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Overview
Beowulf is a brave and mighty warrior, known to have the strength of thirty men. At home in Geatland, Beowulf hears about the terrible troubles of his father's friend, Hrothgar, the king of the Danes. Hrothgar's land is plagued by Grendel, a vicious monster who attacks the Danes by night. Beowulf sets sail to aid Hrothgar and the Danes. But is Beowulf strong enough to slay the monstrous Grendel? And even if he succeeds, what other dangers lie ahead for the warrior-hero?Synopsis
Beowulf is a brave and mighty warrior, known to have the strength of thirty men. At home in Geatland, Beowulf hears about the terrible troubles of his father's friend, Hrothgar, the king of the Danes. Hrothgar's land is plagued by Grendel, a vicious monster who attacks the Danes by night. Beowulf sets sail to aid Hrothgar and the Danes. But is Beowulf strong enough to slay the monstrous Grendel? And even if he succeeds, what other dangers lie ahead for the warrior-hero?
School Library Journal
Gr 4-7 These volumes were written and illustrated with reference to particular translations and with the consultation of various university professors. The texts read like updates of the venerable "Classic Comics" series, attempting to render these tales in an accessible form that still maintains the tone of the source material. Jolley covers the events that befell Odysseus between the end of the siege of Troy and his departure from Calypso's island. Introduced as a wise strategist, he doesn't come across well here, as the narration focuses on choices he makes that result in many of his shipmates getting devoured. And while the book opens with some elegant depictions of the gods' wrath witnessed as the power of nature, the actual anthropomorphization of the gods later on makes them seem lacking somewhat in potency. Similarly, some modern turns of phrase in the narration seem at odds with efforts to maintain a visually historical depiction. Beowulf reads like ancient poetry, the dialogue rife with stately declarations of heritage, complete with ceremonial repetition, an effective mimic of the tradition. The fetishizing of ancestry and weapons might elude the intended audience, and unfortunately hints to more sophisticated readers that some original content was left out. The action and character design are strong and clear, with solid, comfortable storytelling that is strongly helped by the capable color work.-Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
Editorials
School Library Journal
Gr 4-7 These volumes were written and illustrated with reference to particular translations and with the consultation of various university professors. The texts read like updates of the venerable "Classic Comics" series, attempting to render these tales in an accessible form that still maintains the tone of the source material. Jolley covers the events that befell Odysseus between the end of the siege of Troy and his departure from Calypso's island. Introduced as a wise strategist, he doesn't come across well here, as the narration focuses on choices he makes that result in many of his shipmates getting devoured. And while the book opens with some elegant depictions of the gods' wrath witnessed as the power of nature, the actual anthropomorphization of the gods later on makes them seem lacking somewhat in potency. Similarly, some modern turns of phrase in the narration seem at odds with efforts to maintain a visually historical depiction. Beowulf reads like ancient poetry, the dialogue rife with stately declarations of heritage, complete with ceremonial repetition, an effective mimic of the tradition. The fetishizing of ancestry and weapons might elude the intended audience, and unfortunately hints to more sophisticated readers that some original content was left out. The action and character design are strong and clear, with solid, comfortable storytelling that is strongly helped by the capable color work.-Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH