Grendel: From Humble Indie Comic to an Epic about Violence

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Matt Wagner began his comic book career as a writer and artist on his crime comic, Grendel, back in 1982. Comico published the first 40 issues of an ongoing comic after Wagner had seemingly told the full story. But Grendel grew to be something much bigger than any one protagonist. From Hunter Rose to Christine Spar, from Orion Assante to Grendel-Prime, the Grendel comics crossed publishers (Comico and Dark Horse Comics), artists, and huge stretches of time to tell a story about humanity dealing with a corrupting, intangible force known as Grendel. This video talks about the history, influences, and storytelling choices behind the comic.

[nivedh]

The changing protagonists is such a cool idea to me. Probably because I'm a huge fan of JoJo's. But I really like how it's done here, the title of Grendel being some sort of curse, it's awesome.

[bjpr]

I think that the idea that Prime is a hero is something that Wagner plays with. He seems heroic, but he's ruthless, pragmatic, and almost comically violent in service of his singular mission, which shifts over a few stories.
So much to unpack in those books. Very much a product of their times. Some of the takes and plot details may seem eye brow raising now, but Wagner fits in a lot of contemporary political and social themes in a kind of speculative way. It's the most awkward thing about the book in places, but it adds a lot of detail to the world.
I could go on and on about the series. I read these as a kid, and I've thought about them way too much. Not much writing about them.

[travispardy]

I wonder how much influence Grendel had on Symbiote Spiderman/Venom's look and characterization (black suit with wide white eyes, anti-hero status, shifting protagonist/host). Or, for that matter, how much it influenced The Mask.
Anyway, Wagner had a very cool, unique art style with clear Showa Manga influences. This is an interesting find, Chris! Also, your atmospheric soundtrack to this video really added a lot!

[Howdoyouchangepf]

This episode was the on such a different level of what is usually done, I love every second of deep dived lore and analysis with the tone being perfectly low and dark and yet again you’ve made me want to check out another comic series.

[samwill]

The simple, almost soft and bright eyed art style of the first comics reminds me of Osamu Tezuka's works more than anything. Astroboy and Kima and the like. i think its the eyes and faces.

[TheArchimedean]

Grendel was seriously ahead of its time, even if its timely aspects sometimes make it a bit ridiculous. The shifting narratives, themes, and concepts made for such a weird, wonderful story. Thank you for reminding me of this gem

[davidcauley]

I've never clicked play so quickly. IMHO Grendel is the greatest creation I've read in comics.

[Steve_P_B]

This is a character that really deserves an adaptation, preferably animated since Animation tends to be more faithful to the original source material than live action.

[SwedishDuckey]

I saw this video when it first came out and I still come back to it every couple months, one of my favorite videos

[nobel]

Matt Wagner is one of the greats! Grendel is such an inspiration, both as an example of fantastic indie work, and as a long running story that maintains its quality and relevance over its run. Also, I love Matt Wagner's Batman, too. Hell, Wagner's my hero, not gonna lie.

[timespace.productions]

Given development-latitude, I'd argue Wagner's Grendel has the greatest potential for an extended universe built into its premise.

[cosmoissleeping]

I always understood the Beowulf poem to be about the cycles of revenge. Very similar to what Grendel became

[deefish]

A great episode, but one I wish was LONGER. I was hoping for more analysis on some of the post War Child stories that included Wagner's stunning painted work. Also, I particularly love how he managed the two different Batman crossovers, since the original was apparently created years before it was published, but buried due to the legal issues, and features Batman against Hunter Rose. The second series is against Grendel Prime and is an amazing showcase of how not only how comic style has changed, but is a very different perspective.

They act as almost bookends on the character and Wagner's creative approaches that I find fascinating.

[wchart]

Batman vs Grendel was my first exposure to Wagner and Grendel. I got obsessed right away and had to read everything Grendel oriented.

In a weird sort of twist, it got me obsessed with the poem Beowulf as well.

[MichaelNelsen]

My favorite has always been Devils and Deaths by Darko Macan and Edvin Biuković (1994) from the sort of spin-off or one-off series of Grendel Tales. Amazing artwork, great writing.

[ruckerrc]

Grendel has always been a source of direction and guidance for me as a young man growing up. Hunter Rose is my favorite version but all are good. Long Live Grendel.

[grendel]

Thanks for giving Grendel some love, Chris! The original B&W Comico Hunter Rose stories are still my very favorites. I can't wait for the Netflix series to come out sometime in 2023 I believe. Matt Wagner's writing and art have been the biggest influence on my own style. I have been infatuated by this story since I was a child.

[billbadson]

9:23
_"We can probably assume that Christine Spar is narrating this story as accurately as possible... she's a journalist."_

lmao

[MrMookiejr]

I always really liked the Grendel concept and design, but at first only knew him through the Batman crossovers. As a teenager however, I picked up a really great Grendel Prime novel by Greg Rucka which gave me an appreciation for the overall narrative.

[danguillou]

So happy that you showcased this!
I’ve been a fan since late -86. (Around issue 8 of the ongoing comic.)
It did so many cool things. First, instead of an endless continuation, like all comics at the time, it was an anthology, a serie of mini-series. Sandman is the second big name that used this format, and it started in -89. Frickin three years later!

And as you showed, each one has a different tone, style and genre. My impression is that Matt Wagner used it as a vehicle for experimentation and training as a writer.

Wagner makes me think of Frank Miller who is also both artist and writer, but their skillsets are reversed. Miller has always been a competent writer, as shown in Martha Washington and Batman year 1, but I’d argue that he’s never been groundbreaking. Never astonishing. I think that he would have made a fine living as just a script writer, and nerds like you would talk about his different works. But as an artist he is amazing and has done groundbreaking work, and it has made him a comics superstar, if a problematic and weird one. Wagner is really good as an artist. The art deco of Devil by the Deed is lovely. His action (in his later work that is) is striking, clear and full of energy. I’m sure he could have made a fine living illustrating other peoples’ stories. But as a writer he’s not just really good, he is amazeballs.

The three issue story about Brian Li Sung made me cry and gave me nightmares. Yay.

Finally, a thought on the Grendel entity itself. The comic goes back and forth a bit on what it actually is. But in my head canon it is a meme. Everyone who gets infected at first has had access to Hunters writing, both his published works and his private logs. At this point, it’s like ”The Emperor in Yellow”, it’s a literary brown note, it’s a body of text that will harm and brainwash you. And then it goes public as a growing cultural phenomenon, with increasingly detrimental effects on the world at large. Makes me think of the anime Paranoia Agent, but more insidious.

Finally, Wagner seems to have changed his mind on the original Hunter Rose. Early versions are very heroic and sympathetic for a villain protagonist. But later stories focus a lot more on Hunters cold manipulativeness and casual sadism.

Everyone should read Grendel. Again, thank you for talking about it!