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
Even so, this remains Macbeth, arguably the Bard of Avon’s most durable and multilayered tragedy, and overall, this enhanced...
A pairing of the text of the Scottish Play with a filmed performance, designed with the Shakespeare novice in mind.
The left side of the screen of this enhanced e-book contains a full version of Macbeth, while the right side includes a performance of the dialogue shown (approximately 20 lines’ worth per page). This granular focus allows newcomers to experience the nuances of the play, which is rich in irony, hidden intentions and sudden shifts in emotional temperature. The set and costuming are deliberately simple: The background is white, and Macbeth’s “armor” is a leather jacket. But nobody’s dumbing down their performances. Francesca Faridany is particularly good as a tightly coiled Lady Macbeth; Raphael Nash-Thompson gives his roles as the drunken porter and a witch a garrulousness that carries an entertainingly sinister edge. The presentation is not without its hiccups. Matching the video on the right with the text on the left means routinely cutting off dramatic moments; at one point, users have to swipe to see and read the second half of a scene’s closing couplet—presumably an easy fix. A “tap to translate” button on each page puts the text into plain English, but the pop-up text covers up Shakespeare’s original, denying any attempts at comparison; moreover, the translation mainly redefines more obscure words, suggesting that smaller pop-ups for individual terms might be more meaningful.
Even so, this remains Macbeth, arguably the Bard of Avon’s most durable and multilayered tragedy, and overall, this enhanced e-book makes the play appealing and graspable to students . (Enhanced e-book. 12 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2013
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: The New Book Press LLC
Review Posted Online: Nov. 6, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2013
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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