I didn’t read “Comico Primer” issue #2, nor was I ever able to obtain the three episode black and white series but I felt that this was a cool first issue for the “Grendel” series and remembering how much I wanted to read issue #2. It’s that good of a story!
TITLE: Grendel Archives
YEAR: May 2007
COMPANY: Dark Horse Comics
Created & Written by Matt Wagner
Edited by Diana Schutz
Back in 1982, Matt Wagner’s black and white short story titled “Grendel” was featured in COMICO the Comic Company’s “Comico Primer #2”.
Eventually it would lead to Matt Wagner’s three-issue black and white title to be released but reportedly due to the financial issues of Comico, the series ended prematurely until it was continued as a short story in the pages of Wagner’s series “Mage”.
While those stories featured the character of Hunter Rose, for those who wanted to read it would have to pay a lot for it, especially for “Comico Primer #2”.
And for a long time, many people were not able to get access to those classic issues, even myself who own the entire COMICO releases of “Grendel” and many “Comico Primer” issues with the exception issue #2.
But fortunately, Dark Horse Comics released “Grendel Archives” collecting “Comico Primer #2” and “Grendel” issues #1-3 and also an introduction by Matt Wagner, who also makes it clear to readers that not releasing this collection was not because of rumors that he was ashamed of his older work but because it was incomplete and reinvented as the narrative that eventually became “Devil by the Dee”.
But I’m glad I purchased this hardback collection because I have been curious of the original Grendel (Hunter Rose) and also learning about his origin and the origin of his nemesis Argent.
But also, to know who is Stacy, the young girl who Hunter Rose adopted and would later in the future become the mother of Christine Spar, the woman who would become Grendel for the first issues of “Grendel” (when the series came back for COMICO).
I do recommend this collection because it establishes the characters and in many ways, I found to be an essential read.
Despite it being Matt Wagner’s earlier work, it’s still very good work and I enjoyed reading these earlier stories.
“Grendel Archives” is definitely recommended!