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Kid Beowulf #1
Kid Beowulf: The Blood-Bound Oath
In book one of the series, our heroes' destiny is tied to the past, when a prince named Hrothgar begins a quest for power—one that leads him to a fiery dragon, an enchanted sword, and an oath sworn in blood. But when Hrothgar breaks his oath he breaks his kingdom, and the only thing that will save it is a family he’s forgotten and heroes not yet born…
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2008
About the author
Alexis E. Fajardo
14 books18 followersAlexis E. Fajardo is an Eisner award-winning editor and cartoonist. Lex has created a unique blend of comedy, literature, and high-adventure in his graphic novel series, Kid Beowulf. Lex is a member of the National Cartoonist’s Society; Society of Childrens Book Writers & Illustrators; and been a National Writing Juror for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. When he’s not drawing comics, Lex works for them as Editorial Director at the Charles M. Schulz Studio in Santa Rosa, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 19, 2016
This is a true story. I started college in 1996. Earlham College. Richmond, Indiana. Nice place. Little Quaker school (“Fight! Fight! Inner light! Kill, Quakers, Kill,” ← our sports chant). Little colleges have little cute traditions. Mine was keen on complicated pranks. One day I go down to the cafeteria for a bowl of Cheerios and lo and behold there, on the ceiling, is this epic mural of two cartoon characters touching fingers ala Michelangelo's Adam and God in The Sistine Chapel. The characters in question were from a weekly comic in the school newspaper penned by one Alexis Fajardo. From that time onward I would Alexis Fajardo. And I followed his career. He kept up the comic strip (called “Plato’s Republic”) for a while and then started in on this Kid Beowulf graphic novel series. I didn’t get any chance to read them but they had a fun premise and the art really popped. Now, after all these many years, Amp Comics has picked up the series and given it a proper running start. In the grand tradition of Bone, Amulet, and countless other epic quest graphic novels, Fajardo gives us heroes to root for, villains to loathe, and complex characterizations around every turn. He’s come a long way from painting ceilings.
We start with the original epic poem of Beowulf. The original tale of man vs. monster is recounted but, the book assures us, “as men have told it – as I said, they twist the truth. Too blind to know the proper tale of a king’s run-rampant youth . . .” Now we are in the land of the Danes where a headstrong prince threatens a tenuous peace. Hrothgar cannot stand those Heathobards that he feels infringe on his homelands. When he encounters a dragon of great power he makes a deadly pact. Upon his return he begins a reign of destruction and ignorance, eventually fathering his own monstrous daughter. Named Gertrude, she is raised by the same dragon with whom Hrothgar made a pact. All this so that, in time, she will give birth to her own twins. One looks like her and is named Grendel. The other, a fully human boy, named Beowulf. And when they lose and find one another again, that’s when the story truly begins.
One thing I didn’t really expect when I picked the book up was to encounter Fajardo’s inclination to tell his tale in his own time. By all rights, all this book is really doing from the start is setting the stage for future tales to come. Yet though it’s named “Kid Beowulf”, the titular hero and his twin brother don’t even make an appearance until page 120, and even then they're just babies. The reader’s patience is rewarded if that reader chooses to stick with the storyline, but it means that the best kids for this book won’t be the ones who like simplified narratives of action and adventure on every other panel. No, these books are going to be for those kids who like to sink deep into a world, dwell there for a time, scope out the situations, and understand the motivations. If you’ve a new graphic novel reader on your hands, I wouldn’t start them off with Kid Beowulf. This book is better suited for those kids out there with a little comic-reading experience under their belts.
In a lot of ways, the book series reminds me of the old Asterix and Obelix comics. It’s not an entirely fair comparison since the tone of the two comics is completely different. Yet both spend an inordinate amount of time in an ancient world. Fajardo himself acknowledges this with the creation of two characters that intentionally have many of Asterix & Obelix’s personality quirks. Still and all, the book was far more complicated than I expected. Kids love that stuff, by the way. They love it when an author has the guts to tell a story without feeling obligated to explain everything constantly. And Fajardo doesn’t water down the complexity. You’re either on board with the storytelling from the start or you’re not. The politics of the region is what the plot hinges on continually, so you need to read this with an open mind towards the Geats, Danes, Heathobards, and others. People also come and go, betray one another, and reappear after years and years. To keep track of it all there is a Character Glossary but unfortunately it’s located in the back of the book where it might easily go missed for some time. If you’re handing this book to a kid, I recommend that you point that little element out to them first thing. They’ll thank you for it later.
After sitting down and thinking long and hard about it, I came to the shocking realization that Fajardo likes three-dimensional characters. That shouldn’t be all that shocking, actually. Lots of authors do. But consider the format here. We’re dealing with an epic quest graphic novel series. I mentioned Bone and Amulet earlier and if there’s one thing those stories have in common it’s bad guys that sulk about without so much as a sympathetic hair on their heads. Kid Beowulf is different. There are plenty of guys (and gals, sorta) working for their own selfish interests, but that also are capable of learning and growing. Hrothgar is probably the most flawed fella in the book, but even he does a slow 180-degree turnaround over the decades. And sympathetic characters like Gertrude also have their greedy moments for which they’ll have to pay the price later. It’s so interesting that you could even get this kind of shading in a book based, as it is, on a good vs. bad epic poem like Beowulf. That's the irony at work.
Considering the time period, the role of women in this book is worthy of examination. Fajardo has sort of a single style when it comes to human women (human girls don’t seem to exist) which is a heavy-lidded femme fatale look, regardless of their positions or names. The one exception to this rule is, of course, Gertrude, and in her monster form she gets to have all the freedom of any of the boys around her. She fights. She gets more than just a couple pages here and there. The book doesn’t even come close to passing the Bechdel Test, and Gertrude’s methods of finding a mate are disappointingly stereotypical, but for the most part she’s a strong female character worthy of examination. There is, however, room for improvement and I sincerely hope future installments will contain at least one other woman who does more than think only of the men in her life.
Sit down for five minutes in any public school in America today and don’t be surprised if you hear the words “Common Core State Standards” waft by at some point. These standards aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and with their focus on nonfiction and folktales, it just makes good clean sense for any author of a fictional work to find some kind of curricular tie-in. Fajardo does just that. In fact, he goes a little bit crazy with it. I could understand the World Map at the start and the finish as well as in color in the backmatter. And the second map, the one of Daneland circa 450 A.D., that was a nice touch. But about the time I noticed the glossary of terms, character glossary, and family tree, to say nothing of the section about the original epic poem itself, Fun Fact section, and Bibliography of recommended sources (which, for the record, is a beautiful collection) I was floored. Add in a large section on how Fajardo draws his characters, inks and colors them, and more and . . . well, you’d be forgiven for feeling that this more akin to a full college course on Beowulf and graphic novels than a single collected comic.
I haven’t mentioned the art itself, of course, which is poor form when reviewing a graphic novel. Fajardo employs two different styles in this book. The first part, during the retelling of the original Beowulf epic poem, is done in a more realistic, cinematic style. Even the colorist is different from the colorist in the rest of the book. Then the book becomes far cartoonier. Tiny too, considering how many panels Fajardo is able to pack into a single page. For some, the seriousness of the content (the fate of Yrs, for example) doesn't match the style. For others, it will seem a natural complement. For my part I did find the cartoonishness a surprise, considering the actions of the characters, but as the story continued I got used to it. Kids, I suspect, will feel the same way.
There is a school of thought that says that if you let a kid read whatever they want, they’ll work their way around to the classics in time. I read a ton of really truly terrible Harvey comics as a kid. Later I would delve into works like Les Miserables and Middlemarch for fun. Is there a connection? Nobody knows! A lot of parents fear that their kids will gorge themselves on comics, making them wholly and entirely unable to digest literature without pictures. To them, I hand Kid Beowulf. I truly do believe that a comic done correctly, done with panache and interest and a unique style of its own, will garner fans that will seek out other material on the same topic. Not every kid who reads Fajardo’s book is going to take a crack at a little Old English on their own. They may, however, dive into some of those books Mr. Fajardo so helpfully included in his Bibliography. Or they might learn a bit about the poem’s origins. Or they might want to make their own comics about ancient texts. Whatever the case, you can look at this book either as a springboard for bigger better things, or just a good rip-roaring tale that can stand on its own two feet. Whatever your justification, Fajardo has the goods. That painting he made on the ceiling years ago seemed impossible. This series? Attainable. Now go attain it.
For ages 9-12.
We start with the original epic poem of Beowulf. The original tale of man vs. monster is recounted but, the book assures us, “as men have told it – as I said, they twist the truth. Too blind to know the proper tale of a king’s run-rampant youth . . .” Now we are in the land of the Danes where a headstrong prince threatens a tenuous peace. Hrothgar cannot stand those Heathobards that he feels infringe on his homelands. When he encounters a dragon of great power he makes a deadly pact. Upon his return he begins a reign of destruction and ignorance, eventually fathering his own monstrous daughter. Named Gertrude, she is raised by the same dragon with whom Hrothgar made a pact. All this so that, in time, she will give birth to her own twins. One looks like her and is named Grendel. The other, a fully human boy, named Beowulf. And when they lose and find one another again, that’s when the story truly begins.
One thing I didn’t really expect when I picked the book up was to encounter Fajardo’s inclination to tell his tale in his own time. By all rights, all this book is really doing from the start is setting the stage for future tales to come. Yet though it’s named “Kid Beowulf”, the titular hero and his twin brother don’t even make an appearance until page 120, and even then they're just babies. The reader’s patience is rewarded if that reader chooses to stick with the storyline, but it means that the best kids for this book won’t be the ones who like simplified narratives of action and adventure on every other panel. No, these books are going to be for those kids who like to sink deep into a world, dwell there for a time, scope out the situations, and understand the motivations. If you’ve a new graphic novel reader on your hands, I wouldn’t start them off with Kid Beowulf. This book is better suited for those kids out there with a little comic-reading experience under their belts.
In a lot of ways, the book series reminds me of the old Asterix and Obelix comics. It’s not an entirely fair comparison since the tone of the two comics is completely different. Yet both spend an inordinate amount of time in an ancient world. Fajardo himself acknowledges this with the creation of two characters that intentionally have many of Asterix & Obelix’s personality quirks. Still and all, the book was far more complicated than I expected. Kids love that stuff, by the way. They love it when an author has the guts to tell a story without feeling obligated to explain everything constantly. And Fajardo doesn’t water down the complexity. You’re either on board with the storytelling from the start or you’re not. The politics of the region is what the plot hinges on continually, so you need to read this with an open mind towards the Geats, Danes, Heathobards, and others. People also come and go, betray one another, and reappear after years and years. To keep track of it all there is a Character Glossary but unfortunately it’s located in the back of the book where it might easily go missed for some time. If you’re handing this book to a kid, I recommend that you point that little element out to them first thing. They’ll thank you for it later.
After sitting down and thinking long and hard about it, I came to the shocking realization that Fajardo likes three-dimensional characters. That shouldn’t be all that shocking, actually. Lots of authors do. But consider the format here. We’re dealing with an epic quest graphic novel series. I mentioned Bone and Amulet earlier and if there’s one thing those stories have in common it’s bad guys that sulk about without so much as a sympathetic hair on their heads. Kid Beowulf is different. There are plenty of guys (and gals, sorta) working for their own selfish interests, but that also are capable of learning and growing. Hrothgar is probably the most flawed fella in the book, but even he does a slow 180-degree turnaround over the decades. And sympathetic characters like Gertrude also have their greedy moments for which they’ll have to pay the price later. It’s so interesting that you could even get this kind of shading in a book based, as it is, on a good vs. bad epic poem like Beowulf. That's the irony at work.
Considering the time period, the role of women in this book is worthy of examination. Fajardo has sort of a single style when it comes to human women (human girls don’t seem to exist) which is a heavy-lidded femme fatale look, regardless of their positions or names. The one exception to this rule is, of course, Gertrude, and in her monster form she gets to have all the freedom of any of the boys around her. She fights. She gets more than just a couple pages here and there. The book doesn’t even come close to passing the Bechdel Test, and Gertrude’s methods of finding a mate are disappointingly stereotypical, but for the most part she’s a strong female character worthy of examination. There is, however, room for improvement and I sincerely hope future installments will contain at least one other woman who does more than think only of the men in her life.
Sit down for five minutes in any public school in America today and don’t be surprised if you hear the words “Common Core State Standards” waft by at some point. These standards aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and with their focus on nonfiction and folktales, it just makes good clean sense for any author of a fictional work to find some kind of curricular tie-in. Fajardo does just that. In fact, he goes a little bit crazy with it. I could understand the World Map at the start and the finish as well as in color in the backmatter. And the second map, the one of Daneland circa 450 A.D., that was a nice touch. But about the time I noticed the glossary of terms, character glossary, and family tree, to say nothing of the section about the original epic poem itself, Fun Fact section, and Bibliography of recommended sources (which, for the record, is a beautiful collection) I was floored. Add in a large section on how Fajardo draws his characters, inks and colors them, and more and . . . well, you’d be forgiven for feeling that this more akin to a full college course on Beowulf and graphic novels than a single collected comic.
I haven’t mentioned the art itself, of course, which is poor form when reviewing a graphic novel. Fajardo employs two different styles in this book. The first part, during the retelling of the original Beowulf epic poem, is done in a more realistic, cinematic style. Even the colorist is different from the colorist in the rest of the book. Then the book becomes far cartoonier. Tiny too, considering how many panels Fajardo is able to pack into a single page. For some, the seriousness of the content (the fate of Yrs, for example) doesn't match the style. For others, it will seem a natural complement. For my part I did find the cartoonishness a surprise, considering the actions of the characters, but as the story continued I got used to it. Kids, I suspect, will feel the same way.
There is a school of thought that says that if you let a kid read whatever they want, they’ll work their way around to the classics in time. I read a ton of really truly terrible Harvey comics as a kid. Later I would delve into works like Les Miserables and Middlemarch for fun. Is there a connection? Nobody knows! A lot of parents fear that their kids will gorge themselves on comics, making them wholly and entirely unable to digest literature without pictures. To them, I hand Kid Beowulf. I truly do believe that a comic done correctly, done with panache and interest and a unique style of its own, will garner fans that will seek out other material on the same topic. Not every kid who reads Fajardo’s book is going to take a crack at a little Old English on their own. They may, however, dive into some of those books Mr. Fajardo so helpfully included in his Bibliography. Or they might learn a bit about the poem’s origins. Or they might want to make their own comics about ancient texts. Whatever the case, you can look at this book either as a springboard for bigger better things, or just a good rip-roaring tale that can stand on its own two feet. Whatever your justification, Fajardo has the goods. That painting he made on the ceiling years ago seemed impossible. This series? Attainable. Now go attain it.
For ages 9-12.
Read
March 8, 2019-----------
from pp 194-195, "World Map":
-----------
from the back cover:
-----------
from the bibliography:
.
from pp 194-195, "World Map":
The world map is on the inside cover of each book, and it is an important piece of the Kid Beowulf series; not only does it tell us where Beowulf and Grendel are, but it clues us into where they might go next.
Each country listed is another potential adventure in the series as the brothers make their long road trip though mythology. Can you guess where they will go next and which heroes they will meet there?
The world is full of countries all with their own stories, legends, and heroes that have influenced their culture. With each new place Beowulf and Grendel visit they will encounter these new lands and heroes. The brothers will grow up along the way and learn from the people they've met and the places they've been. Beowulf and Grendel's long road home will lead to self-discovery and their ultimate destiny!
-----------
from the back cover:
"I think Kid Beowulf is great!" -- Gene Luen Yang, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature
Most boys don't slay sea serpents or have an actual monster for a brother, but Beowulf is not most boys.
This is the origin story of twin brothers Beowulf and Grendel, separated at birth and reunited by an extraordinary family: their grandfather, the imperious King Hrothgar; their monstrous (but loving) mother, Gertrude; their fire-ghost of a father; and their other grandfather--the towering, one-eyed Dragon whose bloodline links them all in their ancient home of Daneland. Oh, yeah, there's also a pig and a talking sword!
Inspired by the epic poem Beowulf, the Kid Beowulf series begins here as Beowulf and Grendel discover their past and their destiny.
"Kid Beowulf is filled with magic, intrigue, betrayal, and all the other good stuff that makes for a good story." --Good Comics for Kids
-----------
from the bibliography:
These books were used during the research and writing of Kid Beowulf. All come highly recommended!
There are multiple translations of Beowulf, and each has its strengths. My favorites include Burton Raffel's 1963 version and Seamus Heaney's 2000 edition. Raffel's descriptions are particularly vivid though Heaney is perhaps more accurate and also comes with the original Old English version printed alongside the translation.
J.R.R. Tolkien did a "working" translation of Beowulf (meaning he never finished it). This was published recently along with his well-received collection of essays The Monsters and the Critics, which has great insight into the epic poem.
Gareth Hinds's graphic novel adaptation of Beowulf is as grim, gritty, and as beautiful as the original epic.
John Gardner's Grendel is a terrific novel that retells the epic poem Bewulf from the point of view of the tragically misunderstood monster Grendel.
Joseph Campbell's timeless work The Hero with a Thousand Faces chronicles the hero's journey through multiple mythological lenses.
God, Man and Epic Poetry by H.V. Routh is a terrific collection of essays on epic literature and the similarities and differences among a variety of classic epic poems.
.
May 4, 2019
What do kids look for in a graphic novel? Action. Adventure. Courageous heroes. Scary bad guys.
Where better to look for a plot for a graphic novel than in the epic poem, Beowulf? That's what Alexis E. Fajardo has done with this ok. It's all here, along with monsters and weapons and super powers and a bit of magic.
Where better to look for a plot for a graphic novel than in the epic poem, Beowulf? That's what Alexis E. Fajardo has done with this ok. It's all here, along with monsters and weapons and super powers and a bit of magic.
April 17, 2018
Cool idea. But the frames were dialogue heavy and tedious and the art was amateur at best. Very disappointing.
June 20, 2017
'Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath' with writing and art by Alexis E. Fajardo is the start of a fun new series for younger readers. The story veers from the Beowulf that I was familiar with, but I liked the story that got told here.
In the traditional tale, and a nice rhyming introduction to this book, Beowulf kills the monster Grendel, and becomes a hero in Daneland to Hrothgar. Beowulf is then pursued by the monster's mother.
This story uses the same characters and covers warring tribes and a few generations. The mistakes of the fathers are borne by the sons. Human Beowulf, and monster Grendel are born to the same mother, then separated. Years later they meet. Will Beowulf fulfill the prophecies of his birth?
There is a world map for the story, a character glossary, an essay about the origins of the epic poem, and more.
The art in this graphic novel was colorful and light. Never very serious or gory, even though the subject has it's violent elements. The author's passion for the subject comes through in the supplemental material. I look forward to the next installment. I'm sure any young fan of myths and legends will have fun reading this.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
In the traditional tale, and a nice rhyming introduction to this book, Beowulf kills the monster Grendel, and becomes a hero in Daneland to Hrothgar. Beowulf is then pursued by the monster's mother.
This story uses the same characters and covers warring tribes and a few generations. The mistakes of the fathers are borne by the sons. Human Beowulf, and monster Grendel are born to the same mother, then separated. Years later they meet. Will Beowulf fulfill the prophecies of his birth?
There is a world map for the story, a character glossary, an essay about the origins of the epic poem, and more.
The art in this graphic novel was colorful and light. Never very serious or gory, even though the subject has it's violent elements. The author's passion for the subject comes through in the supplemental material. I look forward to the next installment. I'm sure any young fan of myths and legends will have fun reading this.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
May 25, 2008
Interesting take on classic Norse lit for kids of all ages. Or kids 9+...
November 7, 2024
An okay graphic novel based on the epic poem Beowulf. There is some fun and action, but it is altogether too chaotic. The time and the focus change repeatedly, and there's no real main character until about half way through the book! It feels far too fixated on setting up for future books, and so we end up getting the stories of a series of different characters, some annoying, some totally unlikable. In other ways the story is all over the place. At one point a character starts walking with a pig. A few pages later that pig is his side-kick? Walking on its back legs and about as intelligent as a human?
The stakes and action were often pretty good, but the humor was lackluster, even crude (at one point Beowulf calls a group called the Heathobars, "Heathotards". Maybe I'm overly hippy and sensitive, but that's gross). Overall, the story meanders all over, and the characters are inconsistent as well. I'd call it meh but appropriate for the target audience, but that "Heathotards" quip really set my teeth on edge.
The stakes and action were often pretty good, but the humor was lackluster, even crude (at one point Beowulf calls a group called the Heathobars, "Heathotards". Maybe I'm overly hippy and sensitive, but that's gross). Overall, the story meanders all over, and the characters are inconsistent as well. I'd call it meh but appropriate for the target audience, but that "Heathotards" quip really set my teeth on edge.
December 19, 2021
When I saw the cover for this book I was curious. When I found out that Beowulf and Grendel were twins in this adaptation of the original epic I was hooked. I should've grabbed the entire set when I had the chance. Gertrude's my favorite character but Grendel's a close second. Beowulf definitely appears more childish and impulsive than his twin. It'll be interesting to see if Gertrude decides to follow her sons into exile since it doesn't sound like anyone's going to force her to leave. This is definitely a nice way to introduce readers to a classic saga. The illustrations are incredible and the subtle details like Gertrude's scale pattern looking like flowers was impeccable.
March 21, 2026
This was an enjoyable book. It ranges from the time king Hrothgar was a boy to the time beowulf was twelve years old and found out his true fate. It is based off of the epic poem Beowulf. I really liked the storyline of this book, but it is a little slow for the average reader. This book is perfect for everyone above 13 years old, but not for anyone who wants a light read. There are a lot of details in here! The illustrations are kind of strange and unnatural, similar to those in the acclaimed book Swim Team. This book is a great fantasy and historical fiction graphic novel. Four stars.
July 7, 2021
I love the concept behind this graphic novel. It's such a fresh look on Beowulf, which I have very limited knowledge of (I studied it briefly in class). I think it was a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
September 3, 2017
Creative and engaging. Excellent back matter! I will advise students to read the More to Explore sections first.
February 8, 2019
Decent book there should have been fight scenes in the parts where they talked but overall good.
Read
July 25, 2020screw thi I thought that i would get to read this book
September 24, 2021
Awesome! Beowulf has never been more easily digestable!
August 13, 2024
There are a lot of characters with unusual names to sort out, but once you've got those the story is fun.
Read
September 11, 2024Ani/Ellie free read
May 20, 2025
Very interesting graphic novel that uses the Beowulf as a basis for a whole new telling. The story holds true to the hero tale and is very well drawn and plotted.
March 12, 2017
This was a great mix of classic story, new adventures and humor. I've never read Beowulf before so it's hard for me to know what aspects of this story draw from that one, but I loved the mythological quality to everything. The visuals were lovely and Beowulf and Grendel's adventures promise to be fun to follow in future installments. At times it was a little difficult to keep track of how everyone was tied together... the family tree that is included is incredibly helpful with this though! Fajardo does a great job including the more mature aspects of the story in a kid-friendly way. I'm very curious to see if the series ends the way the traditional story does, or if it's taken in a new direction ultimately.
February 7, 2017
After a quick summary of how the traditional tale of Beowulf goes, readers are introduced to the real story the epic was supposedly based on. Time rewinds to watch as Hrothgar first meets the dragon, becomes king, steals away a wife from the Heathobards in his efforts to control Daneland his way, hands his half-monster daughter Gertrude over to the dragon, and then we get to see how Gertrude falls in love, gets married and has twins she names Grendel and Beowulf who are separated at birth in catastrophic events...eventually set to meet again in a battle. It's a tale of flawed people, monsters, and how a family eventually realizes how to rule Daneland wisely.
So this is evidently the start of a fantasy/mythology/adventure graphic novel series that will have our heroes travel around the very old world and meet other monsters from legend and myth. This was an interesting re-imagining of how the legend could have changed. It's still a rather convoluted tale and Hrothgar could have saved everyone a whole lot of grief by staying lost. (I hope we meet back up with his brother in the future, he was a much better person.) It does a good job of showing just how horrible it is to hate others based on their heritage or looks. It is a little weird for a children's story, especially in that Hrothgar steals his wife Yrs from another man she's already married to. (Yeah, he's quite a colossal jerk. On top of that, he needlessly starts a war...just cause he feels like it. He eventually realizes the error of his ways...about 50 years later.) I think this will have a limited audience. It will definitely depend on where the next adventures take them.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. (Though as mentioned, Hrothgar steals another man's wife. Two childbirths area also part of the story, though they just show women pushing under bed covers in the illustrations.) Two severed limbs are shown as well as a removed eye and two cut hands. War and battles are mentioned but the fighting shown isn't bloody. Some deaths are mentioned.
So this is evidently the start of a fantasy/mythology/adventure graphic novel series that will have our heroes travel around the very old world and meet other monsters from legend and myth. This was an interesting re-imagining of how the legend could have changed. It's still a rather convoluted tale and Hrothgar could have saved everyone a whole lot of grief by staying lost. (I hope we meet back up with his brother in the future, he was a much better person.) It does a good job of showing just how horrible it is to hate others based on their heritage or looks. It is a little weird for a children's story, especially in that Hrothgar steals his wife Yrs from another man she's already married to. (Yeah, he's quite a colossal jerk. On top of that, he needlessly starts a war...just cause he feels like it. He eventually realizes the error of his ways...about 50 years later.) I think this will have a limited audience. It will definitely depend on where the next adventures take them.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. (Though as mentioned, Hrothgar steals another man's wife. Two childbirths area also part of the story, though they just show women pushing under bed covers in the illustrations.) Two severed limbs are shown as well as a removed eye and two cut hands. War and battles are mentioned but the fighting shown isn't bloody. Some deaths are mentioned.
February 16, 2017
For those who are unclear on the story of Beowulf, this colorful graphic novel will make things much more understandable. Could be a very useful resource for struggling readers who are required to read Beowulf for class. My middle school students will pick it up for the full-color, engaging illustrations.
February 4, 2024
Update, Feb. 4, 2024:
On Feb. 3, 2024, I went to a youth-oriented comics convention, LumaCon in Petaluma, California. Here is a video that showcases event highlights: talking with creators Maia Kobabe, Brian Fies, and Alexis E. Fajardo, as well as a sighting of the BiblioBus: a mobile branch of Sonoma County Library. (One more sticker to affix to our map of Sonoma County Library branches!)
https://youtu.be/bIKtPXO1bp8
The Blood-Bound Oath is a reimagining of the saga of Beowulf and Grendel. This first installment in the Kid Beowulf series serves as "origin story."
A mythical Dragon, seeking the "Slayer" that is promised to all monsters, mingles his blood with that of Hrothgar, an impetuous adventurer who, destined to rule Daneland, seeks a guarantee that he will become famous. Able to see the future, the Dragon has ascertained that his Slayer will emerge from Hrothgar's bloodline.
From the mingling of human and dragon's blood, Hrothgar's daughter Gertrude is born with a dragonish appearance. Hrothgar casts her out and she ends up being raised by the Dragon.
When grown, Gertrude seeks help from the Dragon to take temporary human appearance so she can marry a man she cares about. (Unfortunately, she doesn't tell her husband about her true appearance; the spell is only temporary, set to expire when she gives birth to her first child.)
Thusly, Gertrude gives birth to twin sons. One of them, Beowulf, has human appearance while the other, Grendel, appears "monstrous."
Overall, this book was great fun to read and I look forward to reading next volumes. My school's parents' group generously purchased a set of the books for our school library.
On Feb. 3, 2024, I went to a youth-oriented comics convention, LumaCon in Petaluma, California. Here is a video that showcases event highlights: talking with creators Maia Kobabe, Brian Fies, and Alexis E. Fajardo, as well as a sighting of the BiblioBus: a mobile branch of Sonoma County Library. (One more sticker to affix to our map of Sonoma County Library branches!)
https://youtu.be/bIKtPXO1bp8
The Blood-Bound Oath is a reimagining of the saga of Beowulf and Grendel. This first installment in the Kid Beowulf series serves as "origin story."
A mythical Dragon, seeking the "Slayer" that is promised to all monsters, mingles his blood with that of Hrothgar, an impetuous adventurer who, destined to rule Daneland, seeks a guarantee that he will become famous. Able to see the future, the Dragon has ascertained that his Slayer will emerge from Hrothgar's bloodline.
From the mingling of human and dragon's blood, Hrothgar's daughter Gertrude is born with a dragonish appearance. Hrothgar casts her out and she ends up being raised by the Dragon.
When grown, Gertrude seeks help from the Dragon to take temporary human appearance so she can marry a man she cares about. (Unfortunately, she doesn't tell her husband about her true appearance; the spell is only temporary, set to expire when she gives birth to her first child.)
Thusly, Gertrude gives birth to twin sons. One of them, Beowulf, has human appearance while the other, Grendel, appears "monstrous."
Overall, this book was great fun to read and I look forward to reading next volumes. My school's parents' group generously purchased a set of the books for our school library.
Read
July 1, 2008Having never read Beowulf (or even seen the movie, for that matter) I read Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath entirely free of any expectations of the book living up to its anonymously-authored predecessor. Therefore, I can say that for those of us who have never been introduced to the story, Kid Beowulf stands well on its own as a dramatic and clever presentation that combines an epic tone with well-developed characters and clever touches of humor.
Author and illustrator Alexis E. Fajardo first outlines the traditional story of Beowulf in a prologue, then launches into the story of young Beowulf and his twin brother Grendel, spinning the story of the warring communities whose conflict led to the birth and separation of the twins. Fajardo’s tale includes war- and peace-mongering brothers, a cave-dwelling dragon, and a talking sword, among other things, and explains the circumstances that brought the brothers back together again.
The well-designed drawings do a great job of illustrating the action-packed story, and Fajardo’s distinctly drawn characters help the reader keep the large cast straight (although he also includes a very helpful illustrated character list at the beginning for any readers who might forget). Overall, Kid Beowulf is an entertaining story to read, and a truly unique way to introduce a classic story to young readers.
Author and illustrator Alexis E. Fajardo first outlines the traditional story of Beowulf in a prologue, then launches into the story of young Beowulf and his twin brother Grendel, spinning the story of the warring communities whose conflict led to the birth and separation of the twins. Fajardo’s tale includes war- and peace-mongering brothers, a cave-dwelling dragon, and a talking sword, among other things, and explains the circumstances that brought the brothers back together again.
The well-designed drawings do a great job of illustrating the action-packed story, and Fajardo’s distinctly drawn characters help the reader keep the large cast straight (although he also includes a very helpful illustrated character list at the beginning for any readers who might forget). Overall, Kid Beowulf is an entertaining story to read, and a truly unique way to introduce a classic story to young readers.
November 6, 2012
This review is on behalf of my six year old daughter. I wasn't sure if she was old enough for this book, but she picked it up on her own from my bookshelf, drawn to the pictures. She has discovered graphic novels in the last year or so, and when I found her, she was already halfway through this one. She spends hours--hours!--reading this book, poring over the words and pictures. She has reread it quite a number of times, and whenever she sees it, she ends up picking it back up. Though the reading level is higher than hers, the pictures make it accessible, and she obviously is engrossed. What's awesome about this is that the pictures can help kids pick up on higher-level language. I have also loaned this to a local freshman in high school who likes graphic novels--and he likes it too! I highly recommend it for just about any age.
February 10, 2017
7/12/21015
Upon starting from the first book and rereading this volume, I enjoyed the backstory between the families and characters all the more. It was entertaining and distinct while still including aspects of the epic. I do wish that we had seen more of the brothers, but I'm sure that'll all play out in future volumes, now that the past has been settled upon. Gertrude, in particular, was enjoyable to watch, even if she might have had a bit of instalove with Edgethow.
9/27/2013
Interesting attempt to make Beowulf for kids but I prefer the original. Still want to read Grendel, though. Kid Beowulf seems more like Calvin than himself... It also reminded me of Asterix, possibly because of the panel sizing and the drawing style.
Upon starting from the first book and rereading this volume, I enjoyed the backstory between the families and characters all the more. It was entertaining and distinct while still including aspects of the epic. I do wish that we had seen more of the brothers, but I'm sure that'll all play out in future volumes, now that the past has been settled upon. Gertrude, in particular, was enjoyable to watch, even if she might have had a bit of instalove with Edgethow.
9/27/2013
Interesting attempt to make Beowulf for kids but I prefer the original. Still want to read Grendel, though. Kid Beowulf seems more like Calvin than himself... It also reminded me of Asterix, possibly because of the panel sizing and the drawing style.
July 28, 2016
This action-packed retelling of the classic Beowulf story features two brothers, twins Beowulf and Grendel, who were separated at birth and then reunited later in life. The graphic novel format captures the violence and blood as well as the hubris, greed, and passion of the various family members of these two. Readers will develop empathy for Gertrude with her monstrous form but desire to be loved and recognized by her all-too-human and imperfect father. The relationships among many of these individuals are complex and ever-intriguing. Who knows? This graphic novel version of the classic story just might encourage some bold readers to take a look at the original one, and it certainly will make them eagerly anticipate the next story in this series--The Song of Roland.
August 30, 2013
I met Fajardo a couple of years ago at SPX, where he took a very short while to convince me to try his take on the Old English legend. I shouldn't have left this in the pile for so long. Kid Beowulf is clever and literary in the best way a kids' comic can be. It must have been fun for Fajardo to take the poem and give its characters life and backstory. Making Beowulf and Grendel brothers is genius.
October 17, 2016
A valiant effort at a kid-centered reimagining of the complex tale of Beowulf in graphic novel format. Complicated family lines, weird names, and lots of violent politics will make this a challenge, but the dragon and the monstrous-looking mother of twins Beowulf and Grendel are great. The talking sword adds even more humor.
December 12, 2016
I tried. I died.
I am a shallow, shallow in-duh-vidual. *hangs head in shame*
Made it to page 53 and gave up.
Somewhat ironically, "Beowulf" caused me problems in college; I hit a mental block with it/with the teacher and went downhill from there in freshman English. *double sigh* Not a good portent for a writing major!
I am a shallow, shallow in-duh-vidual. *hangs head in shame*
Made it to page 53 and gave up.
Somewhat ironically, "Beowulf" caused me problems in college; I hit a mental block with it/with the teacher and went downhill from there in freshman English. *double sigh* Not a good portent for a writing major!
May 18, 2010
Excellent!! Even if you don't know the original poem, this is a great book. It doesn't hurt that the original tale is summed up in the first few pages, though. The story of Beowulf and Grendel before the events of the poem - how did they grow up? What did they do? Great story.
September 29, 2008
A fun twist on the legend of Beowulf. It's part of a 12 volume series following Kid Beowulf and company all over Europe.
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