A thrilling and intense graphic novel for adults that puts an intriguing spin on Greek myths.
In London’s graphic novel, the goddess Artemis fights against the deities who took everything from her.
The Greek gods are angry that humans no longer worship them, so Zeus leads his children into battle to subjugate humankind. Years after the war, the gods’ soldiers enforce their rule, and humans must live without technology. But one goddess is different: Artemis has left her family of gods, given up her superpowers, and is living among humans with her mortal husband, Julian. She’s summoned by her father, Zeus, to Olympus in New York City, and when he finds out that Artemis is pregnant, he and other gods turn against her, beating her nearly to death after making her watch Julian’s murder. Ten years later, Artemis awakens. With the aid of the gods Hephaestus (who was presumed dead) and Tempus, Artemis will stop at nothing to avenge the death of her husband and, she believes, her son. In this exciting graphic novel, author London and illustrators Archidiacono and Deering weave a complex tale of lost love, vengeance, and sacrifice. The gods and goddesses are a violent lot, to be sure, so the story is action-packed and bloody throughout, but never gratuitously so. Not all the Greek gods and goddesses whom readers may know from mythology are present here, and the author has taken some liberties with some of the relationships between well-known figures (such as Hermes and Medusa). Each of the many characters in the realistic, detailed full-color illustrations has a distinct look, which makes for easy reading when interactions happen quickly in the story’s later stages. Although this graphic novel tells a complete story, it’s left open-ended to allow for a welcome second volume.
A thrilling and intense graphic novel for adults that puts an intriguing spin on Greek myths.Pub Date: Dec. 12, 2023
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth.
Superman confronts racism and learns to accept himself with the help of new friends.
In this graphic-novel adaptation of the 1940s storyline entitled “The Clan of the Fiery Cross” from The Adventures of Superman radio show, readers are reintroduced to the hero who regularly saves the day but is unsure of himself and his origins. The story also focuses on Roberta Lee, a young Chinese girl. She and her family have just moved from Chinatown to Metropolis proper, and mixed feelings abound. Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane’s colleague from the Daily Planet, takes a larger role here, befriending his new neighbors, the Lees. An altercation following racial slurs directed at Roberta’s brother after he joins the local baseball team escalates into an act of terrorism by the Klan of the Fiery Kross. What starts off as a run-of-the-mill superhero story then becomes a nuanced and personal exploration of the immigrant experience and blatant and internalized racism. Other main characters are White, but Black police inspector William Henderson fights his own battles against prejudice. Clean lines, less-saturated coloring, and character designs reminiscent of vintage comics help set the tone of this period piece while the varied panel cuts and action scenes give it a more modern sensibility. Cantonese dialogue is indicated through red speech bubbles; alien speech is in green.
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth. (author’s note, bibliography) (Graphic fiction. 13-adult)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77950-421-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Feb. 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Lush visuals bring this thoughtfully constructed tale to life.
Wondrous visitors encounter a desperate pocket of humanity.
Lori, a white orphaned teen who’s finally been adopted after bouncing around various foster homes, awakens to discover that nearly everyone has disappeared. The rapture? Maybe. She runs into her classmate Annette, who has brown skin and curly black hair, and they partner up to scavenge for food. The pair tries to evade several threats, such as the large Wolves and a gang called The Dogs. Supernatural Giants arrive, seemingly from space, speaking an impenetrable language of “musical chiming and weird bass-rhythms.” Lori and Annette then meet Beatrice, an older white woman who shares important observations about the Giants and Wolves. The tone of the story then subtly shifts from post-apocalyptic desperation to one that’s somewhat playful. After a certain point, a visual element that appears early on takes on clear significance and meaning in the context of the story at large, offering a subversively humorous twist for readers to consider and a creative element that deviates from other alien invasion narratives. Hans’ artwork and paneling fill each scene with wonders. An interaction with a giant sees the red, violet, and pink figure standing against a bright, otherworldly white-and-blue backdrop with dark contours. Elsewhere, Lori and Annette pause at night as they behold ominous shadows, their foggy breath forming clouds, and they hear a “KRRNCH” sound. The quick-moving plot wraps everything up neatly.
Lush visuals bring this thoughtfully constructed tale to life. (character designs) (Graphic science fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Nov. 12, 2024
ISBN: 9781534387072
Page Count: 104
Publisher: Image Comics
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
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