From: [j--s--n] at [crocker.com] (Jeremy B. Holstein) Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.alternative,rec.arts.comics.misc Subject: Grendel FAQ 2.1 (part 3) Date: 25 Sep 1995 22:56:17 GMT [Continued from Part 2] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05: Who is Matt Wagner? ANSWER: Matt Wagner is the writer/artist who created Grendel. Born in 1962, Wagner is the only son of [blank] and [blank] Wagner. After completeing College, Wagner entered the comic field in 1982 with his first Grendel story for Comico. In June of 1988 he married Diana Schultz's sister, Barbara. They have since had at least one son. I haven't been able to find much on this, so any more info would be appreciated. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 06: In what comics has Matt Wagner's work appeared? ANSWER: Matt Wagner's work has appeared in many different books, published by many different companies. What follows is a very incomplete list of his work, divided into three categories (STORY AND ART, JUST ART, and JUST STORY). Any corrections and/or additions would be very appreciated. STORY AND ART: Comico Primer #2 Grendel #1-3 (Black and White) Mage #1-15 Mage Vol. #1-3 (Donning Starblaze editions. Features new covers and coloring, and are thus unique). The Demon #1-4 Demon #22 Grendel War Child #1-10 (inks on #1-9, partial pencils on #10) Batman/Grendel #1 and 2 Batman/Grendel HERO ashcan (includes sketchbook) Urban Legends (Fantagraphics version) #1 True North 1 FACES: Legends of the Dark Knight (#27-29?) Miracleman: Apocrypha #1 (four page short) Dark Horse Presents #40, 45, 5th Anniversary Special Comico's Black Book #1 Grendel Primer (Diamond giveaway) ART ONLY: Sandman #25 Terminator One Shot Comico Primer #5 (inks only) Secret Origins Special #1 (inks only) Johnny Quest #1 (back-up story colors only) Terminator: One Shot (art only) True North #2 Ray Bradbury Comics #2 (over Harvey Kurtzman layouts) STORY ONLY: Grendel #1-40 Sandman Mystery Theater #1-Present Grendel : Devil's Vagury Riddler: The Riddle Factory one-shot Sandman Midnight Theatre (with Neil Gaiman) DC Who's Who, new series (text for Uncle Sam entry) COVERS ONLY: The Best of DHP Vol #3 (Arialist reprint w/cover by Matt) Skrog Yip Yip Yay Summer Fun Special #1 (back cover colors) Johnny Quest #4 (cover colors only) Challengers of the Unknown #5 Swamp Thing #103 Robin II #1 The Griffin #1-6 The Jam #1-5 (Slave Labor edition) Tales From the Heart #7 Lone Wolf & Cub #25-36 TRADING CARDS A set of four trading cards featuring the Simon Bisley covers from Grendel: War Child on the front and an original Matt Wagner Grendel drawing on the back. Madman trading card (in Madman x50 bubblegum card set) Grendel-Prime card for Wizard magazine Grendel-Prime card for charity (part of a 11 card set which can be purchased through the Comic Book Legal Defence fund. Support the CBLDF! Buy a dozen!) GRENDEL LITHOGRAPH A full-color lithograph featuring an original piece by Matt Wagner. POSTERS A promotional poster featuring the cover to Batman/Grendel #1. Marvel poster: Hulk vs. Thing Sandman Mystery Theatre poster Limited edition Grendel poster (200 prints) with 6 Grendel incarnations. PIN UPS Batman vs. Predator #1-2 Fish Police, Comico edition #6 Eagle #1 The Jam: Super-Cool Color-INjected Turbo Adventure #1 From Hell DC Who's Who (old series): Dr. Midnite DC Who's Who (new series): Granny Goodness, Copperhead, Hourman, The Spectre MISCELANEOUS Demon gatefold in Graphitti's hardcover History of the DC Universe Hunter Rose statue designed by Matt & sculpted by Randy Bowen INTERVIEWS (w/ Wagner covers) Comics Journal #165 Comics Interview # ? (Batman/Grendel cover) ------------------------------------------------------------------- 07: Who is Argent? ANSWER: Argent is Grendel's nemesis. Wagner stated at the beginning of the series that he wanted to examine the grays of what is good and what is evil, so he made his first Grendel (Hunter Rose) very suave and appealing, which the hero was utterly despicable. Argent thus is a very gruff, half/human half wolf hybrid. He claims to be a 300 year old Indian shaman who was cursed by his tribe for a forbidden love affair. The Silverback series portrays argent as an ordinary man possessed by the spirit of Masun, the spirit of death. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 08: Is Grendel a spirit? ANSWER: The Devil Inside seems to indicate so. The story is told through two narratives: Brian Li Sung's, and what seems to be Brian's sub-consciousness. At the end of the second chapter (issue 14 of the color series), the sub-conscious narrative starts to refer to Brian as a "host". This would explain how the Grendel persona has survived over 400 years. It would also indicate that there might have been Grendels BEFORE Hunter Rose, and this has been underscored by the Grendel Tales series "War Hammer", wherin a character possessed by the spirit of Grendel rattles out a long procession of names presumed to be past Grendels. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 09: Whatever happened to [insert favorite Wagner title here]? ANSWER: Wagner has a history of delayed projects, but it is not always his fault. Many of his projects have been delayed or canceled due to the bankruptcy of Comico in the summer of '90. The following is an inside view of the Comico collapse from Timothy Mennel, the Managing Editor of PHILOSOPHY & PUBLIC AFFAIRS, and former submissions and new projects editor for Comico from 1989-1990. "The principle cause of Comico's financial woes was the newsstand distribution idea. Expanding to newsstand meant adding returnable sales, which necessitated *much* higher print runs than on direct-only titles. The losses mounted much more quickly than anyone realized, and this is what forced the first Comico Implosion in 1989. (Diana Schutz told me that the expansion to newsstand required more titles and more revenue, which is why the company picked up so many new titles in 1988--such as TROLLORDS, TROUBLE WITH GIRLS, etc.-in an effort to find a cash cow.) "Matt had always planned to end GRENDEL with issue #40, planning to replace it with GRENDEL TALES and GRENDEL LOGS, which would be created by other writers and artists under his supervision. The first GRENDEL TALES arc would have been written by Matt, with Eddie Campbell drawing. This project has been abandoned and Campbell has sold the art he did for it. The second arc would have been written by James Robinson. GRENDEL LOGS was to be a miniseries of entirely black-white-and-red stories. Dark Horse periodically announces plans to do both TALES and LOGS. "Partway through the production of the final GRENDEL arc (the Wagner/Sale issues, #34-40), Matt changed his mind and began writing the story that became WAR CHILD. Because he had waited so long, the book had to go on hiatus. The important point here is that the hiatus was planned before the bankruptcy and had nothing to do with the increasing bad blood between Matt (and Diana Schutz) and Comico's then-publishers, Phil and Dennis LaSorda. Grendel was to break for five months, and then return with #41. The planned issues #41-50 were identical to what was put out as WAR CHILD, except that the covers were to be by John Estes (DC's STREETS), who painted three or four of them before the bankruptcy. "Comico's financial problems became critical in February 1990, the month GRENDEL #40 came out. At this point, much of the work on #41-43 had already been started. Comico filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but continued to meet all of its freelancer's bills, though not always in full or on time. Nevertheless, production on both GRENDEL and GRENDEL TALES, which was to begin simultaneously with GRENDEL #41-, continued. "Comico at this point was still distributed by DC, and so had their books promoted in the monthly DC flier. Although relations steadily worsened between the GRENDEL staff (Wagner, Schutz, et al.) and the Comico office, Comico continued to promote the return of GRENDEL, both in the DC flier (see solicitations for August 1990, e.g.), and through ads in the other Comico books (ELEMENTALS, etc.). Comico was planning a major relaunch over the summer, adding several new titles (including BATMAN/GRENDEL), and GRENDEL would have been advertised in many of those titles as well. Then in May Comico ran out of money completely. "BATMAN/GRENDEL got tied up here, as Comico was supposed to pay all the creative costs and DC all the promotional costs. Comico was unable to pay the thousands of dollars owed Wagner, Ken Bruzenak, Joe Matt, etc. "The LaSordas ceded control of the company to Andrew Rev, who over the next few weeks fired the remaining Comico staff, leaving no contact but him for the GRENDEL group. He claimed GRENDEL as an asset of the company, meaning that Matt could not take it elsewhere. Matt took this as an infringement on his creative rights (although he had signed a contract to produce GRENDEL scripts and inks for Comico) and refused to produce work for Rev-which is understandable because Rev is an [explicative deleted] of gargantuan proportions and took to harassing Matt at home at all hours. Much of the AERIALIST appears to be based on Matt's experiences with the LaSordas and Rev." This explains the long publication delay for Grendel, and may also affect Mage II (although I suspect the delay on Mage is more Wagner's fault than Rev's.) Mage II has been promised since the summer of '89, BEFORE the Comico collapse, and was delayed. Wagner has not, to my knowledge, completed any work on the series to this date. He has promised to FINALLY begin work upon this project upon completion of Batman/Grendel II. The Aerialist has been delayed due to Wagner's busy schedule. It was begun during a lull in Wagner's career (shortly after the Comico collapse) which since passed, leaving him little time to pursue low-paying jobs. Dark Horse has even gone so far as to schedule the Aerialist's return three times now, with no success. Wagner has stated that he will not work on the Aerialist again until he completes his next big Batman crossover. Currently he is scripting DC's Sandman Mystery Theater, and is working hard on Batman/Grendel II. The oft mentioned Grendel Novel has been shelved. In a Comics Journal interview, Wagner states that one day he realized that he just wasn't much of a prose author. Selections of this manuscript saw print in the back of the Silverback mini-series. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 10: How do I get that damn Newsletter? ANSWER: To subscribe to Ancient Brain Parts -The Matt Wagner Newsletter 'N' Stuff, send a postcard to: Ancient Brain Parts P.O. Box 14891 Portland, OR 97214 Also visit the unofficial On-line version on the web at: http://www.sojourn.com/~dh5251/abphome.html This page is maintained by Dan Homer, who gave me his permission to steal sections from his excellent bibliography of Matt Wagner projects. His list has been revised and expanded for this FAQ, and can be seen as question (6). ------------------------------------------------------------------- 11: I've heard Grendel is open to submissions. How do I submit? ANSWER: Here's Diana Schultz's answer to that question, from Grendel War Child #6: "A lot of readers have been bombarding me with similar requests for information, so I'll attempt to five you the foods. First, for those of you who have never written or drawn comics professionally, please read what Randy Stradley wrote regarding submissions in the back of Grendel War Child #s 2 and 3. Then, send a self addressed stamped envelope to the Dark Horse Submissions Editor with a request for writer's and/or artists' guidelines. Those will tell you what you need to know generally about hoe to submit. Keep in mind that your submission should be brief (4-5 pages is a good ballpark.) Regarding submissions to Grendel Tales in particular, you'll need to be thoroughly conversant with the entire Grendel story line, but all stories are to be set in the post-Orion era. A plot synopsis in essential; an issue-by-issue break down is preferable. Character sketches and sample storytelling pages (photocopies only, please) are also necessary. If you do not draw then you must find an artist who is willing to work with you. Comics is a medium involving both words and pictures; no Grendel Tales submissions will be considered unless they incorporate both writing and art. Send your proposals to Matt Wagner in care of Dark Horse. Make sure to include your name, address and phone number. If Matt is interested, you'll hear from him." HOWEVER! BE WARNED! >From Grendel Classics #1: "Matt and I have decided not to release Grendel Tales as a successively numbered series. However, as of 1996, we will no longer publish the series on a monthly basis. Rather, we plan to release one maybe two Grendel series per year, with Matt writing at least some of the stories. (so, with the current backlog of Tales submissions, we really don't want any more for quite some time)." So the best we can say right now is if you submit to Grendel Tales you're asking for disappointment. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 12: What projects are forthcoming from Matt Wagner? Answer: This is current as of September, 1995. Matt Wagner is currently hard at work on the sequel to Batman/Grendel II, to be release hopefully in the first quarter of next year. He is also writing a Mr. Midnight series for DC with John K. Snyder doing the art. Initial realeased sketches look great. Matt has also hinted at an erotic project which may see print at some time in the future. Possibly as a card set! Matt has stated that upon completion of Batman/Grendel II, he will begin work upon Mage II. Matt has also stated that he DOES intend to get back to the Aerialist at some point in the future, but certainly not until after Batman/Grendel II. Matt is also intending to write some new Grendel Tales books in the coming year. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 13: What Grendel/Matt Wagner comics is Jeremy missing? The following list are the comics I'm currently missing. If any kind soul wants to thank me for compiling this FAQ, this would be a wonderful way. I'm always reachable through E-mail, and we could set up some sort of exchange. I believe many of these turn up in the 25 cent bin from time to time... Johnny Quest #1 (back-up story colors only) Johnny Quest #4 (cover colors only) Challengers of the Unknown #5 Robin II #1 The Griffin #1-6 The Jam #1-5 (Slave Labor edition) Tales From the Heart #7 Lone Wolf & Cub #25-36 DC Who's Who, new series (text for Uncle Sam entry) Marvel poster: Hulk vs. Thing Limited edition Grendel poster (200 prints) with 6 Grendel incarnations. Batman vs. Predator #1-2 Fish Police, Comico edition #6 Eagle #1 DC Who's Who (old series): Dr. Midnite DC Who's Who (new series): Granny Goodness, Copperhead, Hourman, The Spectre Demon gatefold in Graphitti's hardcover History of the DC Universe Hunter Rose statue designed by Matt & sculpted by Randy Bowen ------------------------------------------------------------------- LEGAL STUFF ------------------- Not really much legal stuff, as FAQ's are always questionable anyway. All I ask is that you keep this document intact if you distribute it. If sections must be used (IE a bibliography), just give me some credit, ok? Thanks! -Jer (ME!)