Recent crossover art betweenBatmanandGrendelshows that Netflix made a huge mistake in canceling their series based on Matt Wagner’s iconic indie comic before it was even released. The art by comics master Steve Skroce highlights the sleek and elegant look of Wagner’s indelible super-villain, one of the all-time great costume designs.
Sharing his work to Instagram,Steve Skroceposts that his Batman/Grendel piece was a recent commission for a fan. The artist more than delivered, showing that he understood the assignment with the dramatic confrontation between the two characters, and the little touches like the batarangs sticking out of Grendel add a lot to the piece.
Seeing Skroce draw original creator Matt Wagner’s design only makesNetflix’s decision to pull the plug on theirGrendeladaptationall the more befuddling. The black and white design of Grendel’s mask is simple and iconic, and would look great in live-action.
Matt Wagner’s Grendel Is An All-Time Indie Comics Great
Created by Matt Wagner in 1982, Grendel is the alter-ego of Hunter Rose, a wealthy novelist who moonlights as a costumed assassin and criminal mastermind. After Rose is defeated by his nemesis Argent, Grendel is revealed to be a malevolent spirit that takes possession of different hosts through time. Grendel would actually crossover with Batman twice in the 1990’s. Their first meeting was written and drawn by Matt Wagner, and saw the Dark Knight take on Hunter Rose while he was still operating under the Grendel persona. Wagner returned for a follow-up crossover, this time with Batman squaring off against Grendel-Prime, a cyborg version of the villain from the far future.
“Even though Grendel isn’t as well known outside of comics, the same could also have been said aboutThe Walking DeadandThe Boysbefore they made the jump to the small-screen, and both of those series went on to become huge successes.”
With such a rich legacy in comics,Grendelseemed like a series ripe for a Hollywood adaptation.Netflix announced a series adaptation ofGrendelin 2021, with actor Abubakr Ali cast in the role of Hunter Rose/Grendel. Then, withfilming of the first season almost complete, the streaming giant pulled the plug, canceling the series before audiences even had the chance to see it and judge for themselves. Even though Grendel isn’t as well known outside of comics, the same could also have been said aboutThe Walking DeadandThe Boysbefore they made the jump to the small-screen, and both of those series went on to become huge successes.
Batman’s Crossovers With Grendel Are Some of the Dark Knight’s Best
Even though it appears theGrendelTV series will never see the light of day, Skroce’s art commission pairing the villain against Batman still raises many intriguing possibilities. The two haven’t officially crossed paths since the 1990’s, so surely it’s time for a rematch.Batman recently faced off against Spawn in 2022, decades after their last meeting, so surely another crossover with Grendel isn’t completely out of the cards. Steve Skroce admits it would be a cool series to draw in his IG post, so hopefullyBatmanandGrendelwill get the chance to square off again in the future.
Source: Steve Skroce (Instagram)
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
