Grendel-Prime has returned to the Earth he left so long ago. Only to find that he and all who share his name are being hunted. Your Major Spoilers review of Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance #1, awaits!

GRENDEL: DEVIL’S CRUCIBLE – DEFIANCE #1

Writer: Matt Wagner
Artist: Matt Wagner
Colorist: Brennan Wagner
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Editor: Philip R. Simon
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: July 3rd, 2024

Previously in Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance: Grendel Prime has been off-world for centuries searching for a new planet that humanity can call home, to no avail. He has returned to find the planet he knew drastically changed and far more hostile to him than before.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance #1 kicks off with Grendel Prime already on Earth, taking in the sights and assessing the situation. The first third of this comic acts as a sort of travelogue as Grendel Prime moves from one vista to the next. Along the way, he learns that there is an explicit anti-Grendel law in place, established by the assumed rulers of the world, The Necro Lords. He also sees that most of civilization is holed up in massive structures hidden behind force fields. Grendel Prime eventually makes it to a swap meet known as Roach Market. At the market, a pair of travelers are trying to get their hands on contraband solar technology, when Grendel Prime notices them and tries to get information from them. Their conversation and dealings are interrupted when Anti-Grendel soldiers arrive and begin searching, forcing Grendel Prime to act.

ONE FOR THE FANS

Grendel is a character with a long, confusing history, with an even stranger publication history. If you’re not aware of this, this comic might not be for you. That’s not to say it’s confusing for new readers, in fact, that’s something that this issue does very well; setting up a story in a way that doesn’t require a lot of prior knowledge. But the real appeal of Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance #1 is to see the beloved character of Grendel in a post-apocalyptic world. The same sort of world that you can find in Mad Max, The Book of Eli, and Little Bird, among many others. The best parts of this issue are the little references to past stories and the building mystery around how the world has become so hateful to the name Grendel, which was once used to christen the rulers of the world. It’s just that this story takes place in a really boring and uninspired world. There’s also little effort put towards making Grendel Prime, the reason why someone would come to this series, feel like they couldn’t be any other protagonist.

SURPRISINGLY COLORFUL

As mentioned above, the world established in this issue is not one I would consider unique or interesting. You get the typical sights: cities reclaimed by nature, gallows with prisoners strung up, and lots of desert vistas. But, sprinkled throughout are some glimpses at something more compelling, specifically in the character designs. Once Grendel Prime reaches the Roach Market, he’s presented with a wide assortment of humans ranging from very naked and depraved to ornately clothed. It’s these designs that give this issue any semblance that there’s depth in this world, stories of how and why these people look the way they do.

BOTTOM LINE: IT’S ACCESSIBLE, BUT LACKLUSTER

Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance #1 does the impossible. It takes an indie darling title, with 40 years of stories under its belt, and creates something that is accessible to most readers. But it never provides a compelling reason why a new reader would want to dive in. With the exception of some interesting character designs and hints at something more interesting hiding beneath the surface, there’s not much here that a reader both new and old can’t get from somewhere else. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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