Grendel is an alias of several related characters in Comico and Dark Horse publications, the first of which being brilliant author and crimelord Hunter Rose.

Not much is known about the life of Hunter Rose before he returned to America. His name is not known, only that as a child he went by “Eddie”. Eddie was of exceptional brilliance, later to be discovered that the source may have been a rare genetic mutation allowing him to use virtually 100% of his brainpower. Eddie was bored and alone. School, sports, and most other endeavors did not provide adequate challenge. To say that Eddie excelled at everything he tried his hand at would be an understatement. Eddie found that he was quite fond of solo sports, particularly fencing. He went to the world fencing championship in England and easily won first place. It was there that he met Jocasta Rose, a trainer for the English team. The two quickly fell in love, and Jackie took on the role of a mentor as well as a lover to Eddie.

The profoundness of Jackie’s influence became even more evident after her death. Eddie returned to America, adopting the name and lifestyle of bestselling author Hunter Rose. He also listened closely and secretly to the inner workings of the city’s criminal underworld. Adopting the masked and identity of the assassin Grendel, Rose easily impressed mob bosses and was hired as a personal assassin. Armed with a staff with a forked blade, Grendel Rose to the top of his organization, becoming his former boss’s leader. Income soared under Rose’s leadership. Rose struck fear into the hearts of criminals in his and other organizations, still killing when it suited his purposes. His business continued to expand, and he caught the eye more and more of Argent the Wolf.

After the death of business associate Barry Palumbo, Rose adopted Palumbo’s adopted niece, Stacy Palumbo. Rose and Argent both adored young Stacy, and this allowed Rose to keep closer tabs on Argent (now Grendel’s arch-nemesis), leading to the carefully planned public humiliation of Argent in front of the affluent, the media, and particularly young Stacy. Stacy’s relationship with Argent wained, the young girl no longer looking at him as the same after Argent’s humiliation, until they no longer spoke. Despite Rose’s best efforts this had the unintended consequence of Stacy changing, becoming more sad. Argent became more ferocious than before, and continued to pit the wealth of his rage against his hated enemy Grendel.

Eventually during planning of an event which would allow Rose to take control of virtually all criminal activity on the entire seaboard, Stacy would discover that her “uncle” Hunter was really Grendel. It would take her longer to discover what this really meant, but Stacy put all of her effort into learning about Grendel. She did not like what she would discover. In her continued efforts to learn more about Hunter’s dark side, Stacy would eventually discover the secret location of the journals detailing his criminal activities and double life. She was able to break into his antiquated safe, and discovered that Hunter Rose had killed her uncle Barry. This discovery shattered her world, and she was determined to destroy him and use Argent as a means to her ends.

Stacy would act as an anonymous informant, using Rose’s own journals of his business dealings against him. She would make phone calls to Argent’s private line, giving him information about Grendel’s upcoming dealings and potential contacts. Hunter became increasingly angry and suspicious of his nemesis. Hunter Rose’s demise would come when Stacy had finally set up her plans to bring Argent and Rose into final conflict. Stacy called Argent claiming to have been kidnapped by Grendel. Argent tour through one of Grendel’s operations in order to get Grendel’s attention. Enraged at one another, Grendel and Argent decided to meet on the roof of the Masonic Temple. After the final battle, the police would discover Argent paralyzed on the roof, with the slain and unmasked body of Hunter Rose nearby. Stacy would be institutionalized for what could be determined of her role. Argent went into seclusion.

Hunter Rose’s legacy as Grendel was not over with his death. As Hunter had once seen in a demonic vision, the legacy and reign of Grendel would continue through the centuries, continually mutating through various forms.
-Comicvine

Let’s face it: there’s nothing new.  We create only by standing on the shoulders of giants.  What came before is a blueprint for our every effort.  The legacy of Western culture is a valuable gift because without it, there’s hardly anything for us creatives to draw from.  The classics of literature, for instance, can become a set of toys for a talented genius to play with.

Take the epic poem Beowulf—in which ‘there lived a monster in a cave. He was a hideous beast with green fur and yellow teeth. The townspeople feared him and would never approach his cave, he in turn would never venture out to the town for he knew he was not wanted and didn’t like the people much anyhow. There was one particular day of the year that he couldn’t stand, and on this day he vowed to ruin the towsnfolk’s fun, for if he could not have any, why should they.’

It must have occurred to Dr Seuss to bend this ancient story to his own use; to retell it as a picture book.  I was thinking about the similarities between Grendel, the monster from Beowulf, and the Grinch—even down to their names.  What really struck me was the bit about how neither one could stand the sounds of civilization.

“It harrowed him / to hear the din of the loud banquet / every day in the hall, the harp being struck / and the clear song of a skilled poet / telling with mastery of a man’s beginnings, / how the Almighty had made the earth . . .” (Beowulf 34).

And:

If there’s one thing I hate…oh the noise, noise, noise, noise! …They’ll blow their flu-flubas.  They’ll bang their tartinkas.  They’ll blow their who-hubas.  They’ll bang their gardinkas!”

A quick search on Google revealed a couple of essays written about Grendel/Grinch. Here’s one by Courtney Shay. She brings up other similarities I hadn’t thought of:  both monsters are miserable—without joy, and wreak their havoc on society in the darkness of night.

To compare Grendel to the Grinch is to appreciate how a master of the picturebook can distill an assortment of ideas down to one clear and simple storyline.

As we descend into the chaos of the season, spare a thought for the anonymous Anglo-Saxon scribbler whose poetry lives on in How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

Moştenirea Heorot (The Legacy of Heorot) – primul roman din seria Heorot
de Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Steven Barnes / Colectia Nautilus/ Format: 107 x 178 mm
noiembrie 2008

Redactor: Oana Ionaşcu

Prezentarea de pe site-ul editurii:

Tau Ceti IV este o planeta colonizata de putin timp, pe care oamenii traiesc ca intr-un vis antic. Dar e si regatul monstrilor Grendel, ce par iesiti dintr-un cosmar mitologic. Convietuirea oamenilor cu grendelii devine precara din ziua in care furioasele si infometatele carnivore comit un atac violent asupra oamenilor, caci grendelii sunt animale teritoriale, care au nevoie de un spatiu substantial de vanatoare. Ei ataca dupa procedee prestabilite genetic, iar urletele lor umplu vazduhul.
Intr-o zi, una dintre specii va disparea. Grendelii sau oamenii. Iar ultimele imagini ale luptei vor fi pastrate pentru posteritate.  Posteritatea uneia dintre specii.

so.. I made carmel apples. And then I hung out with my best friend Lauren. I also made jalapeño cornbread and some black bean soup.

perfect lil apples! They were only 2-3 inches big, cute!

Chocolate, Carmel, Nerds, Bones, OHMY!

Mom is a helper.

Lauren friend! and Grendel the Monster cat.

Cornbreadz.

mkbyenow.

Jason is looking for people to accept his scenery challenge.

Photo by Slambo_42 on Flickr

This challenge is open to all Sheffield Irregular members – new and old, but if you take part – and want to be up for the prizes you need to follow a few simple rules:

1. If you enter you must take WIP photos and write up how your project goes along the way.

You can either write up in your own discussion thread on Facebook, on your own blog, or submit the finished write up and photos at the end of the project. The finished write ups will form a special article in a future issue of Irregular Magazine.

2. Deadline is January 24th

3. Judging will be by group vote – in a similar way to the Monthly Painting Challenges we run

4. Entry can be any scale, any period

5. Entry can be fully scratch built, or include kit parts – but must be at least part your own creation (ie. not entirely kit parts, even if they are from various kits)

6. Entry can be any size, so go as big as you like

7. Entry must be a scenery piece, suitable for gaming  – not a diorama

Prizes:

1st prize – Dwarven Gate house and Dwarven Tower by Grendel *

2nd prize – Foundry Painting Guide by Kevin Dallimore §

3rd prize - Craters and Barrels by Grendel *

Plus various spot prizes*

* – indicates prizes donated by Xyston/Grendel

§ – indicates prize donated by Jason Hubbard

So are you up for the challenge – 3 months to build your own scenery piece?

En pocos días podréis encontrar en las librerías mi traducción de la novela Grendel, de John Gardner, de la que también firmo el prólogo, y que publica la editorial Meettok.

John Gardner (1933-1982) es conocido entre nosotros especialmente por su labor como profesor de escritura creativa, fruto de la cual son sus manuales El arte de la ficción y Para ser novelista (disponibles en castellano gracias a la editorial/librería Fuentetaja). Pero Gardner también tuvo una importante producción narrativa. Cabe destacar las novelas Diálogos de la luz del sol, La montaña de níquel y Grendel. En el campo del ensayo, al margen de los dos manuales citados, sobresale el célebre y controvertido On Moral Fiction.

Lo que sigue es un par de fragmentos del prólogo que he escrito para esta nueva edición de Grendel:

«Grendel es una versión novelada del poema épico anglosajón Beowulf, narrada desde el punto de vista de Grendel, uno de los tres monstruos que aparecen en la obra original. Ésta es una afirmación simplista, pues en realidad Grendel abarca sólo un tercio del poema, y es más que una versión puesto que añade abundante información a la recogida en Beowulf. Pero de momento dejémoslo así.»

«Puede resultar chocante que a finales de los años sesenta, época en que la vanguardia literaria en Estados Unidos la encabezaban autores como Thomas Pynchon, Donald Barthelme y John Barth, todos ellos ubicados en el posmodernismo y la metaliteratura, alguien decidiera escribir una novela, a primera vista, tan clásica. Lo cierto es, sin embargo, que Grendel es una obra intensamente posmoderna. De hecho, casi parece un catálogo de los rasgos fundamentales del posmodernismo: da voz a un personaje que antes no la tenía; reflexiona sobre el proceso creativo; establece una profunda relación intertextual con una obra anterior –Beowulf, obviamente–; cuestiona ideas esenciales de nuestra cultura, como «Historia» y «Verdad»; explora las posibilidades expresivas del lenguaje…»

«Durante sus solitarios esfuerzos por encontrar sentido a su existencia, Grendel llega a la conclusión de que el mundo es caótico y está vacío de significado, una idea propia del existencialismo sartriano. Sus opiniones se ven corroboradas durante su entrevista con el dragón –en uno de los mejores capítulos del libro–, un ser omnisapiente pero también manipulador y corrupto, que ha llevado su nihilismo hasta el extremo de creer únicamente en el oro que acumula en su cueva.»

La presentación para la prensa (aunque cualquiera que esté interesado será bienvenido) tendrá lugar el próximo miércoles, día 28, a las 11:00, en la librería ELKAR, calle Licenciado Poza, 14, de Bilbao.

I test on Wednesday — aaaaahhh! — and I hit the rink this weekend to get in some extra practice.  So I’m running through my test and I get to my Grendel: the left inside 3 turn. And I did it! It had an edge into it and no cheating, it was awesome!

So today I’m practicing and I get to the Rhythm Blues dance and those cross-behind slips are like Grendel’s mother and the unnamed dragon.

The first time my coach showed those to me I thought I’d never be able to do them. (Doesn’t that sound reminiscent of when Kurt Browning said “The firs time I saw Chris Bowman skate I thought I’d never beat him.”? R.I.P. Christopher! You’ll always be my favorite!!!) Anyway, I took like two or three weeks for me to even be able to do the cross-behind slips in Killian.

So today I tried the cross-behind slips away from the boards and I did one! The right one (aka Grendel’s mother.) Now I just have to kill the unnamed dragon – the left cross-behind slip.

Well to make a long story short, my English III Honors class is reading Beowolf. My teacher is pretty hilarious and possible the greatest I’ve ever had, has decided that over 1/2 my class isn’t intelligent enough to read and comprehend the epic. So, we’ve been watching the movie in class. If you’ve seen it, you know that it’s sort of half animated but uses CGI to take traits from actors and incorporate them into the animated characters demeanor. So, Beowolf kills Grendel the monster. Then, Beowolf goes off to kill Grendel’s mother and rid the land of monsters forever. It turns out that Grendel’s mother is actually based on Angelina Jolie. So, Grendel’s mother is a shape-shifter and has like golden skin. And they pretty much show her naked body but it’s not defined.

Did I mention how great and funny my teacher is? “ANGELINA JO-WHORE.”

Truly, I haven’t been in hiding.  Well, not for the last two-and-a-half weeks, at any rate.  I’ve been busy being unemployed.  It’s alarming how much time being unemployed takes out of a day when you’re used to being attached to a computer keyboard and its internet by the fingertips.  Staggering, really.  But, lately, I’ve had the harebrained idea that I should wait to post something until I can do my big New Website Reveal as if this were some Extreme Makeover show…but it’s a bit slow in the development.  Do you know how hard it is to design a logo for yourself?  A website?  Its structure?  Its own design identity with fonts and colors and do-hickeys and do-dads?  It’s hard.  So, I will post here during the angst-filled time of transition to the new AndyLien.com.

What have I been up to for over a month?  Oh, so much.  Today I’m going to go paint the bedroom of one of my Godchildren in somewhat rural Minnesota.  Last month, I stripped wallpaper at the same location…I can’t say I’ll ever do that again.  I’ve designed a CD cover, three websites, and a birthday card.  The birthday card was pure frip-frappery, but it’s something that is like whipped cream on my day.  I’m learning some new software and hoping to be able to purchase some of it after the 30-day trial period.  I whacked up my foot and ankle by taking a stride on what turned out to be an asleep (and upside-down) foot…a trip to the doctor which was right on the heels (ahem) of a trip to the Emergency Room for what I thought was certain death but turned out to be a bona fide Panic Attack.*

I’ve babysat and had new business meetings…redecorated my apartment and fought with three separate Internet Service Providers.  I hid at the cabin and read all 973 pages of “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follet.  My Netflix movies don’t sit around for a month before I get to them…instead, I’ve been averaging a turnover rate of about three a week.  That’s significant progress.  I did the day-coordination of a friend’s wedding and made the best roasted tomatillo salsa in Minnetonka, Minnesota (with a hint of burnt parchment paper in the flavor).  I survived the wettest and coldest trip to the Boundary Waters  Canoe Area Wilderness…which was no small feat considering the constant dripping of water and dropping of temperature we endured.

My annual trip around Lake Pepin occurred this weekend and I’ll be participating in my 9th Annual Cabin Weekend with Friends next weekend…whether or not any are able to attend.  There’s principle at stake here.  I met Dan Wilson of Semisonic following his concert at the Dakota last weekend and have renewed my crush on that dear Grammy-winning songwriter/singer.  I got a library card!  I have spent time reconnecting with people by opening my home to whomever wants to stop over whenever…partial funding for meals coming from an overabundance of CSA produce while I shouldered the burden of using all the food in our “Grande” box while Eric and Pierre were in Turkey for a couple CSA Tuesdays.

My business connections are strong.  I wrote and art directed over twenty pages of a book that was just released last month and attended that party…the best parts of the party being the great time I got to spend with my former bosses and colleagues just shooting the shit.  A connection that I created between a friend at a large local corporation and my First Boss Ever turned into a very nice production project for my First Boss…which is a better feeling than getting a handful of cash any day.  I’ve generated some buzz and excitement about my new website coming up and plan to make it into a viable revenue generator sooner than later (more on that later).  And, I’ll be doing some bit-piece contract work for local folks in the architecture/building/interior design industry who are eager to work with me since they’ve found out that I’m “on the loose” and not tethered and loyal to one company any longer.  My ego is swimming in warm waters, professionally, and I’m excited to see what’s on the horizon.

For now, I’m still in Minnesota.  I love it here.  I am at home here.  I may not stay where I’m living in Minnetonka as it is a bit spendy for the lifestyle (okay…paycheck) of a floundering visionary artiste (okay…unemployed freelancer) but I’m open to options.  I’ve gotten some job postings from Carson in the Bay Area but hadn’t been quite ready to dip my toe into the talent pool for a full-time job until now…which is only out of necessity than career advancement.

So, friends, I’m here.  I’m around.  I’m working around the clock all seven days per week…just not in consecutive hours.  I am still living The Improvised Life and I’m not hating it.  At all.

Now, off to paint the bedroom of one of my favorite girls in the world (nod to you if you start humming a certain song by Harry Connick, Jr.).

Have a fabulous Monday.

Andy

*I have never seen a Public Service Announcement for Panic Attacks, but if I were to produce one, it would be as simple as: “If you have symptoms of death such as not being able to breathe, a racing pulse, a tingling and pasty pale face, a cold sweat, a bone dry mouth, light-headedness to the point of passing out, ridiculous confusion, BUT NO PAIN ANYWHERE…you are suffering a Panic Attack.  You will not, in fact, stop breathing if you close your eyes.  Get a grip.  Slow your breathing.  Take inventory of your life and quit fucking around.  It’ll help.  Immediately.”

Truly, I haven’t been in hiding.  Well, not for the last two-and-a-half weeks, at any rate.  I’ve been busy being unemployed.  It’s alarming how much time being unemployed takes out of a day when you’re used to being attached to a computer keyboard and its internet by the fingertips.  Staggering, really.  But, lately, I’ve had the harebrained idea that I should wait to post something until I can do my big New Website Reveal as if this were some Extreme Makeover show…but it’s a bit slow in the development.  Do you know how hard it is to design a logo for yourself?  A website?  Its structure?  Its own design identity with fonts and colors and do-hickeys and do-dads?  It’s hard.  So, I will post here during the angst-filled time of transition to the new AndyLien.com.

What have I been up to for over a month?  Oh, so much.  Today I’m going to go paint the bedroom of one of my Godchildren in somewhat rural Minnesota.  Last month, I stripped wallpaper at the same location…I can’t say I’ll ever do that again.  I’ve designed a CD cover, three websites, and a birthday card.  The birthday card was pure frip-frappery, but it’s something that is like whipped cream on my day.  I’m learning some new software and hoping to be able to purchase some of it after the 30-day trial period.  I whacked up my foot and ankle by taking a stride on what turned out to be an asleep (and upside-down) foot…a trip to the doctor which was right on the heels (ahem) of a trip to the Emergency Room for what I thought was certain death but turned out to be a bona fide Panic Attack.*

I’ve babysat and had new business meetings…redecorated my apartment and fought with three separate Internet Service Providers.  I hid at the cabin and read all 973 pages of “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follet.  My Netflix movies don’t sit around for a month before I get to them…instead, I’ve been averaging a turnover rate of about three a week.  That’s significant progress.  I did the day-coordination of a friend’s wedding and made the best roasted tomatillo salsa in Minnetonka, Minnesota (with a hint of burnt parchment paper in the flavor).  I survived the wettest and coldest trip to the Boundary Waters  Canoe Area Wilderness…which was no small feat considering the constant dripping of water and dropping of temperature we endured.

My annual trip around Lake Pepin occurred this weekend and I’ll be participating in my 9th Annual Cabin Weekend with Friends next weekend…whether or not any are able to attend.  There’s principle at stake here.  I met Dan Wilson of Semisonic following his concert at the Dakota last weekend and have renewed my crush on that dear Grammy-winning songwriter/singer.  I got a library card!  I have spent time reconnecting with people by opening my home to whomever wants to stop over whenever…partial funding for meals coming from an overabundance of CSA produce while I shouldered the burden of using all the food in our “Grande” box while Eric and Pierre were in Turkey for a couple CSA Tuesdays.

My business connections are strong.  I wrote and art directed over twenty pages of a book that was just released last month and attended that party…the best parts of the party being the great time I got to spend with my former bosses and colleagues just shooting the shit.  A connection that I created between a friend at a large local corporation and my First Boss Ever turned into a very nice production project for my First Boss…which is a better feeling than getting a handful of cash any day.  I’ve generated some buzz and excitement about my new website coming up and plan to make it into a viable revenue generator sooner than later (more on that later).  And, I’ll be doing some bit-piece contract work for local folks in the architecture/building/interior design industry who are eager to work with me since they’ve found out that I’m “on the loose” and not tethered and loyal to one company any longer.  My ego is swimming in warm waters, professionally, and I’m excited to see what’s on the horizon.

For now, I’m still in Minnesota.  I love it here.  I am at home here.  I may not stay where I’m living in Minnetonka as it is a bit spendy for the lifestyle (okay…paycheck) of a floundering visionary artiste (okay…unemployed freelancer) but I’m open to options.  I’ve gotten some job postings from Carson in the Bay Area but hadn’t been quite ready to dip my toe into the talent pool for a full-time job until now…which is only out of necessity than career advancement.

So, friends, I’m here.  I’m around.  I’m working around the clock all seven days per week…just not in consecutive hours.  I am still living The Improvised Life and I’m not hating it.  At all.

Now, off to paint the bedroom of one of my favorite girls in the world (nod to you if you start humming a certain song by Harry Connick, Jr.).

Have a fabulous Monday.

Andy

*I have never seen a Public Service Announcement for Panic Attacks, but if I were to produce one, it would be as simple as: “If you have symptoms of death such as not being able to breathe, a racing pulse, a tingling and pasty pale face, a cold sweat, a bone dry mouth, light-headedness to the point of passing out, ridiculous confusion, BUT NO PAIN ANYWHERE…you are suffering a Panic Attack.  You will not, in fact, stop breathing if you close your eyes.  Get a grip.  Slow your breathing.  Take inventory of your life and quit fucking around.  It’ll help.  Immediately.”

The Trek Is Hard, but He Makes It.
Originally uploaded by peatbogyeri

My little buddy is facing old age with courage.

(… while I test cross-posting to Flickr and the blog from the Centro.)

Hey all. Here’s a project I’ve been working on. It’s called “Tom the Nihilist.”

–Grendel

Beneath the surface of a frozen lake, armed with a magic sword, Beowulf fights past a supernatural serpent to reach the lair of his most seductive and deadly nemesis of all.

CLASH OF THE GODS: BEOWULF airs Monday September 28 10PM/9c on HISTORY

I attended an amazing high school full of wonderful teachers who encouraged thoughtful reading.  I don’t know if any books were banned in my community, but I remember that our school library always celebrated Banned Books Week.  Here’s a list of some great banned books that were part of our curriculum:

The Canterbury Tales–language

Grendel–violence, graphic language

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn–racial slurs

Of Mice and Men–language, unacceptable portrayal of US society

A Separate Peace–language, homosexuality, encouraging rebellion

The Catcher in the Rye–language, inappropriate behavior by a minor

The Witches–well obviously, it’s encouraging witchcraft!

The Awakening–rebellion, sexual independence, suicide

The Giver–violence, infanticide, suicide, socialism

The Sun Also Rises–language, sexual references

Hamlet–violence, language, sex (oh my!)

A big thanks to all of my English teachers for assigning these classic and important stories, all well worth reading (at the appropriate age, of course).  Check out this list of the 100 most frequently banned books.

Remember, I am not saying kids should necessarily be reading these.  I’m saying that when they are at the appropriate age and maturity level (high school, for most of the books listed here) they should have the option of enjoying these classics either on their own or with the guidance of a teacher.  Swear words, violence, mature content, etc do not automatically make a book “bad” or detrimental.  If you think about it, most of the people who want to ban things like Huck Finn and Harry Potter let their kids watch far worse things on TV.  What’s important to note is that authors aren’t throwing in potentially objectionable content to corrupt kids or to negatively influence them.  They’re very thoughtfully writing words and events that they think are an important part of the story they’re trying to tell, and these are generally things that are very true to life.  For example, the racial epithets in Twain’s writing–he didn’t just make up racism in the 19th century.  And that content opens up a great discussion point for parents, teachers, and students.  Why did people use that language?  Why did Twain include it in the book?  What does the fictitious book have to say about the real society in which Twain lived?

After all, isn’t sparking intelligent thought and debate the real point of reading?

SECRET SIX #13

Depths, Part Four

Fit For A King

DC Comics

Nachdem das Team in der letzten Ausgabe auf Grund „moralischer Differenzen“ zerbrochen ist, versuchen Scandal, Bane, Artemis und sogar Jeannette (trotz ihrer Befreiungsaktion hasst sie Amazonen noch immer) weiterhin die gefangenen Amazonen zu retten während Catman, Ragdoll und Deadshot Mr. Smyth in den Keller des Gefängnisses/Sklavenhauses begleiten, wo ihnen ein gefangenes Monster als „Grendel“ vorgestellt wird.

Das ist eigentlich auch schon der eigentliche Verlauf des Heftes. Die „Guten“ schlachten sich auf der Suche nach den Amazonen durch die Gänge der Anlage und am Ende wird (und ich glaube nicht dass das eine Überraschung oder großer Spoiler ist) der Grendel losgelassen.

Was das Heft wirklich grandios macht (und dieses Heft ist wirklich großartig!) sind die Charaktermomente die Gail Simone ihren Schurken mit dem guten Herzen zugesteht. So sieht man ein Flashback von Scandel Savage und erfährt wie sie zu ihren Klauen gekommen ist. Auch Jeannette hat ein längeres, nennen wir es Dejá-Vu aber auch Bane, Catman und Ragdoll haben jeweils einen Mini-Moment der aber mehr über sie aussagt, als es sonst ein ganzer One-Shot tun würde.

Der Einzige der etwas unterzugehen droht ist Deadshot, doch ansonsten werden Fans der Bande (besonders die von Scandel Savage) viele tolle Augenblicke geschenkt bekommen.

Neben einem Twist der eine Person der Secret Six betrifft, gibt es auch noch einen der den Status des Gefängnisses wieder etwas abändert. Nach der ersten Ausgabe dachte ich es wäre ein Sklaven-Bergwerk, das sich Mr. Smyth hier errichten will. Nach der zweiten schien es ein Alcatraz zu sein, doch jetzt bekommt Smyhts Projekt auch noch einen leichten Guantanamo Bay Touch. Egal, es ist auf jeden Fall eine interessante Wendung innerhalb der Story und greift auch zurück auf einen älteren Story Arc rund um die gefangen Amazonen.

Was ich weniger mochte war dieser Grendel. Ich verstehe nicht welchen Pakt er mit Smyth geschlossen haben soll und wie Smyth glaubt diese wilde Bestie für sich nutzen zu können. Wenn das Vieh so gefährlich ist, dass er es gefangen halten muss, fällt mir kein einziger Grund ein warum er ihn auf einer Insel, in der die Wärter mit ihrer Familie leben, loslassen sollte.

Auch verstehe ich die Hälfte von dem Zeug nicht, dass das Monster in seinem Verließ brabbelt. Sollen diese Drohungen alle einen tieferen Sinn haben?

Vielleicht gibt es dazu ja in der nächsten Ausgabe mehr Informationen, aber momentan kann ich mit der Anwesenheit von Grendel überhaupt nichts anfangen.

Nicola Scotts Artwork ist wieder einmal umwerfend. Die Gesichtsausdrücke passen toll zu dem was gesagt wird und wahrscheinlich würde dieses Heft sogar ohne Text funktionieren.

Ein fabelhaftes Heft einer tollen Serie!

5/5

I confess that I take way too many pictures of my Lhasa Apso, Grendel. But how many dogs get this close to three sandhill cranes and live for their owners to tell the tale? These were taken on a recent walk around the ‘hood. The comments on each photo are straight from the Grendel-mind, I assure you.

And it is a good thing I had my camera along to capture this scene. I heard the cranes blasting their “Dang the temperature hit 40 last night, let’s blow this place for Florida” call last  night so they will not be around much longer.

The horses stay all year, bless their stolid hearts.

This is the mean  one that always tries to kick Grendel.

We take this walk every day past very ancient and deep kettles (ancient as the last glacier anyway) and it never gets old.

Beowulf (2007)

Grendel (Crispin Glover)

Beowulf is a great story, it would not have lasted over thousand years if it wasn’t. This 2007 all CGI version deviates considerably from the original story’s truest and perhaps even its most enduring elements. The villain Grendel is portrayed as if we have the opportunity to sympathize with him. I remember upon his first attack in this film thinking that the Grendel from the epic poem would never have been so bold as to attack while his enemies were not asleep. Never would he come face to face with King Hrothgar on his throne. He is a cowardly and vile monster. I also remember studying Beowulf and thinking that this is the ultimate pagan hero. Courageous even if to a fault, boisterously politicizing himself to the gods by listing off each of his own unearthly tasks, challenging any evil no matter what it may be, even if it looks exactly like a naked Angelina Jolie. Most of all, he was to be a shining example of pride and honesty. It’s funny, until now I never realized how I may have idolized Beowulf during my High School readings but just like those young pagan lads a thousand years ago listening to tales of the great warrior around a giant bonfire, I guess in a way I did and still do. The Beowulf we get here is tricked and tormented and his time as king is essentially based on deception. He is flawed in ways that make him less a hero.

Beowulf (Ray Winstone) and Grendel's Mother (Angelina Jolie)

There is something to admire in that fearless definition of heroism held up high in the original tale. Something even more endearing about this ultimate clash between good and evil. Something got lost in the transition from ancient Anglo-Saxon scribes to the capable pens of Neil Gaiman and Roger Avery, who wrote the solid but fundamentally flawed screenplay. Their writing makes for a great popcorn movie but I’m quite sure English scholars are not so impressed. In fact, this will definitely not and should not be shown by teachers or professors to compliment the study of this epic poem.

The Dragon in flight

Still, Beowulf as a film is a back-to-back feast for the eyes. It is a beautiful film and I also believe its style to be a worthy standard to uphold for other action filmmakers in the years to come. I was worried right off that bat that Beowulf would be a two-hour video game cut scene, but it manages to transcend that judgement with time. The characters may be quasi-cartoon but they still hold more spirit than many cartoons have the ability to by far. Ray Winstone is Beowulf and his demeanor is nearly perfect. Anthony Hopkins and John Malkovich, as Hrothgar and Unferth respectively, both shine through their computerized characters more than enough. Both actors bring the overall performances in this film to attention, as both are just that good at their craft. Crispin Glover manages Grendel fantastically and the Grendel here is quite visually satisfying considering I’ve never had a strong enough imagination to picture Grendel myself based on the descriptions in literature. Angelina Jolie is certainly good enough for her role, as flawed as it may be. Grendel’s mother is actually the character changed most of all, but as a separate villain from the epic poem, the character is not only crucial to Gaiman and Avery’s story, but actually quite effective. Oh yes, and what epic film with bearded warriors would be complete without everyone’s favorite brute from the early middle ages, Brendan Gleeson (as Wiglaf)?!

Beowulf and Wiglaf battle the dragon

Overall, it is a tribute in some ways to the great story but on the other hand the way it sacrifices the purity of its characters just to create a convenient story, a gripping visual style, and a well-packaged blockbuster troubles me enough to only give a slight recommendation. Also, wait for this on blu-ray if you want it (if it ever comes in that format), I really can’t see any reason not to unless you need it right away. There is an HD DVD version available.

My rating is 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

The fiend himself

It is possible some of you may be asking, who is this Grendel? How was he framed?

Grendel is a graphic novel character I have enjoyed reading since I was in the Air Force. He takes his name from the “Villain” from the epic poem Beowulf. I say “villain” because interpretations vary on who actually is the hero in the poem.

I would describe the graphic novel Grendel as more antihero rather than villain. The image I enclosed is an image of the graphic novel Grendel.

The header image is an artists interpretation of the Grendel from the poem.

I’ll leave it to you to decide. Cheers!

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From the Modulate Myspace Blog

A veces no posteo una cosa pensando: ésta es del vecino. Ese fue el caso ayer con las fotos de Ernie Buschmiller dibujando sobre chicas en bikini para la revista Life: It’s so Corbera. Dios sabe que he aguantado pero, con el periodo vacacional encima, le piso lo que considero un enlace natural de Don Álvaro Pons: ‘88, those were the days.

Via: Forbidden Planet Blog