Grade 6 Up–In the standard Beowulf story, the character appears as a full-fledged hero, with little concept of how he actually became one. Fajardo tells the backstory, using a blend of humor and soap-opera plot twists. The book opens with a prologue that admirably and entertainingly sums up the classic story in just seven pages of poetry and panel art. This section contains several warnings that men twist the truth, and the rest of the book purports to show just who Beowulf really was. Part One tells the story of his ancestors, including how several of them meet the dragon that is waiting for someone else from their bloodline for his ultimate battle. This dragon makes a deal with Hrothgar to help him rule the land, but the combining of their blood causes unforeseen problems when Hrothgar's wife becomes pregnant with what will one day become Gertrude. Part Two covers the events leading up to Beowulf's birth–as Grendel's twin brother. It isn't until Part Three that readers finally see Beowulf as a boy who has no idea of his convoluted family heritage. When he rescues another boy by killing a sea serpent, his abilities become apparent to those around him. The cartoon-style illustrations are lively and contain lots of visual humor. This book will be most enjoyable to readers familiar with the original story as they'll be able to understand all of the references and appreciate the jokes.
–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
In the standard Beowulf story, the character appears as a full-fledged hero, with little concept of how he actually became one. Fajardo tells the backstory, using a blend of humor and soap-opera plot twists. The book opens with a "prologue" that admirably and entertainingly sums up the classic story in just seven pages of poetry and panel art. This section contains several warnings that men "twist the truth," and the rest of the book purports to show just who Beowulf really was. Part One tells the story of his ancestors, including how several of them meet the dragon that is waiting for someone else from their bloodline for his ultimate battle. This dragon makes a deal with Hrothgar to help him rule the land, but the combining of their blood causes unforeseen problems when Hrothgar's wife becomes pregnant with what will one day become Gertrude. Part Two covers the events leading up to Beowulf's birth-as Grendel's twin brother. It isn't until Part Three that readers finally see Beowulf as a boy who has no idea of his convoluted family heritage. When he rescues another boy by killing a sea serpent, his abilities become apparent to those around him. The cartoon-style illustrations are lively and contain lots of visual humor. This book will be most enjoyable to readers familiar with the original story as they'll be able to understand all of the references and appreciate the jokes.
--Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library --School Library Journal / Graphic Novels, 9/1/2008
Originally self-published under the imprint Lexpress in 2005, Kid Beowulf was recently picked up by Bowler Hat Comics and then redone and re-imagined. While the original Kid Beowulf was good, the newer is really good. Alexis Fajardo, writes and draws a fun and whimsical what if? comic inspired by the epic poem Beowulf which is studied in most high school literature classes.
The comics starts off with a modern translation of the epic poem, but the rest of the tale focuses on who Grendel and Beowulf really are and much of the story seems to stem from this this one stanza: Then Grendel saw this Beowulf, he looked different from the others, something odd... something amiss... in a another life, they could be brothers.
While many readers struggle with the poem in their high school literature classes, there is nothing difficult about following the story of Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath, which is filled with magic, intrigue, betrayal, and all the other good stuff that makes for a good story.
Hrothgar nearly drowns on his way to propose marriage to a woman from the waring Heathobard clan. He is saved by a dragon and given a second chance at life if he promises to serve and protect his people when he becomes king. Upon his return, Hrothgar discovers he has been gone for 3 years and that his father is long dead. He assumes the throne, but instead of fulfilling his oath, Hrothgar seeks wealth and power, and takes what isn t his. His actions result difficult consequences that he and his people must live with for years to come.
Classroom teachers can pair this story with Gareth Hind s Beowulf. It could fuel a lot of disucssion as students compare the artwork. Hind s stark and life like drawings, to Fajardo s fun cartoonish style. But best of all, younger children who may have just heard the name Beowulf (there was a movie not long ago), might be curious enough and pick it up on their own and they won't be disappointed. --Good Comics for Kids
The Prologue summarizes the epic poem in short verse, a helpful reminder to those of us who know we ve read it but don t remember it. The book s divided into three sections, past, present, and future. The first shows how bullying Prince Hrothgar goes adventuring in preparation for a hoped-for marriage to Yrs.
The second follows Hrothgar s half-dragon child Gertrude, who yearns to know more about her father and his human village. Arrogant Hrothgar is consumed with the desire to build the world s greatest celebration hall, a grandiose fantasy inappropriate for his times and people.
It s the third part where we finally meet Beowulf and Grendel, reimagined as 12-year-old twins (only one s human and the other s green with horns). By that point, we know little about their characters, but plenty about their family and heritage.
I don t normally read fantasy because there are frequently too many characters running about fighting over tribal differences and squabbling over whose father s legacy land belonged to whom. I felt a little of that in the beginning, but the humor and interactions drew me through. I also liked the talking sword, Nagling, for comedic relief.
This doesn t really have much to do with the poem; instead, it s teen fantasy adventure with plenty of soap opera. Future volumes are planned in which Beowulf and Grendel will meet the heroes of other epic poems. --Comics Worth Reading
