Comic adapted from screenplay for film of Beowulf with a novel take on the legend ( )

I should probably begin this review by saying, I'm not such a huge fan of graphic novels. Its the words, the connections we are able to make with characters through these words that captivate me. Unfortunately, pictures with small speech bubble conversations between characters cannot pull me into a story. I certainly felt throughout the graphic novel that due to this lack of written words that the story moved far to quickly for my liking, one moment these warriors are arriving via Viking ships, two pages later and the monster is slain... I need more to make me feel for the characters and their sufferings and despite the excellently drawn pictures, I just couldn't capture the feel for it.

If anything it was just something to pass about half an hour of my time before I got the real book out to read. This felt like a 'cheat read' to add to a book challenge!

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for graphic novels, in its self, its not entirely bad, the plot is a bit vague and could do with some more description thrown in (maybe a little background history to some of the main characters) as it introduces characters left, right and centre and you don't really even know where they came into the story or why they were necessary. Would probably be better to just watch the film than this graphic novel as it would likely make more sense. I certainly intend to.

http://feelingslightlybookish.blogspot.co.uk/ ( )

This is a maddeningly awful retelling of Beaowulf, perfectly epitomized by the depiction of Grendal's mother as a perky-boobed blond lady whose only non-human trait is that her feet and legs are just naturally formed like tall highheels.

It's really just stupid, but there's a lot more cleavage than the original, which seems to be what they were banking on. ( )

I picked up a new graphic novel based on the story of Beoulf. Beowulf was one of my favorite books read in HS english classes. This graphic novel is actually based on the 2007 movie screenplay. I didn't really care for that movie, but I did enjoy this book. The illustrations are well done and the describes the tragic tale of the hero, Beowulf.

In the 6th century, a monster named Grendel is wrecking havoc on Hrothgar's kingdom. The brave and somewhat arrogant Beowulf comes to destroy Grendel and win fame and fortune. He must not only face Grendel, but also Grendel's mother, who in her own way is much more powerful. ( )