Kid Beowulf and the Song of Roland made its way to the printer this week! Here’s some early buzz:

With Kid Beowulf, cartoonist Alexis E. Fajardo combines a wonderful sense of whimsy and high adventure into a totally captivating and enjoyable series. Great fun for young and old readers!
~ Jeff Lemire, Essex County

This book actually made me interested in Beowulf, and even J. R. R. Tolkien couldn’t do that! With a breezy cartoon style, idiosyncratic character designs, and crystal clear storytelling, Kid Beowulf is a fine addition to any comic collection or library.
~Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules

Middle Age adventure meets all ages fun. Alexis Fajardo mixes history with folklore to create a wonderful tale.
~Frank Cammuso, Knights of the Lunch Table

Crazy economy. Spring fever. Feeling up, down, or a little bit sideways?

Publishers, editors, designers, artists, videographers, marketers, writers, and a stray cat or two… We need to get together and talk about business, life, and maybe a bit about how we can help each other through these tough times. No big agenda. No presentation.

This is an open house event brought to you by Ink & Paper Group and our friends at PubWest. Join us for a few cool ones, snack on some delicious Mexican food (hey, Cinco de Mayo is only a few days away), and reconnect with friends and colleagues. Or make some new connections.

Watch your e-mailbox for an evite. We hope to see you May 1st! We’ll save a seat on the veranda for you. Really.

Sign up for this event on Ink & Paper’s Classes page or pay at the door. Five bucks!

Date: Friday, May 1, 2009

Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Location: Ink & Paper Group

1825 SE 7th Avenue, Portland OR 97214

Event fee: $5 includes refreshments and smart talk

“What sets this title apart is that it works from a level “one up” from the bulk of its contemporaries..” – EN/SANE World

Read the full review here.

“The humor and interactions drew me through.” – Comics Worth Reading

Read the full review here.

A big thank you is issued on behalf of Kid Beowulf, Bowler Hat Comics, and Ink & Paper Group to all who attended this past weekend’s festivities surrounding the launch of Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath. For those of you that missed the events, recaps are provided by Bowler Hat Comics and the Kid Beowulf Production Blog.

A lively blend of humor and soap-opera plot twists.

~ Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Full review appears in the September 2008 issue of School Library Journal.

Bowler Hat Comics invites you to the Kid Beowulf book launch!

Celebrate the arrival of intrepid twins Beowulf and Grendel

When: Saturday, September 20, 5–8 pm
Where: Ink & Paper Group mead hall—just west of Daneland!

~ ~ ~

Alexis E. Fajardo, creator of the Kid Beowulf series, will be on hand for autographs, sketches, and general feel-good chumminess. The reception will feature a presentation at 6:30 pm. A bounty of food and mead will be provided; door prizes will be awarded.

This event is Free and open to all with a desire to participate in general good-time revelry. Bring the whole clan! (Those who do not desire good-time revelry will be charged at the door.)

Come and dig the book that School Library Journal called, “A lively blend of humor and soap-opera plot twists.”

For more information, contact Bo Johnson.

Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath is the adventure of a childhood gone heroic! The heroes’ destiny is tied to the past, as a prince named Hrothgar begins a quest for power—one that leads him to a fiery dragon, an enchanted sword, and an oath sworn in blood. But when Hrothgar breaks his oath he breaks his kingdom, and the only thing that will save it is a family he’s forgotten and heroes not yet born… Inspired by the epic poem Beowulf, the Kid Beowulf series follows the adventures of 12-year-old twin brothers Beowulf and Grendel as they travel to distant lands and meet fellow epic heroes therein!

Alexis E. Fajardo is a student of the classics—whether Daffy Duck or Damocles—and has created a unique blend of the two in Kid Beowulf. Alexis has taught cartooning throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and currently resides in Santa Rosa, where, when not penning Kid Beowulf, he “works for Peanuts_®” at the Charles M. Schulz Studio.

Bowler Hat Comics is fascinated with the sophisticated whimsy and playful intelligence of visual storytelling. Challenge your perceptions: Read words. Read pictures. Read smart.

by guest writer, Amanda Taylor

As a Young Adult Editor, I spend a sizeable amount of time watching market reports and trying to figure out industry trends. Some projections come to fruition, some don’t. According to last year’s ICv2 conference on the Graphic Novel, there was a notable shift underway in the young adult graphic novel industry. Industry leaders reported that the 13–18-year-old market was saturated, and that buyers and customers were interested in seeing more graphic novels for readers aged 10 and under.

Milton Griepp, President of ICv2, the news magazine and website that is recognized as a pop-culture authority, stated that those watching the graphic novel industry would notice the “generational transfer” that was underway. Griepp predicted more graphic novels being published for a younger audience. The success of graphic novels for the younger audience, such as the Captain Underpants books, showed publishers the demand did indeed exist, and the shift is definitely in progress.

This year has already produced some notable graphic novels for younger readers, and leaves this YA editor wondering what’s next?

If you’re interested in reading a new graphic novel for ages 9+, I recommend Bowler Hat Comics’ Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath by Alexis E. Fajardo.

Ink & Paper Group imprint Bowler Hat Comics is proud to launch their first graphic novel, Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath. Although Kid Beowulf is already available for purchase, it will be making its debut to the public at this year’s Comi-Con in San Diego. Follow me for more information.