Hunter Rose tightens his grip on the New York underworld through violence and intimidation in this previously untold chapter in the life of the original Grendel! Writer and artist Matt Wagner tells the tale of a brilliant and confident Rose-successful novelist, deadly assassin, and ruthless mastermind-held back from complete success by a single problem. The man who stalks the night as Grendel is being haunted himself. As the feeling of being watched grows, Rose becomes increasingly distracted-a dangerous proposition for a man hated by both cops and robbers alike. Grendel must maintain order within his growing empire, even as the greatest threat to his sovereignty may be the one lurking in shadows.