Kid Beowulf and the Song of Roland

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

For every five copies of KID BEOWULF, by Alexis E. Fajardo, and VISIBILITY, by Sarah Neufeld, sold during the month of December, Bowler Hat Comics will donate one to a school, library, or charity of our choice. ALL sales during the month of December will be tallied. The more you buy, the more we give! Visit the event page on Facebook for more information.

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Read the full review here.

Read the full review here.

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.

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.