Kathryn Delaney

The world belongs to Grendel-Khan Orion Assante and his elite warrior caste of Grendels, but when Orion dies, the world is thrown back into chaos. To protect young Jupiter Assante, rightful heir to the throne, those still loyal to the Grendel-Khan must turn to a new power, the terrifying Grendel Prime! The story of Orion’s cyborg paladin unfolds in War Child, Devil Quest, and Past Prime, three tales that form the apotheosis of Wagner’s groundbreaking, centuries-spanning epic! * War Child won the Eisner Award for Best Limited Series! * Includes the Past Prime novel written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by Wagner!

The story of Grendel Prime unfolds in three tales: the Eisner Award-winning War Child, with art by Patrick McEown; the riveting Past Prime novel, written by Greg Rucka with pen-and-ink illustrations by Wagner; and the lush, painted Devil Quest, recounting Prime's search through an apocalyptic future for the seeds of his own past. Over five hundred pages of ultra-stylish art and story, culminating in "A Grendel Primer," Wagner's A-to-Z overview of all things Grendel!

This issue introduces readers to the newest Grendel, a man known only as Jonah, who is discovered, face down in the snow and half-dead, by the workers of Ice Station Hellman. Can Jonah help these stranded workers or is he in fact the carrier of the mysterious virus causing each of them to quite literally explode? Also in this issue: Matt Wagner's painted back-up story continues, featuring Grendel-Prime.

Supplies are running low at Ice Station Hellman, and the workers are mysteriously dying, infected with a gruesome virus. To add to her troubles, station commander Caroline Konard has offered sanctuary to a renegade Grendel, prompting the station crew to threaten mutiny! This series is written by Steve Seagle, Matt Wagner's collaborator on Sandman Mystery Theatre, and stylishly illustrated by British artist Paul Grist, creator of Kane. Also in this issue: We meet the mysterious Session Twins in Matt Wagner's painted back-up feature.

While quakes continue to shake things up at Ice Station Hellman, a deadly virus has infected the workers there, causing them to explode! Believing that the mysterious Grendel Jonah is at the heart of their troubles, some of the workers conspire to remove him -- forever! Also in this issue: Matt Wagner's back-up feature continues, as valuable clues emerge in the search for Grendel-Prime.

Grendel Jonah gets crucified -- literally! -- Alexander reveals an important truth about his own past, the ice-station workers rebel and take charge, and a ravening mutant beast appears from the bowels of the icy earth! All this and more in the penultimate issue of Grendel Tales: The Devil in Our Midst. Also in this issue: The return of the perverse Hitchcock Blue, who, in his quest for the Devil, goes to Pigsville to question the elusive Vaseline Tsusumi. Written and fully painted by Grendel creator Matt Wagner.

Hope for survival at Ice Station Hellman continues to dwindle as Grendel Jonah confronts his past and discovers that history does, in fact, repeat itself. Faced with the triple threat of the devastating virus causing people to explode, a giant creature from beneath the ice, and the treacherous Drake, Grendel Tales: Devil in Our Midst comes to a shattering conclusion. Also in this issue: In Matt Wagner's painted back-up feature, the chronicle of Hitchcock Blue's visit to Pigsville continues. Retailers, please note that this back-up serves as a prequel to Batman/Grendel II.

A lone Grendel warrior bent on suicide is found on the Antarctic coast by a team of scientists, and within hours, everything goes insane: the team gets cut off from the rest of the world, and one by one, they begin . . . bleeding. Now the Grendel who was so eager to kill himself must decide whether to help the others or end his own suffering. With only each other to rely on, and having no idea who will become infected and die next, the group becomes trapped in a deadly game of survival of the fittest! This fast-paced story of suspense is written by Steven T. Seagle (Uncanny X-Men, House of Secrets) and drawn by Paul Grist (Kane). Check out the tale that made them stars!

The debut of an entire new story arc in Matt Wagner's ongoing Grendel Tales series, this issue begins the tale of Petrus Christus, the lone survivor of a town gruesomely massacred by a band of Grendels. In order to seek revenge, Petrus must himself adopt the mantle of Grendel -- but, unbeknownst to him, the price may be too terrible to pay! "Black Blood" is written and illustrated by Rob Walton, and painted by Bernie Mireault and Kathryn Delaney, using the same animation-cel style coloring that earned them an Eisner Award nomination for Grendel: War Child. Also premiering this issue is an ongoing four-page back-up story, written and lavishly painted by Grendel creator Matt Wagner, featuring the popular Grendel-Prime character from War Child. In this issue, the clandestine search for Grendel-Prime begins, as the fate of the world empire teeters on the brink of chaos!

Having now adopted the terrible mantle of Grendel, Petrus Christus enacts his revenge and uncovers some startling news in the process -- but at what cost to his soul? Also in this issue, Matt Wagner's handsomely painted back-up story continues, as Hitchcock Blue is sent on a secret mission to search for Grendel-Prime.

Petrus undergoes an exorcism in order to rid his soul of Grendel. But the devil takes many forms, and it could just be that the abbot performing the ancient rite has his own hidden agenda. All is revealed in "The Truth." Also in this issue: Chapter 3 of Matt Wagner's beautifully painted back-up story, in which a miner has a surprise encounter with Grendel-Prime. And a preview of the upcoming Grendel Tales: The Devil in Our Midst.