Riding the Wave of the Beowulf Revival
January 8, 2008
Portland, Oregon – After centuries of obscurity, Beowulf has recaptured the popular imagination. From opera to cinema and from bands to comic books, the story of Beowulf and Grendel has come to possess a prominent place in Western popular culture, much to the relief of English teachers across the nation.
In step with recent interpretations of Beowulf, Bowler Hat Comics announces the release of Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath – the first book in a series of graphic novels inspired by the epic poem and created by cartoonistAlexis E. Fajardo.
Months before its official publication date, Kid Beowulf is already generating an early buzz of enthusiasm. Many English teachers are incorporating graphic novels into their curriculum, citing their value as a point of reference between what sudents already know and more complex reading skills. Teachers surveyed have expressed great interest in Kid Beowulf and its potential for use in the classroom.
Using wit and unique twists, Fajardo transforms the somewhat oblique epic poem into a vibrant world, readily accessible to younger schoolchildren. Kid Beowulf inspires education through engaging entertainment. Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath is scheduled for national release in June 2008.
Beowulf’s emergence into modern pop culture makes sense, as it is one of the oldest action stories ever written. The basic plot is that of man against monster – a classic archetype found in comics and epic movies. Beowulf essentially established the epic action genre of such classics as Braveheart and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The recent Beowulf movie, released in November 2007, used 3-D performance capture technology to shed new light on the ancient epic. Ubisoft even released a game for the Xbox 360 based on the movie. When a Norse legend, written over a thousand years ago, becomes a videogame, it truly has stood the test of time!
Kid Beowulf sets itself apart from other recent interpretations of the epic by forgoing depictions of bloody battle scenes, focusing more intently on the relationships between the characters. The series explores the ongoing tension between realism and mythology, with the explicit hope that readers will be inspired to read the original source material.