4 booklets of 32 pp. each; color. A graphic novel version of the Zemeckis film, but first issued serially in four weekly installments in October 2007. The cover art is by Nelson; all interior art is by Rodriguez and Fotos (colors). The front cover and inside front cover state the graphic novel to be based on the Gaiman and Avary screenplay rather than the film itself; however, many of the images seem to imply Rodriguez's access to concept and development drawings (like those published in The Art of Beowulf) from which the film's CGI art was created.  Each issue concludes with the corresponding portion of Beowulf in the Gummere translation, so that Gummere's text is fully reproduced over the four issues. Issues 3 and 4 also include short essays by Jason Tondro: "A Book on Fire: An Exploration of Beowulf in the Media" (issue 3, pp. 23-25), and "Hwaet If: Beowulf as Comic Book Superhero" (issue 4, pp. 23-24). Each issue contains several advertisements for the Beowulf film and its merchandise.

Issue 1 begins with a series of overhead views of a fortified settlement, approaching to isolate the mead hall. The only textual elements on this page are small scene-setting notations:

Northern Denmark.

518 A.D.

The Age of Heroes. (1)

The story portion of issue 1 concludes with a conversation between Beowulf and Wealtheow, cutting to a close-up of Grendel:

[Wealtheow speaking:] I hope God is kind to you, Sir Beowulf. It would be a great shame on this house if one so brave and noble were to die in it.

[Beowulf speaking:] There is no shame to die in battle with evil.

[Wealtheow speaking:] And if you die?

[Beowulf speaking:] Grendel will dispose of my body in a bloody animal feast, taking my bones and sucking off my flesh … swallowing me down …

There will be no corpose to weep over, and none to mourn me.

[Wealtheow speaking:] I would mourn you, my lord. (26; ellipses as in original)

The portion of the Gummere translation that follows begins:

LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!
Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,
from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore,
awing the earls. Since erst he lay
friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:
for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,
till before him the folk, both far and near,
who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate,
gave him gifts: a good king he! (27)

And ends:

So well had weened the wisest Scyldings
that not ever at all might any man
that bone-decked, brave house break asunder,
crush by craft,—unless clasp of fire
in smoke engulfed it.—Again uprose
din redoubled. Danes of the North
with fear and frenzy were filled, each one,
who from the wall that wailing heard,
God's foe sounding his grisly song,
cry of the conquered, clamorous pain
from captive of hell. Too closely held him
he who of men in might was strongest
in that same day of this our life. (32)

Issue 2 begins with Hrothgar and Unferth speaking to Beowulf:

[Hrothgar speaking:] Ahh, Beowulf, there you are.

I was thinking about your father. He came here fleeing the Wylflings.

I paid his blood debt, and he swore his oath to me. I saved his skin, and now you're here to save ours, eh?

[Unferth speaking:] All hail the great Beowulf! Here to save our pathetic skins, eh? And we are so damned grateful, mighty Beowulf. But can I ask a question … as a huge admirer of yours? (1; ellipsis, boldface, and italics as in original)

The story portion of issue 2 ends as Grendel has returned to his mother in their lair:

[Grendel speaking:] Mama … he hurt me … he killed me …

[Grendel's mother speaking:] Oh, my son. My poor son. I warned you not to go the them, my son.

[Grendel speaking:] He killed me …

[Grendel's mother speaking:] Who killed you, Grendel, my son?

[Grendel speaking:] He tore my arm away …  it hurts so … so bad.

[Grendel's mother speaking:] I know. Sleep now, my sweet son. Sleep forever. Mother is here.

And he shall pay, my darling. Who was this man.

[Grendel speaking:] Mama? he was so strong …

So strong … he was so strong … his name … was Beowulf.

[Grendel's mother speaking:] Beowulf. (26; ellipses, boldface, and italics as in original; "the" for "to" in Grendel's mother's first speech sic)

The portion of the Gummere translation that follows begins:

NOT in any wise would the earls'-defence
suffer that slaughterous stranger to live,
useless deeming his days and years
to men on earth. Now many an earl
of Beowulf brandished blade ancestral,
fain the life of their lord to shield,
their praised prince, if power were theirs; (27)

And ends:

So presently to the palace there
foemen fearless, fourteen Geats,
marching came. Their master-of-clan
mighty amid them the meadow-ways trod.
Strode then within the sovran thane
fearless in fight, of fame renowned,
hardy hero, Hrothgar to greet.
And next by the hair into hall was borne
Grendel's head, where the henchmen were drinking,
an awe to clan and queen alike,
a monster of marvel: the men looked on. (32)

Issue 3 begins with Beowulf and Wiglaf speaking before the funeral pyre of those killed in Grendel's attack:

[Beowulf speaking:] They were great warriors.

[Wiglaf speaking:] They died a most foul death.

[Beowulf speaking:] They were murdered by a foul creature … from the depths of hell.

[Wiglaf speaking:] I've got their knives. We'll take them home … for their widows.

[Beowulf speaking:] They will not be forgotten—the bards will sing of their glory forever.

Come. Let us drink to their memory. I want you to raise the first cup. (1; ellipses as in original)

The story portion of issue 3 concludes with the slave Cain being brought in to explain his finding of the dragon's cup:

[Cain speaking:] I … I found it in a cave full of golden treasures. I-I was going to bring it back, I swear.

[Beowulf speaking:] Treasures? That's all? No demon? No witch … ?

… No woman? (22; ellipses as in original)

Next comes Tondro's essay "A Book on Fire." The portion of the Gummere translation that follows begins:

BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow:—
"Lo, now, this sea-booty, son of Healfdene,
Lord of Scyldings, we've lustily brought thee,
sign of glory; thou seest it here.
Not lightly did I with my life escape!
In war under water I essayed
with endless effort; and even so
my strength had been lost had the Lord not shielded me. (27)

And ends:

For shelter he gave them, sword-death came,
the blade's fell blow, to bairn of Hygelac;
but the son of Ongentheow sought again
house and home when Heardred fell,
leaving Beowulf lord of Geats
and gift-seat's master.—A good king he! (31)

Issue 4 begins with Beowulf waking up from fitful dreams, in bed with Ursula, who then goes outside and encounters Wealtheow:

[Beowulf waking up:] >Gasp!<

[Wealtheow, to Ursula:] Another restless night?

It's alright, girl, I'm not going to eat you.

[Ursula speaking:] … He had bad dreams … They've been coming more often.

[Wealtheow speaking:] He's a king. Kings have a lot on their conscience. (1; ellipses as in original)

The story portion of issue 4 ends with images of Wiglaf as he sees Grendel's mother in the sea, beckoning to him, and steps into the water toward her. (22)

Next come's Tondro's essay "Hwaet If." The portion of the Gummere translation that follows begins:

THE fall of his lord he was fain to requite
in after days and to Eadgils he proved
friend to the friendless, and forces sent
over the sea to the son of Ohtere,
weapons and warriors: well repaid he
those care-paths cold when the king he slew. {32a} (27; notation "{32a}" within the text sic)

And ends:

Then about that barrow the battle-keen rode,
atheling-born, a band of twelve,
lament to make, to mourn their king,
chant their dirge, and their chieftain honor.
They praised his earlship, his acts of prowess
worthily witnessed: and well it is
that men their master-friend mightily laud,
heartily love, when hence he goes
from life in the body forlorn away.
Thus made their mourning the men of Geatland,
for their hero's passing his hearth-companions:
quoth that of all the kings of earth,
of men he was mildest and most beloved,
to his kin the kindest, keenest for praise. (32)

BAM.