Lore Olympus, Vol. 1 - Rachel Smythe - ★★

AUTHOR: Rachel Smythe

SERIES: Lore Olympus, #1

GENRE: Graphic Novel, Retelling

PUBLICATION DATE: November 2, 2021

RATING: 2 stars.

Yet another Webtoon read. I’ll share a proper review only once done with the final book. Until then, just penning some random thoughts on each graphic novel. (As is evident below, I can’t be brief even when I am penning random thoughts.)

This first graphic novel covers episodes 1-25 from the Webtoon series.

Total episodes: 285. (280, if you don't include the extra content.)

❀ A graphic retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone with a contemporary twist.

❀ Better if you have some basic familiarity with the original characters because introductions aren’t present often.

❀ Balance of seriousness and humour. But the content is as sexist as you would expect from Greek Mythology.

❀ Oddly funny to see the Greek “gods” gallivanting about with smartphones and fancy cars and partying in clubs.

❀ Hades looks promising. As yet, undecided about Persephone. Her portrayal isn’t consistent, randomly shifting between shy and overconfident, and also between virginal and provocative.

❀ Insta-love. *eye roll.*

❀ Age-gap relationship. And when I say ‘gap’, I mean ‘gaaaaaaaaaaap’. *my poor eyes still rolling.*

❀ Didn’t expect a sexual assault so early in the story. (Should have known better. Greek Mythology – Sigh…) It was handled as sensitively as is possible for a Greek myth retelling, but it was still hard to read.

❀ Not at all fond of the art style. A bit too overt for my taste in hues as well as physicality. The anatomy of the female characters seems needlessly sexualised, which is further exacerbated by their stance.

❀ This is aimed at teens and young adults, and that fact is giving me the ick. The story is clearly romanticising some abhorrent tropes. I hope youngsters reading it realise that there’s nothing romantic about *most* couples of Greek mythology, no matter what retellings claim.

Verdict: I don’t get the hype. The plot has only just begun, so too soon to confirm anything concrete. Obviously, I can’t expect a feminist story considering the original source. I can only hope it keeps the creepiness to the minimum because so far, it’s quite cringe-worthy. No matter what, I don’t think I’ll be a fan of the artwork. I’ll have to grit my teeth through the illustrations of the remaining episodes. (Unless I simply abandon the series out of extreme annoyance.)

2 stars.

Fingers crossed for the next.