Beowulf-- The Comic Book

[mark12_30]

When I was a kid, we had a few classics in comic-book form: Ivanhoe, which I loved dearly, and Hunchback of Notre Dame (which was okay).

But I wish we'd had this one.

Article: Beowulf in Comic Book (http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2004/08/29/beowulf_the_modern_superhero_version/)

Link to the commercial site http://www.thecomic.com/

I wonder how the professor would have reacted?

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Wow, Helen! Thanks for sharing that site! Beautiful use of line and color, can't help but think that Tolkien would approve. Hinds seems to have given the work all the loving craftmanship anyone could ask for.

[mark12_30]

Well, I've ordered one. It'll be a hwile (snail-mail delivery was free).

If it's as good as it looks, I'll try it out on my four nephews. ;)

[Imladris]

I don't think that the professor would mind, actually. I mean, if they *only* read this version then he would mind probably. If they only read the comic version that'd be like eating milk all the time instead of the real food... *memories of chocolate flit through the brain* Er...healthy food...*cough*

The comic, I think, could be compared to a kids training pool -- this way they won't drown and hate it for the rest of their lives probably...

[mark12_30]

From what I can see, it looks like he used a fairly decent translation, abridged it a bit, and just illustrated it. He gives a link to the 'original' text.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

What an interesting link, Helen! I think the artwork looks quite good - actually, some of the drawings remind me of Tolkien's own...

[Encaitare]

I saw a comic-book version of the Hobbit in the public library... I accidentally grabbed it instead of the real version! The artwork was quite good, but needless to say it was not what I was looking for. :p

[Saurreg]

Isn't Beowulf the Scandinavian folkstory that tells of a mythical warror (Geat?) who tears off the arm of a monster called Grendel and gets hammered big time by Grende's mummy? I thing I'm right somewhere on the lines.

Great art. I just called up my neighbourhood comic book shop and got the owner to place an order for me.

[Encaitare]

Roughly. ;)

[rutslegolas]

Well i saw a comic book copy of fellowship of the ring ,in our comic book shop ,it was exactly legal i suppose ,but i bought one and story was tottaly altered ,it said frodo was killed by boromir ,and then he defeats The Dark Lord and becomes a King of Gondor.
(Well it was'nt exactly titled fellowship of the ring ,it was company of ring)

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

it said Frodo was killed by Boromir, and then he defeats The Dark Lord and becomes a King of Gondor. And the course of history was altered forever! :eek:

It looks as though this offering of Beowulf is a pukka attempt, thank goodness. :)

[mark12_30]

...and a lovely thing it is, too. I recommend it. Its only major fault: the font is so small that an Old Whippersnapper like me has to squint just a bit. (I keep putting off those reading glasses...) But the pictures are intriguing and carefully done. And for th price...! I picked up a copy of the first edition, since it was on sale, and who knows. I will loan it to my nephews... after I finish it.

[Beren87]

Wow, I wish I'd clicked on this thread sooner. I actually have the Beowulf comics, in their original 3-piece form. I picked them up at a comic expo in Charleston. For anyone who ordered them, you'll love them, I do. They're very very well drawn and the story is very true to the original.

Incidently, I also have "The Hobbit" comic book that someone up above mentioned, and I'm quite pleased with it too. It's the story nearly verbatim, and the artistry isn't bad at all.

Yeah, I'm a comic book geek. :p