Beowulf (DC Comics)

Infobox superhero
character_name = Beowulf


caption = Beowulf and Nan-Zee, cover of Beowulf #2
Artist Ricardo Villamonte.
publisher = DC Comics
debut = "Beowulf, Dragon Slayer" #1
(May 1975)
creators = Michael Uslan (writer)
Ricardo Villamonte (artist)
alter_ego = Beowulf
full_name =
species =
homeworld = Daneland
alliances =
partners =
supports =
aliases = Prince of Geats
powers = Expert swordsman, superhuman strength and speed.

Beowulf is a fictional character a swords and sorcery character published by DC Comics. The character debuted in "Beowulf, Dragon Slayer" #1 (May 1975), and was created by Michael Uslan and Ricardo Villamonte.

Publication history

The tale of DC Comics' version of Beowulf starts out very close to the original Anglo-Saxon myth of Bēowulf. But later veers wildly away into the regions of Science Fiction and Faustian Fantasy. The Beowulf title only lasted six issues, running from May 1975 to March 1976. Beowulf and many others published by DC Comics in the 1970s were victims of the DC Comics Implosion. [ [http://www.fanzing.com/mag/fanzing27/feature1.shtml Fanzing 27 - July 2000 - The DC Implosion! ] ]

Fictional character biography

Under instructions from a being known as "The Shaper", Beowulf travels to Castle Hrothgar in Daneland, to fight the monster Grendel, on the way there Beowulf and his men take a detour into the Underworld where they rescue Nan-zee, a Swedish scylfing warrior from the Demons who have been controlling her. Beowulf, Nan-Zee and his companions Wiglaf, and Hondscio continue onwards to Castle Hrothgar, but are again detoured, ending up in a bog where they battle "Swamp Men". Meanwhile, for some reason Grendel and his mother reveal to the reader that they are descendants of Cain. And somehow Beowulf and friends fall through a dimensional gateway beneath a patch of quicksand into a fiery underworld they refer to as Hell. [ [http://unlocked-wordhoard.blogspot.com/2007/07/beowulf-dragon-slayer-no1.html Unlocked Wordhoard: "Beowulf: Dragon Slayer" No.1 ] ] [ [http://unlocked-wordhoard.blogspot.com/2007/07/beowulf-dragon-slayer-no-2.html Unlocked Wordhoard: "Beowulf: Dragon Slayer" No. 2 ] ]

At a later point in the series Beowulf discovers that the only way to slay Grendel is with the nectar of the "Zumak Fruit", along the way he encounters Dracula, a mysterious Lost Tribe of Israel, Ulysses accompanied by a troop of anonymous Greek Warriors, Egyptian/Sumerian Space aliens straight out of Chariots of the Gods, and the lost city of Atlantis. [ [http://unlocked-wordhoard.blogspot.com/2007/07/beowulf-dragon-slayer-no-3.html Unlocked Wordhoard: "Beowulf: Dragon Slayer" No. 3 ] ] [ [http://unlocked-wordhoard.blogspot.com/2007/08/beowulf-dragon-slayer-no-4.html Unlocked Wordhoard: "Beowulf: Dragon Slayer" No. 4 ] ] [ [http://unlocked-wordhoard.blogspot.com/2007/08/beowulf-dragon-slayer-no-5.html Unlocked Wordhoard: "Beowulf: Dragon Slayer" No. 5 ] ]

In the final issue of the series Beowulf and Nan-Zee travel from Atlantis to Crete, where they finally get their hands on some Zumak fruit in the labyrinth of King Minos where Beowulf fights a Minotaur which is being controlled by Satan. Due to the fact that Satan has made Dracula his heir over Grendel. Grendel kills Satan by plunging a stalactite into his back. The Minotaur dies, and Beowulf eats some Zumak fruit, the fruit grants him supernatural strength on par with Grendel. Beowulf and Nan-Zee then make their way back to Daneland in order to slay Grendel who has taken Satan's place as king of the underworld. [ [http://unlocked-wordhoard.blogspot.com/2007/08/beowulf-dragon-slayer-no-6.html Unlocked Wordhoard: "Beowulf: Dragon Slayer" No. 6 ] ] [ [http://www.albany.edu/~JA222227/isp523/dcbeowulf.html Joshua J. Carlson: Final Project: Beowulf in Comics ] ]

Wonder Woman

Beowulf's first appearance in over thirty years occurs in Wonder Woman #20 (July 2008), where Wonder Woman and Stalker recruit him and Claw the Unconquered for a mission to slay the Demon Lord Dgrth.

Powers and abilities

*After consuming the nectar of the Zumak Fruit, Beowulf gains superhuman strength and speed equal to the demon Grendel.
*Beowulf is an accomplished fencer and unarmed combatant.

References

External links

* [http://www.albany.edu/~JA222227/isp523/dcbeowulf.html Beowulf in comics]
* [http://unlocked-wordhoard.blogspot.com/2007/08/beowulf-dragon-slayer-no-6.html Unlocked Wordhoard: synopses of Beowulf issues 1-6]
* [http://www.swordandsorcery.org/comicshistory.htm A Brief History of Sword & Sorcery comics]
* [http://www.fanzing.com/mag/fanzing27/feature1.shtml Fanzing: The DC Implosion]
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=beowulf DCU Guide: Beowulf]