Grendel: Red, White and Black #1

Written by: Matt Wagner

Art by: see below

Matt Wagner and friends return with another 4-issue anthology series chronicling the exploits and exploitations of the first Grendel, Hunter Rose. Much like its predecessor, this series is presented in black, white and red - but with a bit more emphasis on the red.

The Nasty Li'l Devil - Jill Thompson

This story is kind of a jumping on point for the uninitiated Grendel reader. It covers all the events in Devil By the Deed (death of Jocasta, fight with Argent, adoption of Stacy) and has one pretty cool ending. I won't spoil it, but I'm still surprised after reading this book for maybe the tenth time. Jill's art is cartoony, but the cute edge she gives to Hunter makes me smile every time. Good marks all around.

Devil's Assumption - Andy Kuhn

I love this story; it is up there in my list of Hunter Rose tales. This story finally shows us the first meeting between Teddy Chicone (notorious mob boss whose seat Grendel eventually usurps) and Grendel. After giving a fat check to a Catholic charity, Teddy gets word to meet with his top hit man, Leroy, at the docks - he's pretty shook up. Leroy tells Teddy of a hit gone bad; of his target was dead when he got there and in a messy way. Enter Grendel,who leaps in quoting Lewis Carrol. So awesome. So, Grendel kills two of Teddy's body guards and Leroy. He then tells Teddy Leroy was too messy and that he'll step in to fill his shoes. Teddy turns to tell Grendel he has the job, but the devil is gone - disappeared into the night.

I love this story. The art is clean and uses the confines of black and white very well. Just enough gore and literary quotes to make me happy. Best in the book.

Devil Say, Devil Do - Stan Sakai

Almost completely silent story - a nice little cat and mouse story. Grendel chases a man who, presumably, has stolen a large bag of cash from one of his numerous holdings. A breeze thought though, not much substance. But what this story lacks there, it makes up for in the eye candy department. Stan's Grendel is great - I especially like the sub way scene in the hat and overcoat.

Devil Colors - Jim Mahfood

This is another good story - it involves a spray paint artist who is hired y Grendel to tag some of his devilish deeds. The kid gets cocky and Grendel has to step in to save his sorry hide. I liked the art (which has a very spray painted, hurried look to it) and enjoyed the story. There is also a nice playlist on the opening page. Good read.

Devils's Dash - Tom Fowler

Matt and Tom aren't just playing with a character in this story, they are playing with the whole form of comics here. This is the story of an overweight Senator who finds himself on the Devil's wrong side - told in half page illustrations and text underneath. Grendel hardly shows his face, but he is present in every panel. Okay story, better art.

Grendel continues to pile up the bodies as his reign of terror continues. All in all, this book adds nicely to the laundry list of misdeeds the Devil has wrought. Like what came before, these short stories add a depth to a character that was never really developed in his own series.

If you want to read this or any other comics, get them from MyComicShop.