Beowulf: Dragon Slayer # 1 VF/NM

Beowulf: Dragon Slayer #1 May 1975—is the premiere issue of a short-lived DC Comics sword-and-sorcery series. Created to compete with Marvel's wildly popular Conan the Barbarian comics, this issue was written by Michael Uslan (who later became famous as the executive producer of the modern Batman film franchise) and illustrated by Ricardo Villamonte.

The issue starts out loosely adapting the legendary Old English epic poem but quickly veers off into a wild, highly fictionalized comic book fever dream.

Plot Summary: "The Curse of Castle Hrothgar"

The story introduces the demonic beast Grendel, who in this version is reimagined as an explicit servant of Satan. Enraged by the sounds of celebration echoing from the nearby Castle Hrothgar, Grendel rises from his swamp and brutally attacks the fortress.

Across the sea, the legendary warrior Beowulf is busy fighting tribal enemies alongside his loyal companions, Wiglaf and Hondscio. After winning their battle, they are approached by a mysterious minstrel named The Shaper. The Shaper alerts Beowulf that King Hrothgar—an old friend of Beowulf’s father—is under siege by a monster.

Beowulf and his crew set sail to help, but before they can defeat the beast, they learn they must gain supernatural capabilities. The Shaper commands Beowulf to go on a Faustian quest to secure the power needed to destroy Grendel:

• The First Task: Sail to the underworld/Darklands to drink the venom of the Black Viper.
• The Second Task: Journey to the Far East to eat the nectar of the mythical Zumak Fruit, which will give Beowulf the superhuman strength and speed required to match the demon.

Before the issue wraps up, Satan temporarily teleports the heroes directly into Castle Hrothgar, allowing Grendel to brutally kill Hondscio in a direct nod to the original poem's body count. The issue ends with Beowulf, Wiglaf, The Shaper, and the suspicious court official Unferth embarking on their quest to the Darklands.

Tonal Shifts & Visuals

• The "Conan" Effect: The comic pivots heavily away from historical Anglo-Saxon tradition to mirror 1970s pulp fantasy. Beowulf is drawn like a quintessential barbarian warrior clad in a loincloth and spiked helmet.
• Nan-Zee: The issue introduces a prominent supporting character named Nan-Zee, a Swedish warrior woman who acts as the visual counterpart to the typical "damsel in distress" or Amazonian companion tropes popularized by pulp comics of the era.
• Bizarre Lore Expansion: While the first issue lays the groundwork of the classic myth, it establishes the groundwork for the rest of the 6-issue run, where Beowulf eventually fights everything from Dracula and the Minotaur to ancient aliens.