Customer Reviews

Grendel: War Child

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Grendel is a long-running series of comics by the great Matt Wagner. The story started with a charismatic thief named Hunter Rose and ended with his death. Wagner could have been lazy and followed the example of most corporate comics by quickly bringing Hunter back to life and using him again and again until no one cared. But he didn't. He moved forward from there, later stories involved others taking up the name and methods of Grendel until we arrive at an ending of sorts. A post-apocalyptic world Grendel-based warrior clans rule the world and are united under the Grendel Khan.

But the Khan is dead and his only heir has been stolen.

Most of this 300 page book is an epic chase as the empire hunts for the Heir and his kidnapper Grendel Prime. There are pages of silent action as they flee through deserts, swamps and ruined cities. They fight everything from biker gangs to samurai to mutants to vampires to a gorilla. There's more than a little of Lone Wolf and Cub in the concept. Although it sounds like it could get tiring the action is never dull and the pay off is well worth it. In this book you'll also find love, humor, politics and madness, it's amazing how well Wagner shifts gears throughout.

McEown's art deserves a lot of praise. It's not just that he can do fights, mutants and monsters, lots of guys can do that. But he has a good eye for smooth action, panels flow into one another, fights are thought-out and make sense, they're not just a collection of pin ups.

I read this when it first came out in the 90s and had fond memories, I'm happy to see how well it's held up.

Grendel: War Child is perhaps not what long-time Grendel fans expected. I can understand how those of you who cut your teeth on the affairs of Hunter Rose and Christine Spahr might find this massive post-apocalyptic adventure story a bit jarring, but on its own merits, I think War Child holds up pretty well.

War Child is set in the distant future, where the spirit of Grendel is no longer part of the shadow world, but is instead a critical and respected aspect of society. The world's ruler, the Grendel Khan has recently died, and his young heir has been kidnapped by a mysterious warrior called Grendel Prime, much to the dismay of the Khan's ex-wife, who sought to use the boy to assure her own control over the world's affairs.

Grendel Prime's quest to protect the heir until he is old enough to rule takes them all over the globe and incorporates the best elements from just about every adventure story imaginable. You have cyborg warriors with (for lack of a better term) lightsabers and hover-cycles, vampires, mutants, gangs, pirates, witches, resistance fighters, super-weapons, and a pissed-off gorilla. There are romantic and political elements to the story, but at heart War Child is an epic adventure saga.

All told, I think Matt Wagner has created something quite special with Grendel: War Child. It's not what you'd typically expect from a Grendel story, but it's the one I find myself coming back to time and time again. The 300+ page War Child trade paperback collects the entire 10-issue limited series plus covers and sketchbook material.

NOTE: This one is for mature readers only. It features explicit language, nudity and some sexual situations, and more blood-soaked violence per page than you might think possible. None of it seems gratuitous however; it's just part of the story.

Grendel: War Child tells us the story of a alternative world were ONE emperor is ruler over the entire world (called) Grendel Kahn. Unfortunately the Grendel Kahn just passed away so the entire world is out for power and possession. The only one who is in the way of the wife of the passed away Grendel Kahn becoming supreme ruler is his son. So it's essential to get this son to safety away from his mother to grow up and rise the throne when he's ready for it. Only the way to safety is long and dangerous in a world where everybody is out for his head. This particular trade got me hooked on the Grendel Legacy and I can advise people who are into Fantasy/Mad Maxx/Waterworld to get this trade without a doubt. It's well worth your money both qualitywise as quantitywise (there are 10 issues in here).

Matt Wagner is one of the best storytellers in the modern age of comics and his Grendel series has made huge strides in pushing the envelope and changing the face of comicbooks forever. Grendel:Warchild is a extremely violent, apopcalyptic look at future world peopled with fanatical warriors, blood thirsty vampires and an unstopable cyborg paladin charged with protecting the savior of and heir to the world conquering Grendel Khan.

This is a must for anyone who loves a good adventure story, sci-fi or otherwise! And for the Grendel followers, a DEFINITE MUST READ if not OWN!!! I love what this book did with the story and image of the dark hero, and how past enemies were incorporated into the picture! Can't say enough without giving it all away- except "make more!!!!!" Vivat Grendel!!!!!

Another epic tale by Matt Wagner. This is the only one I felt came close to the glory of the Hunter Rose stories. (In the back of the Mage: The Hero Discovered books)This one has it all. This Grendel is a perfect warrior with flawed masters....beautifully balanced

This is alternate future story about one boy who should inherit the throne of Earth and how he got betrayed by his mother. Robocop wannabe called Grendel Prime saves him and they journey away from chasers that were sent after him. It has elements of sci fi movies of early nineties, think Terminator and so on. The stage is set in your typical Mad Max/Judge Dredd future.

Maybe it was great for people who were teenagers when it was published, but I searched it so much and got dissapointed in the end.