Grendel?

I've only read the last(?) Grendel story, "War Child". It wasn't particularly good, lots of plotholes there, it seemed like the writer came up with the story while it went on.

Oh, sorry, I've also read some collection of short stories by different artists. That one was better.

Grendel is a concept to hang different stories on - the character's mantle is assumed by different people over time so that different artists come in for vastly different stories. This means that its patchy stuff. Anything that Matt Wagner writes and draws is pretty solid - so the original Comico run & graphic novel featuring the "Hunter Rose" Grendel (probably the one you thought was cool as a kid) is good, as are the two Batman crossovers. The Pander Bros series is ok. The last official Grendel series, War Child, was the biggest departure - Post Apocalyptic sci fi with lots of homages and genre influences (Lone Wolf & Cub especially) which made for a decent yarn.
Some of the Grendel Tales were good, but its years since I read any of them....

The Darko Macan / Edvin Biukovic ones are great: they're collected as Devils & Deaths.

yes!

I quite liked the original ones, but lost interest. This has reminded me of a fine evening in San Diego years ago, sitting drinking by a pool with Matt Wagner, Ted McKeever, Bob Burden and others.

wow. whats bob burden like? is her ker-razy?

Very funny indeed - I wish I could remember the letter of complaint he had received that he read us. Not very crazy in person, no, but a great guy. Soon after that he sent me the next issue of Flaming Carrot with 'To my pal Martin' and his autograph - I think except for my signed set of those old self-published Ditko titles (you know, Mr A, Avenging World and stuff) that's the only autographed comic I ever kept.