Synopsis: Once again we have Grendel conversing with Argent, this time atop a building in New York. Grendel nonchalantly removes his mask and reveals he is the famous author Hunter Rose, and is surprised that Argent knows of the author and has even read his books. Rose ends up revealing even more to his enemy, in what is to become his first origin story. We learn that his real name is Eddie, and he grew up as an emotionally disturbed young boy who excelled in school. He hated team sports, but found a love for fencing, in which he won the World Championship held in London at just 14 years old. There he was seduced by a 36-year old woman named Jocosta Rose aka Jackie, a trainer for the British team. The two fell in love, and over a year's span Jackie taught Eddie everything about "the Game", the ultimate competition against fate. Unfortunately for Jackie, her fate proved to be a terminal illness, and dies shortly after.

Destroyed, Eddie returned home to the states, where he embraces the darker side of New York's criminal element. It is there that he decides to become Grendel, choosing the name, the costume and the forks due to their demonic meanings. He also begins writing and chooses Hunter Rose as his pen name. As Grendel, he kills a hitman in front of crime boss Ciccone to prove his worth as an assassin and is hired on the spot. After a hit, Grendel returns to Ciccone's office only to realize he has been setup. Grendel is ambushed but is able to fend for himself against Ciccone's hitmen, and ends up taking over Ciccone's crime organization in the process. In doing so, Grendel needed to clean up some of the mob's horrible ventures such as the child prostitution ring, which he explains to Argent is why Everett Christie had to die in Comico Primer #2. When Argent disgrees with that decision, Rose calmly reminds him that he has killed 42 of Grendel's henchmen. "Who are you?", asks Grendel as the issue comes to a close.

Comments: Grendel and Argent. They should be mortal enemies, but here they are, conversing almost as if they were friends. There is a sense to how unstable and lonely Grendel is in inviting his enemy over for a chat, and not only revealing who he is but also telling his life story. While Argent remains cold, he seems to understand Rose's plight and listens intently to his story, which is a pretty messed up one at that. We learn that he was a genius, but also had emotional problems and tended to isolate himself. At 14 he was seduced by a much older woman, which may have only added to his instability. She also taught him a way of life that most teens would never comprehend on their own. Then she dies, fueling Eddie's heart with rage and inadequacy. In essence, Jackie planted the seed of Grendel into Eddie, now Hunter Rose.

This comic came out only a few months after Grendel's first appearance in Comico Primer #2, and Matt Wagner's artwork is a bit more polished this time around. His writing jumps around a bit, and I would have liked to learn more about Rose's start at writing novels and how the forks came into his possession, etc. But as it is, this is a unique origin story, one that will be retooled a bit in the future. We'll learn more about Argent's backstory in the next issue.