Markosia’s Beowulf: The Graphic Novel, adapted by writer Stephen L. Stern and with art by Christopher Steininger, was also published in 2007. Stern notes in the intro that his first exposure to the poem was from reading the Francis Gummere version and that he used this translation for the adaptation. A number of people involved with Markosia, including Director of Operations Chuck Satterlee, were employed previously at Speakeasy, and Brian Augustyn, the writer of the first several issues of the Speakeasy Beowulf series was Markosia’s Editor-in-Chief. Other than similar staffs, there is little similarity in the two publisher’s adaptations, as this version is much more faithful to the original text but does include some interesting variations.
This version is one of the few that refers to the prologue of the poem and the tale of Shield Sheafson and his establishment of a line of kings that leads to Hrothgar. Also, there is a greater attention to the story as a whole than some other versions, going past the battle with the dragon to describe his funeral and the construction of his barrow. This version is also unique in that it establishes the idea that Grendel was a creature that would have been known to Hrothgar and his people even before it began its attacks, believed by most to be a myth, but leaves the actual reason for his initial attack open to speculation.
While there is some creative license taken in regards to the fight between Grendel and Beowulf, mainly in the depiction of several of Beowulf’s men unsuccessfully joining the fray, the most noticeable variation between the original and this version is seen in the author’s characterization of Unferth. Here, while still used as a foil who allows Beowulf to brag about his own war prowess through the description of the swimming race, Unferth is portrayed even more negatively than he is described in the original text. He introduces the idea of Grendel being the culprit, accuses Beowulf of trying to win the swimming race by cheating, and colludes with Grendel’s mother in her quest for revenge. The last is the most jarring variation as Unferth, not Grendel’s mother, kills Æschere, and it is Unferth’s head that is found at the mere.
Graphically, this adaptation is very good, and Steininger provides a reasonable sense of what Heorot and the various locales described in the poem may have looked like had they existed. Beowulf is depicted as slightly larger in stature than those around him, but markedly smaller than his adversaries. This version also incorporates the idea that it took multiple thanes to carry Grendel’s head back to Hrothgar, a detail often omitted from the graphic adaptations, and includes the image of the dragon just prior to its being pushed into the sea.
This version is one of the few that refers to the prologue of the poem and the tale of Shield Sheafson and his establishment of a line of kings that leads to Hrothgar. Also, there is a greater attention to the story as a whole than some other versions, going past the battle with the dragon to describe his funeral and the construction of his barrow. This version is also unique in that it establishes the idea that Grendel was a creature that would have been known to Hrothgar and his people even before it began its attacks, believed by most to be a myth, but leaves the actual reason for his initial attack open to speculation.
While there is some creative license taken in regards to the fight between Grendel and Beowulf, mainly in the depiction of several of Beowulf’s men unsuccessfully joining the fray, the most noticeable variation between the original and this version is seen in the author’s characterization of Unferth. Here, while still used as a foil who allows Beowulf to brag about his own war prowess through the description of the swimming race, Unferth is portrayed even more negatively than he is described in the original text. He introduces the idea of Grendel being the culprit, accuses Beowulf of trying to win the swimming race by cheating, and colludes with Grendel’s mother in her quest for revenge. The last is the most jarring variation as Unferth, not Grendel’s mother, kills Æschere, and it is Unferth’s head that is found at the mere.
Graphically, this adaptation is very good, and Steininger provides a reasonable sense of what Heorot and the various locales described in the poem may have looked like had they existed. Beowulf is depicted as slightly larger in stature than those around him, but markedly smaller than his adversaries. This version also incorporates the idea that it took multiple thanes to carry Grendel’s head back to Hrothgar, a detail often omitted from the graphic adaptations, and includes the image of the dragon just prior to its being pushed into the sea.