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morgob's review
4.0
I had my students read a book of this and a book of the original, then they had to write an argument either supporting the use of graphic novels to teach classics or supporting that graphic novels cannot do justice to the original. After reading the whole graphic novel, I am inclined to believe the latter. It was simply not as good as the original. Maybe it would have been better if I had not read the original already, albeit years ago. I would definitely support teachers using graphic novels to teach classics, but if any of the students have read the original before, they might be disappointed.
gabrielle_erin's review
4.0
This was such a fun and accessible way to access Homer's eipc poem. The illustrations were beautiful amd the story was easy to follow. I only wish there had been footnotes or a glossary to clarify the tricky bits!
roseleaf24's review
4.0
What a fantastic way to bring this story to life and introduce a reader to The Odyssey. Many will be helped to appreciate the complete work by being given the chance to see the excitement of the tale in a much more approachable form. I did have trouble keeping some of the characters straight, due to similarity of name and not quite enough distinction in appearance.
kberry513's review against another edition
3.0
This really deserves a 3.5, but I didn't want to round up. The art is gorgeous, i like it much better than the other illustrated adaptation i just finished, but there are often times when it's difficult to tell who has shown up, for example when Hermes is on Circe's island. I feel like this author did a better job of labeling characters in his adaptation of The Iliad. There were also times where there were only illustrations and they would have greatly benefitted from captions. Also, it felt like the order in which he was telling the story was off; most of it was told as he was telling the someone else his story and it felt disjointed.
driley1994's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
el_wheel's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jgintrovertedreader's review
4.0
Gareth Hinds undertakes the task of adapting The Odyssey, the tale of Odysseus's long journey home after the Trojan War, into graphic novel format.
I wish this had been around when I was wading through The Odyssey in high school (and maybe college? I can't remember). I don't know what translation we read, but we needed a translation of it. I think most of us had only vague ideas about what was going on, and we probably only figured those out after the teacher spoon-fed them to us.
The Odyssey is perfect for this format. It's a very visual story, with the sirens and Scylla and Charybdis, a journey to the underworld, the cyclops, and Circe's spell. I did like the illustrations, although they veered a little too close to the bulging muscles and gravity-defying breasts that most people think of when they hear the word, comic. Still, it's a manly tale, so they fit.
I was a little surprised by the translation. I expected the writing to be very modern, but it's not. It's still very readable but formal at the same time. From page 4, Zeus speaking to Athena:
"My child, what strange remarks you let escape your lips. Could I forget that wily hero Odysseus? You know I bear him no grudge--but Poseidon does, hates him for blinding his son Polyphemus the Cyclops.
But come now, let us take up the matter of Odysseus's return. Poseidon must relent; he cannot thwart the will of all the other gods."
I had forgotten much of what happens in the story, so it felt a lot like I was coming to this for the first time. I enjoyed it more in this format than I ever have before.
This is a fabulous (re-)introduction to this timeless classic. Teachers, take note and have some mercy on your classes. This could at least be a companion to the "regular" novel.
I wish this had been around when I was wading through The Odyssey in high school (and maybe college? I can't remember). I don't know what translation we read, but we needed a translation of it. I think most of us had only vague ideas about what was going on, and we probably only figured those out after the teacher spoon-fed them to us.
The Odyssey is perfect for this format. It's a very visual story, with the sirens and Scylla and Charybdis, a journey to the underworld, the cyclops, and Circe's spell. I did like the illustrations, although they veered a little too close to the bulging muscles and gravity-defying breasts that most people think of when they hear the word, comic. Still, it's a manly tale, so they fit.
I was a little surprised by the translation. I expected the writing to be very modern, but it's not. It's still very readable but formal at the same time. From page 4, Zeus speaking to Athena:
"My child, what strange remarks you let escape your lips. Could I forget that wily hero Odysseus? You know I bear him no grudge--but Poseidon does, hates him for blinding his son Polyphemus the Cyclops.
But come now, let us take up the matter of Odysseus's return. Poseidon must relent; he cannot thwart the will of all the other gods."
I had forgotten much of what happens in the story, so it felt a lot like I was coming to this for the first time. I enjoyed it more in this format than I ever have before.
This is a fabulous (re-)introduction to this timeless classic. Teachers, take note and have some mercy on your classes. This could at least be a companion to the "regular" novel.
wrentheblurry's review
2.0
My 10-year old (Trevor) wanted to read The Odyssey, which I thought was a bit much for him to digest. So, I found this title. I then started reading it to both boys for a bedtime story, yet the first part is slow, plodding, and I found the immense amount of text shoved into many of the art boxes to be too much. After a few nights of this, Warren (the 12-year old) and I decided to drop it as a bedtime story. Trevor was mildly disappointed, but he decided to just read it on his own.
Before returning it to the library, I made more of an effort to get through it on my own too. I never read Homer's version, so I cannot compare. I didn't care for the artwork. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just not my preferred style. The word-bloated problem does get better, but there are still some spots with too much text on the page. There are way too many names to keep track of, and I don't recall any notes in the back of the book to help with this. If you are familiar with the story, that probably won't bug you.
Trevor did read it at least twice, and said it was alright, though "it is kind of violent." I reminded him that it is intended for teenagers (shelved in the YA section of the library). There is some violence and sexual situations that may not be appropriate for youngsters and/or they won't really understand. But they might like the pictures of battles and such.
Before returning it to the library, I made more of an effort to get through it on my own too. I never read Homer's version, so I cannot compare. I didn't care for the artwork. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just not my preferred style. The word-bloated problem does get better, but there are still some spots with too much text on the page. There are way too many names to keep track of, and I don't recall any notes in the back of the book to help with this. If you are familiar with the story, that probably won't bug you.
Trevor did read it at least twice, and said it was alright, though "it is kind of violent." I reminded him that it is intended for teenagers (shelved in the YA section of the library). There is some violence and sexual situations that may not be appropriate for youngsters and/or they won't really understand. But they might like the pictures of battles and such.
caydencj's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0