Beowulf: Monster Slayer (Graphic Myths & Legends) [Library Binding]

Paul D. Storrie (Author), Ron Randall (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2007 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Graphic Myths & Legends

Is Beowulf strong enough to slay the monstrous Grendel, a vicious monster who attacks the Danes by night?

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Perhaps in anticipation of the forthcoming film, here is yet another Beowulf, this one packaged as a graphic novel in the Graphic Myths & Legends series. Jumping through the story at a rapid clip, the clean, vivid panels capture the high drama, whether in depictions of the brave, stern hero or the well-fanged monsters he bests. The abbreviated text nods to the original's style and tone, although readers new to the tale may have trouble with the myriad difficult-to-pronounce names, included even for minor characters. Still, this remains an easily digestible introduction to one of the earliest ogre-and-dragon tales. Chipman, Ian

About the Author

Paul D. Storrie was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He has written comics for Caliber Comics, Moonstone Books, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics. For Graphic Universe(tm), he has written Hercules: The Twelve Labors, Robin Hood: Outlaw of Sherwood Forest, Yu the Great, Amaterasu: Return of the Sun, Beowulf: Monster Slayer, Perseus: The Hunt for Medusa's Head, Yu the Great: Conquering the Flood, Terror in Ghost Mansion, and Nightmare on Zombie Island.

Ron Randall has drawn comics for every major comic publisher in the United States, including Marvel, DC, Image, and Dark Horse. His titles for Graphic Myths and Legends include Thor & Loki: In the Land of Giants, Beowulf: Monster Slayer, Guan Yu: Blood Brothers to the End, and Amaterasu: Return of the Sun. He has also worked on super hero comics such as Justice League and Spiderman; science fiction titles such as Star Wars and Star Trek; fantasy adventure titles such as DragonLance and Warlord; suspense and horror titles including SwampThing, Predator, and Venom; and his own creation, Trekker. He lives in Portland, Oregon. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Library Binding: 48 pages
• Publisher: Graphic Universe (September 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822567571
• ISBN-13: 978-0822567578
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,283,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved by All!, August 18, 2009

By 

Jessica Hazlewood (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beowulf: Monster Slayer (A British Legend) (Graphic Universe) (Paperback)

Recommended by an English professor, I ordered this comic book version of Beowulf to supplement my reading of the original. Not a comic book reader, I was greatly impressed by the compressed version of the Beowulf tale this book presents, and would recommend it for anyone wanting to introduce themselves, or their children to this classic adventure tale. My son (6) promptly stole this off my desk, and reluctantly returns it to me, only to steal it again the next day. I would also like to add that the end of this book includes excellent source information, and additional suggestions if you (or your children) are interested in finding out more about this tale and time period.

I've ordered some others in this series and hope they will be as good!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Son Loved It!, November 2, 2008

By 

M. Sarrao (New Mexico, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beowulf: Monster Slayer (A British Legend) (Graphic Universe) (Paperback)

This is a very nice comic book (graphic novel) version of the Beowulf story. My 10-year-old son LOVED it. He is normally a reluctant reader, but he read this in less than a day! This is a perfect book for reluctant readers who enjoy the fantasy genre.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 4 Year Old loved this version of Beowulf....., September 1, 2010

By 

Kiwi (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Beowulf: Monster Slayer (A British Legend) (Graphic Universe) (Paperback)

Bought it for him a couple of weeks ago and I've had to read it to him every night. I have to say, this is a great way to introduce younger children to some of the Classics - I picked up Thor & Loki: In the Land of Giants: A Norse Myth (Graphic Myths and Legends) at the same time and he enjoys that, but not as much as Beowulf. The graphic novel stays faithful to the original story, altho it omits Beowulf's battle with the sea monsters - but it covers the Fight with Grendel, the slaying of Grendel's Mother and Beowulf's death battling the Dragon very effectively.

The illustrations are really well done, and the detail is apparantly based on genuine artifacts and weapons from the period in which Beowulf is set. Very educational, in that I spent a lot of time answering my boy's questions on everything - the ships, the swords and shield and armor, the way the hall of Heorot was built, who the people were, where they lived, you name it ....).

Recommend this highly, both for it's own sake as a great graphic novel version of the story, and as a version suitable for younger children. Necessarily, there is a bit of blood and the odd body part (you can't skip over ripping Grendels' arm off or hewing off the head of Grendel's mother or Beowulf being killed by the Dragon at the end without missing the key parts of the story after all) but that's usually not a problem for young boys! But overall, the gore isn't too graphic if that worries you.

Next, we're on to Gilgamesh the King (The Gilgamesh Trilogy) and ancient Sumer.