Universal Monsters in Our Midst

Frankie even pops up in the daily newspaper:

This September 1st comic strip depicting a monster mash turned maudlin reminded me of a terrific short story by David J. Schow.  At once witty and wistful, "Last Call for the Sons of Shock" traces the modern-day existences of the classic Universal Monsters (Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf Man--here dubbed Blank Frank, the Count, and Larry).  The trio of legendary figures (Schow's conceit is that the monsters in the Universal films were real, not made-up actors) have gathered for their annual reunion at the nightclub ("Un/Dead") where Blank Frank works.  They drink and catch up on each other's lives, but reminiscence about the old days casts a pall over the present get-together (leading to a fiery climax).  The story, a must-read for monstrophiles, can be found in Schow's collection Black Leather Required.