In 2006, Antarctic Press released three issues of Beowulf (also available in trade paperback format as Biowulf ) in manga style, written by and featuring the art of David Hutchison. Once again, the author has opted to use the poem’s themes and characters as archetypes and reinterprets them for a modern audience. In this version, Hrothgar is the acknowledged ruler of his futuristic and technology-heavy land, but to maintain his power he has actively recruited mercenaries, including Beowulf, to fight for him. Here, Beowulf is a bit more devious and manipulative than in other adaptations, and Grendel is more directed in his attacks, his raids focused on gaining access to Hrothgar’s advanced soldier files, files which Beowulf’s men hack into as Beowulf and Grendel battle. This puts this particular Beowulf out of the category of the faithful and respectful warrior of the epic poem, but fits here.
The manga format is not for everyone, but the specific style used is ideal for the story’s numerous fighting sequences. As Beowulf arrives in an insect-shaped space ship accompanied by warriors attired in costumes that blend elements from Star Wars and Matt Wagner’s various Grendel series, Hutchison moves the epic into the science fiction genre. He firmly entrenches it there as Beowulf attaches the arm he has torn off of Grendel onto his own shoulder, a Terminator-esque touch that works with the brutal depiction of the fights. The story ends following the fight between Grendel and Beowulf, and the revelation that Grendel was created as part of a weapons program ordered by Hrothgar, and the mercenaries leave prior to their capture by Hrothgar’s men. To date, there has been no follow-up to this series, but as Antarctic is still in business as a publisher, there is always a chance.
The manga format is not for everyone, but the specific style used is ideal for the story’s numerous fighting sequences. As Beowulf arrives in an insect-shaped space ship accompanied by warriors attired in costumes that blend elements from Star Wars and Matt Wagner’s various Grendel series, Hutchison moves the epic into the science fiction genre. He firmly entrenches it there as Beowulf attaches the arm he has torn off of Grendel onto his own shoulder, a Terminator-esque touch that works with the brutal depiction of the fights. The story ends following the fight between Grendel and Beowulf, and the revelation that Grendel was created as part of a weapons program ordered by Hrothgar, and the mercenaries leave prior to their capture by Hrothgar’s men. To date, there has been no follow-up to this series, but as Antarctic is still in business as a publisher, there is always a chance.