Annie Banks is a Rotten Tomatoes–approved critic, and CBR editor and writer specializing in anime, comics, and superheroes. Their work has also appeared in Collider and The Mary Sue, where they covered pop culture, fandoms, and entertainment trends. A lifelong fan whose love for storytelling began with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Annie blends critical insight with genuine passion for geek culture, from sci-fi to K-pop.
A 31-year-old Dark Horse Comics comic book has been the reason for a North Carolina woman's arrest.
The Sunset Beach Police Department of North Carolina confirmed the arrest of Kathleen Lincoln after she distributed copies of Rob Walton's Grendel Tales: the Devil's Hammer #1 during a Trunk-or-Treat event. Trunk-or-Treat has been branded as a safer alternative to Trick-or-Treat, where communities gather to swap sweets and treats on or around Halloween in a more contained setting. Per the police department's statement shared on Facebook, Lincoln was ultimately charged with a violation of North Carolina General Statute § 14-190.1 obscene literature and exhibitions. In North Carolina, this is determined to be a Class G Felony.
Police were alerted that Lincoln was offering copies Grendel Tales: Devil's Hammer after a series of reports were made by concerned attendees. Lincoln, who owns North Carolina comic book store Marvelous Issues, was also said to be using the comic book as part of her self-promotion. Along with Grendel Tales: Devil's Hammer she would distribute fliers that advertised her shop. Grendel Tales: the Devil's Hammer has explicitly been given a "Not For Children" advisory, features male nudity, and features some sexual scenes. Online, parents of children noted how disturbed they were by Lincoln's choice of comic book. While the cover page and horror genre do seem fitting for Halloween, it was the content of Grendel Tales: the Devil's Hammer that caused such an upset. Lincoln has not issued a statement about her arrest, though her bail has been posted at $20,000.
Published by Dark Horse Comics in 1994, Grendel Tales: Devil's Hammer spins off from Matt Wagner's Grendel Tales series, and spans across three issues. Per Dark Horse, "[Grendel Tales: the Devil's Hammer] begins the tale of Petrus Christus, the lone survivor of a town gruesomely massacred by a band of Grendels. In order to seek revenge, Petrus must himself adopt the mantle of Grendel — but, unbeknownst to him, the price may be too terrible to pay!"
Not All Comic Books Are For Children
Image via DC ComicsWhile there are comic books for everyone, not every single person should be reading certain types of comics. Grendel Tales: Devil's Hammer blatantly declares itself as a piece of printed entertainment that isn't designed for children, though Lincoln's arrest can be perceived as an extreme consequence for distributing more adult comics at a Trunk-or-Treat event. The arrest itself is a controversial decision made by the Sunset Beach Police Department of North Carolina, leaving some to wonder if there was a less-intense alternative that still would have held accountable for committing a Class G Felony, per North Carolina Law. Perhaps calling the police over Grendel Tales: Devil's Hammer is an extreme reaction, and the situation could have been handled without the need to involve law enforcement.
Art is extremely subjective, and with freedom of expression, comes the right for comics like Grendel Tales: Devil's Hammer to exist. Perhaps choosing Grendel Tales: Devil's Hammer was a simple misunderstanding made by Lincoln due to the cover art and title, failing to know what she was truly handing out to a younger audience. Children should absolutely be encouraged to read comic books, as long as they're finding safer titles to explore.
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