Matt Wagner’s long-running Grendel will return this summer for the first of three new miniseries titled Grendel: Devil’s Crucible–Defiance. Grendel’s creator will be joined again by his son, colorist Brennan Wagner, on the series, along with letterers Steve Dutro and Rob Leigh.
Devil’s Crucible follows the eight-issue Devil’s Odyssey, which advanced the futuristic Grendel: Devil Quest story for the first time since the mid-1990s. Grendel first appeared in the early 1980s at Comico, and has appeared on and off at Dark Horse ever since Comico went bankrupt with stories set at different times and focused on different characters.
“Devil’s Odyssey was a dramatic break in the futuristic setting of Grendel. And Devil’s Crucible goes one step further by turning the precepts and setting of that world on its collective ear,” Wagner said. “Gone are the dominant Grendel clans and their military elitism, and yet that fascistic power structure has been replaced…by something far worse! I’ve got some major surprises on deck for this storyline and a word of warning for longtime readers; be careful what you wish for!”
Here’s how Dark Horse describes the new series:
Grendel Prime has returned to Earth, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity that remain and the “Necro Lords” that rule them have turned against the Grendels. Grendel Prime will need to hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet.
The first issue features a variant cover by Brennan Wagner:
Look for the first issue on July 3.