Olympians

September 1, 2011

Gr 7 Up-O'Connor does not give in to the typical representation of Hera as just a nagging wife; instead, he shows how the goddess of marriage struggles with Zeus's infidelity time and again. Through the story of Heracles, readers see not only how the hero made a name for himself, but also how the Greek gods viewed the lives of mortals and heroes, who play out competitions among the gods with their lives. Though some of the dialogue is a bit shallow and does not reflect the well-rounded picture readers have of Hera by the end of the story, the retelling of the myth accurately reflects several of the original source texts and gives Hera a somewhat vindictive sense of humor. While skipping some darker elements, such as the reason for Heracles's 12 labors and Hera's causing him to go mad and kill his wife and children, the stories are fairly represented, and several instances of Hera's wrath against her husband's lovers are depicted in a few short panels. This is an excellent addition to mythology sections, with action sequences that will appeal to readers of superhero comics. The art also leaves out darker elements. While violence is depicted, the action sequences brilliantly capture the quick movements and tense tone of combat without showing a gorier side. A family tree on the front cover and notes at the end make this useful for classrooms as well.-Alana Joli Abbott, formerly at James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2011
Grades 6-9 Stating that he wanted to recast Hera, often caricaturized as the worlds shrewiest wife, OConnor picks a few telling episodes from the goddess legacy for a more nuanced tale of Zeus long-suffering, acid-tongued queen. Central to this reclamation project are the 10 labors she indirectly visits upon Heracles, aka the Glory of Hera, which is kind of an odd nomenclature considering its widely held that she despised this illegitimate son of her philandering husband. But perhaps, as another hero, Jason, tells Heracles, Heras enmity, her wrath, it has inspired you to true greatness. All the while, Zeus, Hera, and assorted other Olympians watch in rapt amazement as Heracles clubs, wrestles, and outwits his way through the series of impossible tasks. With dedication to the source material, even at its thorniest, and fantastic artwork, OConnors top-notch Olympians series continues to drive home the point that not only were these gods and goddesses the worlds first superheroes but their labyrinthine web of weak-willed failings, spiteful jealousies, and titanic retaliations made for the worlds foremost, must-see soap opera.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2012
O'Connor's author's note states, "Hera is my favorite goddess...I really like her style." This series entry focuses on the queen of the Greek gods, Zeus's wife, who usually plays a supporting role in the myths. In this graphic novel version, Hera's sassy 'tude and no-nonsense sensibility bring a modern flair to the ancient tales.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)