Matt Wagner's Grendel series began in 1982, published by a little-known company called Comico Comics, and quickly became a mainstay in the comics world, sparking a devout following even after its main character, Hunter Rose, died. With each new entry in the series, the Grendel mythos evolved, adding new layers to the nature of aggression that Wagner explored in his original series. For comic book fans interested in picking up the series, here is an overview of its history.
The Original Grendel
Matt Wagner began his series with Hunter Rose, a genius novelist who turned to a life of crime, picking apart New York's mafias until he had firm control of all criminal activities. His brilliance was matched only by his cruelty, and he quickly found a nemesis named Argent, a werewolf-like creature that dedicated itself to ridding New York City of crime. Their battles continued throughout the short-lived Comico series as well as new adventures written by Wagner for Dark Horse Comics.
The Devil's Legacy
Hunter Rose's grand-daughter Christine assumes the Grendel costume after her son is kidnapped by a terrifying vampire named Tujiro. In order to stop the vampire, Christine must join forces with her grandfather's arch-nemesis, Argent.
The Devil Inside
Christine's lover, Brian Li-Sung, finds himself drawn into the Grendel mythos, convinced that Grendel is speaking to him from beyond the grave, urging him to murder a detective seeking Christine's journals. Not nearly as fantastic as the previous entries, but still worth reading due to its examination of the inner conflicts haunting everyone who takes part in the world of Grendel.
Devil Tracks and Devil Eyes
A return to the original Hunter Rose, as the detective who had once pursued him recounts some interesting tales concerning the fearsome mob boss. A short, enjoyable break from the series' continuation.
God and the Devil
Taking place years upon years in the future, a new fantastic character named Eppy Thatcher designs and builds his own Grendel costume and uses it to torment the Catholic Church's newest pope, a terrifying figure who has his fingers in every aspect of government. Meanwhile, a group of rogue freedom fighters begin plans to overthrow the corrupt government, taking the Catholic church with it. Vampires, a maniacal idiot savant, corrupt detectives and a banana-powered laser makes this a series worth checking out.
War Child
After a short period of peace following the uprising, things quickly get out of hand. Vampires are spreading like a plague. The new republic has its growing pains. Soon, it's clear that the best hope for humanity is the young son of a dead emperor, a son being protected by the newest incarnation of Grendel, a cyborg soldier who embodies the aggressive nature of every Grendel that's come before. In order to assume the throne, Grendel and the boy must fight off hordes of imperial soldiers and vampires, making this one of the best parts of the series.
Ken Brosky - Ken Brosky's first novel was published in fall 2007. He has more than a dozen short stories published in magazines including Skyline and ...
