Beowulf: With Grimmest Gripe

Beowulf #1

by Gareth Hinds

The first volume of a 3-part comic book adaptation of the classic hero saga. The mighty warrior Beowulf travels from his home to the great mead-hall of Hrothgar, king of the Danes, to face the marauding swamp-fiend Grendel, who is terrorizing Hrothgars kingdom and slaying his people. Beowulf and Grendel meet unarmed in the night-darkened hall, to battle to the death.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Comics

40 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Gareth Hinds is the creator of critically-acclaimed graphic novels based on literary classics, including Beowulf (which Publisher’s Weekly called a “mixed-media gem”), King Lear (which Booklist named one of the top 10 graphic novels for teens), The Merchant of Venice (which Kirkus called “the standard that all others will strive to meet” for Shakespeare adaptation), The Odyssey (which garnered four starred reviews and a spot on ten “best of 2010” lists), Romeo and Juliet (which Kirkus called “spellbinding”), and Macbeth (which the New York Times called “stellar” and “a remarkably faithful rendering”). Gareth is a recipient of the Boston Public Library’s “Literary Lights for Children” award. His books can be found in bookstores and English classrooms across the country, and his illustrations have appeared in such diverse venues as the Society of Illustrators, the New York Historical Society, and over a dozen published video games.

Gareth lives in the Washington DC area.

Reviews

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in the graphic novel collection version (2007). This was a graphic novel I could get behind. The original (one of my favorites, and undoubtedly one of the greatest pieces of literature in the entire history of the world) is so vivid that it does well when translated to this visual medium. Of course this comic was a bit truncated, but the overall story remained true, and the events were all right from the original poem. There was some beautiful art in here as well. Grendel looked great, the dragon was gorgeous, even Beowulf's helmet had the important but all too easily overlooked detail of boars on it. Quite good!

[Elaine Conway]

Interest Level Grades 7 - 12
Grade Level Equivalent 4.7- 5.1