Zeus: King of the Gods (review)

Readers who find Edith Hamilton–styled myth retellings just a tad too stately or a touch too solemn will be delighted with this debut title in the Olympians series of graphic novels. O'Connor takes his subject seriously, adhering closely to Hesiod's Theogony; he ramps it up with artwork that retains the majesty of a creation story while sparkling with dashes of comic-book humor that nestle readers right into a comfort zone. Beginning with Gaea's creation of her heavenly mate, Ouranos, he launches into the epically dysfunctional family drama that is the story of their belligerent offspring. These ur-creatures, regal and monumental, seem to be chiseled out of elemental earth itself, but teens who are immersed, or even slightly dipped, in contemporary comics will also recognize that carefully staged group poses of the Titans and Kronos' six children recall superhero teams mustering their forces to kick some cosmic butt. It's this balance between respect for myth and adherence to comic-book form that works so wonderfully well here: Zeus is every inch the ripped stud, equally adept at warfare and womanizing; Metis, who helps him conquer his child-consuming father, is a not-as-ditzy-as-she-looks blonde; and Hera, Zeus' sister and wife, is both a vulnerable rescued maiden and a no-nonsense queen. O'Connor packs his title with delicious end matter, including full-page summaries of several main figures, in presentations reminiscent of game-character bios; a note on oral and written transmission of Greek myths; "G[r]eek Notes" that explicate the contents of various panels (and sometimes provide tie-ins with contemporary comic-book heroes); a bibliography and list of recommended reading; discussion questions; and an Olympians Family Tree that graces the front endpaper. This will be a worthy lead-in or companion piece to Eric Shanower's Age of Bronze.