A middle-grade graphic novel featuring the future founders of the Roman Empire.

Kid Beowulf, a human, and his brother, Grendel, who looks like a green, monstrous creature, are enslaved by Spumae, who runs a fighting ring. Prince Tatius from Sabina purchases the pair to train as gladiators and promises their freedom if they fight well. The Sabines sacrifice a member of the Latin tribes every year at their annual games, but this year, three youngsters speak out against the practice: brothers Romulus and Remus, and their friend Tarpeia. To save the kids from punishment, the boys’ guardian, Faustalus, steps in to be sacrificed in their stead. Tarpeia helps Romulus and Remus sneak into the games, as they hope to take their revenge on the King of Sabina—but Kid Beowulf and Grendel challenge them, thinking that the boys are gladiator combatants. Remus is captured, Grendel is wounded, and both sets of brothers are separated. Romulus must come up with a plan to free his brother and carry out his mission. Meanwhile, Prince Tatius, worried about the future of his country and his people, starts to plot against his father, leading him to form uneasy alliances. In this fourth series entry, author/illustrator Fajardo offer an engaging story. It opens with a rhyming tale of the foundation of Rome, although the rest of the novel differs from the myth. (A few pages of historical explanation appear at the end.) A jump back in time makes the chronology a bit confusing, but once it catches up to Kid Beowulf and Grendel’s era, the pacing smooths out and the story unfolds in a satisfying fashion. Despite being the title characters, Beowulf and Grendel don’t feature very heavily, as Romulus, Remus, and Tarpeia steal the spotlight. Much of the book takes place in the gladiatorial arena, but the violence isn’t very graphic. The bright, colorful illustrations present easy-to-follow action scenes. Each character is distinctive, and even identical twins Romulus and Remus are easy to tell apart, due to differing hairstyles.

An often entertaining and well-illustrated work that’s sure to excite young readers. (Maps, Bibliography)

Kid Beowulf, vol 4: The Tarpeian Rock

Beowulf and Grendel’s ancient road trip has taken a drastic turn in their newest adventure. Author and illustrator Alexis E. Fajardo takes his readers to the early days of Ancient Rome in his newest graphic novel Kid Beowulf – The Tarpeian Rock. Using his artistic creativity and storytelling, Fajardo treats young readers to an action-packed story with gladiators, large wolves, feisty girls, and a sword wielding pig.

Among the seven hills of ancient Italy, Beowulf and Grendel are forced to fight in the gladiatorial games. They become an unstoppable force, but the games have changed Grendel into a ferocious monster. As the twins try to find their way out of the arena, another pair of twins plot a rebellion. The unfair treatment of the Sabines by the Latins has reached a breaking point, prompting wolf twins Romulus and Remus, along with their friend Tarpeia, to sneak into the games and try to assassinate King Titus. But when one of the boys is arrested and the other goes into hiding, it may take more than a small band of rebels to set things right within the Italic tribes.

Those who have read the previous books in the series will definitely want to read this next installment. The myth of Romulus and Remus is retold with scenes of familial love and gladiatorial fights surrounded by references to the original story. Dramatic and heartfelt scenes move the story along, providing characters with the drive to do what is right. Expansive views of ancient Italy can be found throughout the story, with bright or dark colors signifying the time of day and landscapes dotted with forests and Roman architecture. But a Kid Beowulf story would not be complete without some comedy. Brotherly banter between twins Romulus and Remus will bring a smile to the reader’s face and the liberation of Hama the pig and Nagling the talking sword is reminiscent of slapstick comedy and the antics of animal sidekicks. As with his previous novels, Fajardo includes background information on the history of Ancient Rome and the mythological tale of its founding, pictures from his trip to Italy that provided inspiration, character descriptions, a bibliography, and a detailed account of his creative process.

Public and school libraries, especially those who have the first three volumes of the series (The Blood-Bound Oath, The Song of Roland, and The Rise of El Cid), should collect this title.Readers in grades 4th-6th will enjoy scenes of comedic action and become interested in the historical and mythological references that are found within the story. And with a cliffhanger that drives the story in a new direction, they will definitely ask for the next installment.

– Reviewed by Gloria Romano, No Flying No Tights

☆☆☆☆

The Rise of El Cid concluded what Alexis E. Fajardo considered an introductory trilogy for Kid Beowulf, and with the introductions over, it seems as if Beowulf is now heading to the crowning glory of his era: the city of Rome. Fajardo, though, springs the first of many surprises after the now customary rhyming prologue supplies the background to the city’s foundation and early days.

Legend has it that twins Romulus and Remus founded Rome, and they’re introduced as irrepressible youngsters as it’s revealed how unfair society was before Rome existed, when the Sabines were the dominant people. Every year the locals had to sacrifice one of their own as the price to be left in peace for the remainder of the year, and in The Tarpeian Rock it’s the man who’s been a father to Romulus and Remus who’s taken. They’re teenagers by that point and there’s considerably more to their entertaining story, but that’s best read. They meet Beowulf and Grendel who’ve been brought to the Sabine festival as slaves to fight in the gladiatorial arena.

If it seems there’s a lot of background to process, that’s because there is, but Fajardo, as always, ensures this is painless via thrilling adventure. He introduces the main characters, and while we come to know them we also absorb that background. In addition to Romulus and Remus we meet their friend Tarpeia, after whom the rock of the title is named, and in the Disney animation tradition, Fajardo is a great fan of cute animals who’re smarter than they look. There’s a growing part for Hama the pig spotlighted in earlier volumes, but the star turn here is a brave silent bird, Pici, almost a brighter version of Woody Woodpecker.

There’s a consistency to the way Kid Beowulf looks, with Fajardo strong on movement and the creation of a sympathetic cast while packing the panels with detail, and by halfway we’re following several characters in different places, most trying to rescue someone. He’s a natural storyteller, and very adept at subverting expectations. Older readers will be fooled and younger readers will thrill to the escalating tension as it seems not everyone will get what they want. It should also be noted how deftly Fajardo tones down what are some quite gruesome ideas and events, ensuring the all-ages designation can still apply.

A single wrong note concerns Fajardo’s prologue revealing the fates according to legend of the characters we sympathize with all the way through in his alternative telling. That would have been better left for the bonus material near the end, where it would equally display how cleverly his story twists those legends, especially that of the Tarpeian Rock. Twenty pages of background material are supplied, including pictures from Fajardo’s research trip to Rome.

Four volumes in, Kid Beowulf is a solid crowd-pleaser, and each successive adventure is something to be anticipated.

– Reviewed by Ian Keough