.
Dr. Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Andy Warhol's Flesh for Frankenstein
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein starring Robert De Niro
Van Helsing starring Hugh Jackman (and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN's Shuler Hensley as the Monster).
Edward Scissorhands starring Johnny Depp

TV
The Munsters
Nintendo: Frankenstein: The Monster Returns
"The Post-Modern Prometheus" episode of The X-Files
"Some Assembly Required"episode of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer
"Frankenstein Wastes A Minute of Our Time" in Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Novels
Dean Koontz's Frankenstein
Frankenstein According to Spike Mulligan
The Frankenstein Murders by Kathlyn Bradshaw
Stephen King's It

Stage
Joined at the Heart played at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2006
Day of Wrath, a 1990 original musical performance   
Frankenstein or the Vampire's Victim
Frankenstein starring Dianne Wiest

Games
Castlevania             
Wii: Mad World
Nintendo: Frankenstein: The Monster Returns
Fable II

Music
Alice Cooper's "Teenage Frankenstein"
Metallica's "Some Kind of Monster"
Russian composer Evgeni Kostitsyn's "How I Made This"
Sam Cooke's "Another Saturday Night"

Cartoons/Comics
Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein
"Frinkenstein" from an episode of The Simpsons
Marvel Comics The Monster of Frankenstein
Frankenstein Mobster

Cereal
General Mills' Frankenberry

Stamps
Boris Karloff as Frankenstein
Stamps of Frankenstein

Toys
Lego's Frankenstein

While Mary Shelley's original novel received mixed reviews, it was quite popular during the 19th century.  As you can see, that popularity still lives today.

For more information on Frankenstein in Pop Culture go to: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs//archives/19810
or
http://members.aon.at/frankenstein/frankenstein-introduction.htm

Mel Brooks with Hand - Photo: Andrew Eccles