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Grendel #4
Grendel: Devil Tales
Collecting Devil Tracks and Devil Eyes, two acclaimed Hunter Rose stories by Grendel creator Matt Wagner that originally ran in the Comico Grendel series in 1988. These tales of corruption, paranoia, vengeance, and the Devil feature the bold, experimental storytelling that cemented Wagner`s reputation as one of the comics medium`s leading innovators. Story, art, and new cover painting by Matt Wagner, colors by Eisner award-nominee Bernie Mireault.
117 pages, Paperback
First published August 17, 1999
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About the author
Matt Wagner
968 books232 followersMatt Wagner is an American comic book writer and artist. In addition to his creator-owned series' Mage and Grendel, he has also worked on comics featuring The Demon and Batman as well as such titles as Sandman Mystery Theatre and Trinity, a DC Comics limited series featuring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 20, 2023
The story was clever and full of misdirects and had a satisfying ending, maybe it’s just the art but I didn’t enjoy this as much as I should have if taken at face value
May 26, 2013
Yeah, I get it, Wagner's an "experimental" Genius.
He gives us two tales of Grendel, without them having all that much to do with Grendel.
First one is about a cop's accidental tumbling onto a case while taking a piss at the police station. Wagner tells it in tiny little suare boxes and with tiny little text... thing is, my eyes aren't what they used to be and I mainly got out of it with eye strain and a major headache. Good story and art, sure, maybe i shoulda used a magnifying glass or something.
Second one... a low-level informant stumbles onto information about Grendel while taking a piss in the local dive (piss seems to be a recurrent theme with Wagner, don't it... ones starts to Wonder wether he's pissin on his readers... or maybe just trying to piss em off, or something)... eh, I just realized, the small time informant even pisses himself towards the end of the tale. Also, I realize that it's all for the "experimental" story telling style... but the dual story-telling can get a bit annoying, even though both contribute to giving the reader different styles of the same info.
Both story have very little to do with Grendel hisself as he seems to be apart (as opposed to a part) from the stories.
If you happen to be a big fan of Wagner's Grendel, then yeah, I suppose you do get a glimpse in the character's world... If you've never even read any Grendel stuff before... then don't start with these two little stories... these are not Grendel stories... these are a cop-story, and an informant's story... both are good stories, but it's like reading a (insert name of any character you want here) story, where that character doesn't show up for 95% of the story except at the end to "save the day"... although in Grendel's case... saving the day doesn't really apply, you know, cause, well, Grendel's not really a save the day (other than his own) kind of character.
He gives us two tales of Grendel, without them having all that much to do with Grendel.
First one is about a cop's accidental tumbling onto a case while taking a piss at the police station. Wagner tells it in tiny little suare boxes and with tiny little text... thing is, my eyes aren't what they used to be and I mainly got out of it with eye strain and a major headache. Good story and art, sure, maybe i shoulda used a magnifying glass or something.
Second one... a low-level informant stumbles onto information about Grendel while taking a piss in the local dive (piss seems to be a recurrent theme with Wagner, don't it... ones starts to Wonder wether he's pissin on his readers... or maybe just trying to piss em off, or something)... eh, I just realized, the small time informant even pisses himself towards the end of the tale. Also, I realize that it's all for the "experimental" story telling style... but the dual story-telling can get a bit annoying, even though both contribute to giving the reader different styles of the same info.
Both story have very little to do with Grendel hisself as he seems to be apart (as opposed to a part) from the stories.
If you happen to be a big fan of Wagner's Grendel, then yeah, I suppose you do get a glimpse in the character's world... If you've never even read any Grendel stuff before... then don't start with these two little stories... these are not Grendel stories... these are a cop-story, and an informant's story... both are good stories, but it's like reading a (insert name of any character you want here) story, where that character doesn't show up for 95% of the story except at the end to "save the day"... although in Grendel's case... saving the day doesn't really apply, you know, cause, well, Grendel's not really a save the day (other than his own) kind of character.
February 9, 2023
Wagner returns to both writing and art duties for these four issues, two story arcs (one of them in the background of Devil by the Deed) told in vividly experimental styles, showing a loose and playful approach, sketchy figures, minimal colouring, clear influences of Eisner and Kurtzman, a masterfully controlled use of measured, linear storytelling (25 panels per page!) in service of resolutely non-linear story, and the spirit of Grendel once more moving behind the scenes.
Also, as I'm reading these in single issues: 'Devil's Vagary', another delineation of Hunter Rose stories alluded to in Devil By the Deed, and which I never tire of seeing thoroughly told in full, here aided by Dean Motter's superb art and the first instance of the later 'black, white, and red' colouring style.
(And 'Devil's Whisper' from AI: Book Four, a short strip by James Robinson and D'Isreali, which follow Wiggins using Li Sung's Grendel mask to track down a child-killer, but at the last moment refusing to become Grendel—or so he believes. Nice, short script from Robinson—too in-continuity not to be fully sanctioned by Wagner—and scratchy, emotive art from D'Isreali.)
Also, as I'm reading these in single issues: 'Devil's Vagary', another delineation of Hunter Rose stories alluded to in Devil By the Deed, and which I never tire of seeing thoroughly told in full, here aided by Dean Motter's superb art and the first instance of the later 'black, white, and red' colouring style.
(And 'Devil's Whisper' from AI: Book Four, a short strip by James Robinson and D'Isreali, which follow Wiggins using Li Sung's Grendel mask to track down a child-killer, but at the last moment refusing to become Grendel—or so he believes. Nice, short script from Robinson—too in-continuity not to be fully sanctioned by Wagner—and scratchy, emotive art from D'Isreali.)
October 15, 2019
I’m Not a huge fan of Grendel - So now that is said. Or rather I’m intrigued by Grendel but I am not a fan of Wagners experimental volumes and d add dance about the clinch style - feels like he keeps the reader circling the porridge without actually letting us eat it. It’s anti-climatic and unfulfilling to me. Just feels like Grendel could be so much more....
As is - this vil feels disjointed and vague, irrelevant, vapid and at times barely readable.
(I will leave in a disclaimer that my brain is currently functioning at about 40% due to late term pregnancy and stress so maybe I’m jus missing a sheer genius)
As is - this vil feels disjointed and vague, irrelevant, vapid and at times barely readable.
(I will leave in a disclaimer that my brain is currently functioning at about 40% due to late term pregnancy and stress so maybe I’m jus missing a sheer genius)
September 6, 2020
(Reading individual issues) #16 was one of the first Grendel comics I remember reading.
A fun crime comic. Creative and stylish... somebody was really into Will Eisner! Enjoyable but again, felt stretched out.
A fun crime comic. Creative and stylish... somebody was really into Will Eisner! Enjoyable but again, felt stretched out.
August 10, 2014
Devil Tracks. Another very experimental story, but this one is much more readable than Wagner's work in the previous volume (though dense!). It’s an interesting mystery comic, even if the use of Grendel is extremely minor [7+/10].
Devil Eyes. This is a good story that has again been marred by the experimental nature of the comic's design, which is unfortunately too much like The Devil Inside. [5/10]
Devil Eyes. This is a good story that has again been marred by the experimental nature of the comic's design, which is unfortunately too much like The Devil Inside. [5/10]
November 14, 2012
Really, any Grendel story featuring Hunter Rose is a must-read, but if you're new to Grendel, wait a while to read this one. Wagner is doing some experimental stuff here,and it's an interesting experiment, but it can be pretty tedious to read if you don't already have a love of the character.
Still, once you really get into Grendel, this volume's pretty damn good.
Still, once you really get into Grendel, this volume's pretty damn good.
August 19, 2007
"Devil Tales" is not the finest writing ever on Matt Wagner's part, but visually it is one of his most experimental - and striking - works. He conveys simultaneity gorgeously here. Well worth a read every couple of years or so.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews