Grendel: Past Prime

Crime writer Greg Rucka expands the Grendel mythos a step farther in Grendel: Past Prime, a short novel with more than 80 illustrations by Matt Wagner. It follows the sordid and brutal adventures of Susan, a young veteran of the future Grendel Wars, as she finds purpose in finding and aiding the cyborg savior of her kind. The story moves quickly, but though the intricate, soap-opera-like details aren't quite overwhelming, fans of the series will have a much easier time of it. Nobility, honor, and extreme violence are the themes Rucka chooses to explore, and they serve to light a dim view of the future. --Rob Lightner