Grendel: Red, White, and Black

Genre action Author Matt Wagner Publisher Dark Horse External Links Dark Horse

This book left me with an unenviable task- figuring out why I liked it so much even though 1. It was a collection of short tales from a comic series I 've never read and 2. It was so visually breathtaking that I found myself at a loss for words. So few comic artists catch my eye. I ignore scads of what' s out there on that basis alone which may qualify me as a philistine in fandom. But as nitpicky as I am I do have some taste. And a truly great story or character is a story or character for the ages in any event. The Watchmen, The Complete Bone, The Killing Joke, Maus, The Complete Sandman, Cages, are just some of the many books that have defined my interest in comics and fulfilled both of those expectations; great characters set in great stories masterfully brought to life in the comic form.

Believe me I know the above in no way makes me anything special it doesn't take a genius to recognize genius. But in all humility I was completely blown away by Grendel. It reminded me of all the great things I love about the above books and more. Is this collection a good introduction to the series? I confess I've never felt more curious about a title.

At first I didn't really understand the pairing of Grendel and Argent. They both seemed like characters who would be more at home in their own books. Several stories into the collection, however, everything gelled and I began to encounter them as a singular event, a titanic struggle of will we all have within us. Neither one is really on the side of the righteous. Hunter Rose aka Grendel, is an assassin unable to show mercy, vengeance personified and seemingly for hire until his own agenda turns him against even the most loyal employers. A better definition of sin I've rarely encountered. Argent, the werewolf arch-enemy of Hunter Rose, almost renders the word ferocity into a noun. He is untamed and almost Grendel's equal but only in malice. A better depiction of man trying to conquer evil without God I've also rarely seen. As in Sin City the battle between these two forces of human nature is showcased in the short form against a backdrop of amazing depravity, but unlike Sin City this series of short stories seems to point toward a light on the horizon.

The art in these books runs in many disparate directions. Stark line art, art deco design, jagged almost explosive use of light and shadow, even a nod towards the sort of art we all encountered in childrens books growing up fcull of whistful doe eyed characters who would be cute if they weren't also bursting into flame or gutting an enemy on a dark street corner.