Matt Wagner’s masterpiece celebrates its thirtieth anniversary with the first-ever comprehensive collection of the complete Grendel saga! Grendel Omnibus Vol. 1: Hunter Rose is the first of four volumes presenting the entire series and following the chronology of the stories. This August, Floating World is proud to host an art exhibit and book release signing with Portland artist, Matt Wagner.
Volume 1 reprints Grendel: Devil by the Deed; the short story collections Grendel: Black, White, & Red and Grendel: Red, White, & Black, featuring a host of legendary guest artists; and the epic Grendel: Behold the Devil. This edition introduces millionaire Hunter Rose and his alter ego, the criminal mastermind Grendel!
“Grendel is a brave and possibly even reckless experiment that has succeeded admirably.” –Alan Moore
WHO: Matt Wagner
WHAT: Grendel Omnibus book release and art exhibit
WHEN: Thursday, August 2nd, 6-10pm; artwork on display until Aug. 31
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 400 NW Couch St.
Bio info:
Matt Wagner has enjoyed a career in comics for almost thirty years. Born and educated in Pennsylvania, his first published work was a short story that would introduce one of comicdom’s most respected creator-owned characters–the mastermind assassin, GRENDEL. Best known for this epic, Eisner Award-winning creation and his other, more personal, allegory, MAGE, Matt has also worked on a variety of established characters. These include his ground-breaking work on the character of Batman villain, Two-Face, in the graphic novel, FACES, a five-year stint authoring the fan-favorite Vertigo title, SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE, as well as the DR. MID-NITE mini-series for DC Comics and serving as the regular cover artist on the Kevin Smith-penned relaunch of GREEN ARROW.
Known for his character-driven stories and his obvious love of world history and mythologies, Matt has also enjoyed the distinction of being one of the only writer/artists allowed to team his own creation with one of DC’s flagship characters in two successive BATMAN/GRENDEL cross-overs.
In the past few years, Matt has also written and drawn several high profile projects for DC; a highly successful, three-issue, prestige series starring Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman; titled TRINITY and a well received, year-long, project which comprised two mini-series that chronicled some of the earliest aspects of Batman’s career, collectively titled DARK MOON RISING.
His latest efforts have focused mainly on writing; MADAME XANADU for Vertigo and the all-new re-launch of the ZORRO franchise for Dynamite Entertainmen, both of which earned him an Eisner Award nomination as Best Writer in 2009. He also penned the origin arc for Dynamite’s GREEN HORNET; YEAR ONE.
He is currently developing and writing an original epic storyline, THE TOWER CHRONICLES for the newly formed Legendary Comics, a division of Hollywood powerhouse, Legendary Pictures.