GRIMM: Book One

by Benni Bødker, John Kenn Mortensen (Artist), Kenneth Bøgh Andersen

Genres: Graphic Novels

224 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 11, 2026

About the author

Benni Bødker er en dansk forfatter. Han er uddannet cand.mag. i dansk og filosofi og arbejder som forlagsredaktør samt underviser på Forfatterskolen for Børnelitteratur.

Reviews

[Stephen Reyes-Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I did really enjoy this book, but this is objectively not a graphic novel. It's a book with retellings of Brothers Grimm stories with some illustrations. They're great, but I was a little annoyed because I was expecting something completely different. I do mean some, too. Theres about one full illustration for every story, plus a few drawings of something small like a hand or an egg from the previous story in between each. I don't know if it was maybe mislabeled because Fantagraphics is putting it out and they're mostly a graphic novel publisher, but I wish I knew that going in. Still, it was great and I really liked it. There are several classic Brothers Grimm stories and a bunch that I've never heard of. My favorite was a version of Bluebeard, which was especially neat because I didn't know that Bluebeard was a Brothers Grimm story. The drawings are really cool, too. That's what really drew me to this because I love John Kenn's art, so I do wish there was more of it. Now that I know what to expect, I'll probably enjoy the next volumes even more and will be looking out for those. Thanks for the ARC!

[Reading_seas0n · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Fantagraphics Books | Fantagraphics and NetGalley for the chance to read and honestly review this arc!

I am familiar with two versions of GRIMM fairytales; the cute, sugar coated one & the dark and gothic vibe.
I like both but this captured the lingering warning and haunting atmosphere that I adore from the darker tales known from the Grimm Brothers.
I was familiar with many of the tales in this book but a few were a new experience. Which is always nice when tales are being retold by a new hand.

The Illustrations in this book are haunting and horrifying - which sounds bad but it's actually a compliment. I think it really added to the atmosphere of the book, just helping add that extra little level to the gothic writing that is associated with the tales.

I also enjoyed they noted at the end that takes get retold all the time and that when they were originally made, there had been many versions told from word of mouth and the one we know if the one they heard first.

[Viktor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book!

The Grimm fairytales have been staples for many readers over the centuries and this book brings a breath of fresh air to familiar stories. Each tale had a deeply serious yet darkly playful spirit and narrative structures that I felt lended themselves to these short, brutal entries. I feel that these could be modern versions of the traditional stories that younger readers could connect with and get excited about reading and telling to their friends. For other audiences this will feel like hearing these tales again for the first time!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book lit up the same part of my brain that the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books did when I was a kid. Suddenly, I'm back in third grade, reading under my blankets with a pen light, being both entertained and slightly creeped out by the illustrations. LOVED that.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free e-copy to review!