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Grendel Tales #1
Matt Wagner's Grendel Tales: Four Devils, One Hell
Too many devils are looking to rule the underworld. Some of them have to head for higher ground. The gambler, the detective, the madman, the artist—four displaced devils each in search of a hell to call his own. But while each follows his own path, they all end up on the night train to New Orleans.
Four devils are fighting for one town, and an unknown threat with a thirst for power is lurking amongst them, unwilling to give up his town.
There's always somethin' hot goin' down in the Big Easy, but forecasts are predicting an all-time high!
Four devils are fighting for one town, and an unknown threat with a thirst for power is lurking amongst them, unwilling to give up his town.
There's always somethin' hot goin' down in the Big Easy, but forecasts are predicting an all-time high!
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Matt Wagner
961 books236 followersMatt Wagner is an American comic book writer and artist. In addition to his creator-owned series' Mage and Grendel, he has also worked on comics featuring The Demon and Batman as well as such titles as Sandman Mystery Theatre and Trinity, a DC Comics limited series featuring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 27, 2024
The story of four Grendels whose stories converge in New Orleans.
The story is disjointed and unfocused. The art is terrible. All of the characters look similar. There are places where I couldn't tell what was happening on a single panel on the page.
The story is disjointed and unfocused. The art is terrible. All of the characters look similar. There are places where I couldn't tell what was happening on a single panel on the page.
January 17, 2018
3,5*
First arc of the Grendel tales series "Four devils, one hell" is basically a noir book set in Grendel environment.
It's a multiple pov story, not easy to get into at the beginning. There's a gambler, a curator and a loony book-keeper, all Grendels, and a PI. For different reasons all will cross paths in New Orleans (Hell).
On the upside Robinson manages to install a good typical noir atmosphere, off monologues and all. Some lines are real good and repetition effects are well placed. But I like the genre so I'm partial.
The Grendel universe around is a nice touch. But I like Grendel so I'm partial.
Teddy Kristiansen does a great job on the board. His painted art is beautiful though I'm very conscious his style won't please everybody.
On the downside the plot is a bit far-fetched, some events are too coincidental to be true and after a rather slow beginning the story continues on a (sometimes) too fast pace.
None of the characters really attract sympathy and they're not too developped either. The PI is hard assed, the gambler seeks redemption, the curator is frigid and the book-keeper out of his bloody mind. I picked up who'd die at the end by issue 2.
Not the best of the Tales but not too shabby either 4D1H deserves a look from the Grendel amateur. The others might give it a try but no knowledge of the Grendel context could be destabilizing at first.
First arc of the Grendel tales series "Four devils, one hell" is basically a noir book set in Grendel environment.
It's a multiple pov story, not easy to get into at the beginning. There's a gambler, a curator and a loony book-keeper, all Grendels, and a PI. For different reasons all will cross paths in New Orleans (Hell).
On the upside Robinson manages to install a good typical noir atmosphere, off monologues and all. Some lines are real good and repetition effects are well placed. But I like the genre so I'm partial.
The Grendel universe around is a nice touch. But I like Grendel so I'm partial.
Teddy Kristiansen does a great job on the board. His painted art is beautiful though I'm very conscious his style won't please everybody.
On the downside the plot is a bit far-fetched, some events are too coincidental to be true and after a rather slow beginning the story continues on a (sometimes) too fast pace.
None of the characters really attract sympathy and they're not too developped either. The PI is hard assed, the gambler seeks redemption, the curator is frigid and the book-keeper out of his bloody mind. I picked up who'd die at the end by issue 2.
Not the best of the Tales but not too shabby either 4D1H deserves a look from the Grendel amateur. The others might give it a try but no knowledge of the Grendel context could be destabilizing at first.
July 15, 2010
I have to say that initially I had a bit of trouble getting into the story. Wagner's Grendel characters has evolved so much, and in so many ways, that if you come to it in the middle, you feel like you miss a lot. This volume collects a story by another author using Wagner's world and concept. If like me, you enter this world without prior knowledge (I picked up the volume because it seemed interesting), a quick look at the Wikipedia entry for Grendel (the one by Wagner, not the Beowulf one) has a great overview of the story as well as the chronology. I found it helpful.
However, the nice thing is that this is a noir tale. Once you get that the Grendels are basically a somewhat loose society of assassins that vaguely follows the path of the original, you are set. In the end, it is a story of private investigator investigating a murder. An art collector seeking a treasure, and a cult leader trying to bring about an apocalypse. Those are basic elements any reader can get into. And this book works very well as a noir tale, which I enjoyed very much. Once you get past the first chapter, the pace picks up. I think I would have gotten it even without looking up additional information, but I am glad I did as I was better able to appreciate it. Wagner has basically created a very expansive storyline, and this is just one chapter. Yet you can enjoy it as a stand alone work.
The art here is very good. I personally liked the panel with the gambler at the end of the first chapter. Oh, and for librarians, our P.I. hero even gives a little shout out. Mantovani, the P.I. says, "The rule is. . .when you're in a strange place and you need information--fast and straight, no bullshit-- don't go to the bars and clubs. Go to the library."
So, this is a tale that takes a bit of work to get into, but once you do, it does not let go. It made me curious enough to want to read more.
However, the nice thing is that this is a noir tale. Once you get that the Grendels are basically a somewhat loose society of assassins that vaguely follows the path of the original, you are set. In the end, it is a story of private investigator investigating a murder. An art collector seeking a treasure, and a cult leader trying to bring about an apocalypse. Those are basic elements any reader can get into. And this book works very well as a noir tale, which I enjoyed very much. Once you get past the first chapter, the pace picks up. I think I would have gotten it even without looking up additional information, but I am glad I did as I was better able to appreciate it. Wagner has basically created a very expansive storyline, and this is just one chapter. Yet you can enjoy it as a stand alone work.
The art here is very good. I personally liked the panel with the gambler at the end of the first chapter. Oh, and for librarians, our P.I. hero even gives a little shout out. Mantovani, the P.I. says, "The rule is. . .when you're in a strange place and you need information--fast and straight, no bullshit-- don't go to the bars and clubs. Go to the library."
So, this is a tale that takes a bit of work to get into, but once you do, it does not let go. It made me curious enough to want to read more.
March 26, 2019
This is one of my favorites that I always come back to every few years.
It’s an early work by both Robinson and Kristiansen, but its ambitious and beautiful.
It is a noir story set in Hell (New Orleans) with four different points of view. A PI, a gambler, an accountant, and an art curator. All stories gradually intertwine and lead a great, bloody end.
It’s an early work by both Robinson and Kristiansen, but its ambitious and beautiful.
It is a noir story set in Hell (New Orleans) with four different points of view. A PI, a gambler, an accountant, and an art curator. All stories gradually intertwine and lead a great, bloody end.
August 17, 2020
This is an odd mixture. It is set in the futuristic world of the later Grendel stories, in which the Grendel organization has become a weird mixture of crime fighters and criminals. Into that comes an old-school private detective, asked to investigate a crime that leads him into the underworld of a New Orleans that blends old and new, voodoo and vampires.
I am a longtime fan of the Grendel stories by Matt Wagner, but hadn't read this story when it came out. I was not fond of the artwork, which was muddy and hard to understand in many places, and the normally clear writing of James Robinson just wasn't at its best.
If you've read enough of the Grendel stories to understand what's going on by this point in the story, this is pretty good, but not the best of the work by far.
I am a longtime fan of the Grendel stories by Matt Wagner, but hadn't read this story when it came out. I was not fond of the artwork, which was muddy and hard to understand in many places, and the normally clear writing of James Robinson just wasn't at its best.
If you've read enough of the Grendel stories to understand what's going on by this point in the story, this is pretty good, but not the best of the work by far.
June 1, 2025
I was only passively aware of Grendel and was interested in exploring the series I saw this trade in a convention and the art intrigued me plus it was written by James Robinson of star man fame and I wanted to explore his work so I checked this out the story follows multiple narrators who’s stories all converge by the end the story is good if your a fan of films like blade runner but the unconventional narrative and convoluted lore makes this not the best intro to the series since it feels like you need to know a bit about the world of Grendel before you start reading as I felt a little lost while reading
May 7, 2019
Matt Wagner relinquishing the reins on his devils and passing them for others to play with. This is basically a noir taking place after War Child, in a world where Grendel has taken over the planet, but...it's largely business as usual for the planet earth.
Some Grendel are good and honorable, and others are are scum. Just like every other institution or society. However, there's rumors of a sacred bloodline and a mighty relic circulating New Orleans, which sounds like a den of the Devil. Vampires, Voodoo and Vice--Oh MY!
A nice experiment and largely applauded.
Some Grendel are good and honorable, and others are are scum. Just like every other institution or society. However, there's rumors of a sacred bloodline and a mighty relic circulating New Orleans, which sounds like a den of the Devil. Vampires, Voodoo and Vice--Oh MY!
A nice experiment and largely applauded.
March 18, 2023
A New Orleans noir, a mystery which adds madness and violence, rolling through traditional Grendel themes and not only hewing close to the mythology, but also setting up elements for Wagner to return to later. An ambitious series, kicking off this far-future sandbox for other writers to play in, with both Robinson's layered script and Kristiansen's beautiful art requiring some work and concentration from the reader, and rewarding it handsomely.
April 11, 2016
Four Devils, One Hell is mostly about Mantovari, a Private Eye working for a dead client. He was hired on to find the murderer of a man's brother, but his client was murdered when he starts really looking into the case. He ends up following it up because he thinks it is the right thing to do, and he doesn't really seem to have anything else anyway. This leads him to New Orleans, aptly dubbed "Hell." There are other very interesting characters involved through the journey. I am quite partial to both Bixby, the previous accountant gone mad, and Calhoun the honest gambler.
The writing is excellent, though the entire thing is rather brief. I think there could have been a lot more story involved and characterization. There were times where I thought I was missing a page because it seemed to jump too suddenly in the writing.
The artwork is about as good as I have seen. The illustration is very nice and the painting/coloring work is just amazing. I absolutely loved the work and I often found myself looking closer at the drawings trying to pick out different things.
This is definitely, definitely for adults. There is blood and gore on nearly every turn of the page and a fair amount of sex thrown in as well.
This is by far one of my favorite graphic novels
The writing is excellent, though the entire thing is rather brief. I think there could have been a lot more story involved and characterization. There were times where I thought I was missing a page because it seemed to jump too suddenly in the writing.
The artwork is about as good as I have seen. The illustration is very nice and the painting/coloring work is just amazing. I absolutely loved the work and I often found myself looking closer at the drawings trying to pick out different things.
This is definitely, definitely for adults. There is blood and gore on nearly every turn of the page and a fair amount of sex thrown in as well.
This is by far one of my favorite graphic novels
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews