Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance #4
(W) Matt Wagner (A/CA) Matt Wagner
In Shops: Oct 16, 2024
SRP: $4.99
After surviving the Anti-Grendels and a double vampire attack, Grendel Prime, Ptolemy, and Hari Smythe finally make it to the Grendel Grotto, the base of the Hounds of Orion. With Grendel Prime’s help, they may be able to finalize a special experiment that’s taken years to develop-an experiment that could change everything!
Dark Horse Books presents the newest story arc in the epic saga of Grendel comics, Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance, now in one complete collected volume. This hardcover collection will be released in March 2025 and contains issues #1-4 of the original comic mini-series. Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance is a new era in the world of Grendel with writing and art by original Grendel creator Matt Wagner, with colors by Brennan Wagner, letters by Steve Dutro and Rob Leigh, and cover art by Matt and Brennan. The book also includes a cover art gallery featuring variant cover artwork by Brennan Wagner, Antonio Fuso, David Hitchcock, and Matt Lesniewski.
After spending years searching space for a replacement Earth, Grendel Prime has returned home, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity remaining in this post-apocalyptic world are ruled by Necro-Lords, and all things Grendel are outlawed! Grendel Prime must hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet. Is there even a place for him here anymore?
The Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance hardcover (96 pages, 6.625” x 10.1875”) will be available on March 4, 2025 in bookstores and on March 5, 2025 in comic shops. It will retail for $24.99 and is available for pre-order now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, TFAW, and wherever books and comics are sold.
Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance #3
(W) Matt Wagner (A/CA) Matt Wagner
In Shops: Sep 04, 2024
SRP: $4.99
Attacked by vampires while traveling to Hari and Ptolomey’s safe camp, Grendel and his new allies barely survive the trip to a protected clan base, but they-like the few who remain in the Cult of Grendel-refuse to die.
Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance #2
(W) Matt Wagner (A/CA) Matt Wagner
In Shops: Aug 07, 2024
SRP: $4.99
On a treacherous future Earth that has turned against all followers of Grendel, Grendel Prime finds two rare allies. He gets a short history lesson on his now-hostile home world before encountering a group working for the Necro-Lords, who want him captured. Featuring a standard cover by Matt Wagner and Brennan Wagner and a variant cover by Antonio Fuso and Brennan Wagner!
It’s the 4th of July and we’re celebrating here at GPHQ but we still have a day packed with news! We’re kicking it off with some stories you might have missed in our morning roundup. Happy 4th!
Rolling Stone – The Secret Life of Steve Ditko: Spider-Man Co-Creator’s Family Opens Up – A great read.
Reviews
Comicbook – Absolute Power #1
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Comicbook – Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1
Comicbook – Spider-Man: Reign 2 #1
Grendel Prime has returned to Earth, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity that remain and the “Necro Lords” that rule them have turned against Grendel. Grendel Prime will need to hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet. Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1 kicks off a new story arc that’s surprisingly new reader friendly.
I know nothing about Grendel. It’s not a comic I’ve ever read and it’s a character I have little experience with. I’ve heard good things and it’s one I’ve been intrigued to check out, so Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1 felt like a chance to see what it’s all about.
Even with that lack of knowledge, Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1 is an easy comic to dive into. It lays out the basics you need to know and keeps the story rather basic and not all that complicated. Grendel Prime is back on Earth and there’s no bosses in town who hunt Grendels and kill them. It’s not more complicated than that.
Matt Wagner who handles the story and art keeps the comic laser focused making it easy to enjoy and read. Grendel Prime is unfamiliar with this world and how its changed, so Wagner uses that to catch up readers as to what’s going on and what they can expect. We get a feudal type world where technology has slid backwards. It’s an interesting take and feels slightly different than the post apocalyptic world we see so often. The story itself has a lone samurai/western vibe to it as Grendel gets in trouble with local authorities and find allies. It’s a narrative we’ve seen many times but it’s done well enough.
The art by Wagner with color by Brennan Wagner and lettering by Rob Leigh is good. There’s an interesting style to it all with it embracing the various ideas and genres it mashes together. There’s that samurai feel along with the broken down technology vibe. The art is good and doesn’t go heavy on too much detail which might distract, instead it keeps things focused on the visuals that matter and help tell the story of the world, not necessarily of Grendel.
Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1 isn’t a comic that necessarily has me excited to see what’s next but it’s an entertaining read and I can understand what people can see in the character and world. New readers can dive in without any need of knowing the history and continuity which is impressive. Overall, an enjoyable read but not one that’ll stick out after.
Story: Matt Wagner Art: Matt Wagner
Color: Brennan Wagner Letterer: Rob Leigh
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read
Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle
Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1
(W) Matt Wagner (A/CA) Matt Wagner
In Shops: Jul 03, 2024
SRP: $4.99
A new Grendel story from visionary creator Matt Wagner! Grendel Prime has returned to Earth, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity that remain and the “Necro Lords” that rule them have turned against Grendel. Grendel Prime will need to hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet. Featuring a standard cover by Matt Wagner and a variant cover by Brennan Wagner.
Following Grendel: Devil’s Odyssey, the latest story arc in the epic saga of Grendel, comes an all-new Grendel tale in Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance, the first of three series in the all-new Grendel: Devil’s Crucible storyline. This series is written and illustrated by visionary creator Matt Wagner, colored by Brennan Wagner, and lettered by Steve Dutro and Rob Leigh. The first issue features a main cover by Matt Wagner and Brennan Wagner together, and a variant cover by Brennan Wagner, solo.
A new story arc begins: Grendel Prime has returned to Earth, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity that remain and the “Necro Lords” that rule them have turned against the Grendels. Grendel Prime will need to hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet.
Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance #1 (of 4) will arrive in comic shops on July 3, 2024. It is available for pre-order now at your local comic shop for $4.99.
