Beowulf #1
Published by: Antarctic Press
Story & Art: David Hutchison

Rating: 3 out of 5

Now, let me start by saying that Beowulf is probably my favorite epic poem - better than anything by that Homer guy by far - so I’m probably a little biased when it comes to adaptations. They’re either great, or they’re terrible in my book. Eaters of the Dead/13th Warrior: Great. This book: well…

So, this is a manga/cyberpunk recreation of the Beowulf myth. All of the major players are here: Beowulf, Grendel, Hrothgar. Beowulf’s some sort of bio-engineered super soldier with a limited lifespan, and Grendel’s your usual big-ugly. Beowulf shows up to save the day, gets in a knock-down-drag-out with Grendel, and this issue ends on probably the best moment in the whole myth.

This is a beautifully-done book. The art is stark, dark, and full of soldier-munching goodness. It would probably read just as well without any words.

However:

It seems like some of the Manga feel and cyberpunk coolness is there just to be there. There’s a reason that this story has survived a millenium: it’s a good story. Hutchison seems to be trying to add this extra stuff to make a better story, and it doesn’t really work for me.

Also, I’m trying to get into manga. I really am. But there’s this tension-relieving device that I’m not too keen on where something really serious is going on, and we’re suddenly staring at the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of the book talking about food, or the only female character in the story gets to close her eyes and say “Yay!” just for comedic relief. That may work when the timing is right (I doubt it), but it certainly doesn’t work here - it merely breaks us out of the dark mood we’ve become accustomed to.

This book is probably better than I’m making it out to be, but it just doesn’t sit well with me. I’m going to rate this a “3″ for “it’s okay.”