Review by Frank Plowright

Lore Olympus concerns the Greek gods of old living in the modern world, devious, manipulative bastards that they are, but primarily the budding romance between Hades and Persephone. What Volume Two pointed out was that while both are immortal and Persephone is the God of Spring, she’s actually only nineteen, while Hades has a couple of millennia behind him. Tongues were beginning to wag even before Hades was manipulated into taking Persephone on as part of his staff in the Underworld.

Unlike other series started on Webtoons, Rachel Smythe has ensured that the origins aren’t apparent when it comes to her layouts. There is panel to panel continuity and she avoids large areas of white space on a page. It’s an easier trick to pull off when much of the plot is conversations, yet within that Smythe makes imaginative use of the possibilities rather than highlighting the restrictions. An entire chapter takes place in a lift heading down a hundred floors, supplying an awkward dynamic between four people in very different emotional states. As ever, the actual drawing is wonderfully imaginative and expressive.

So are the twists and turns as Smythe throws in stalling Persephone and Hades moving any further forward from their situation. They’re extremely well judged, with Persephone’s innocence and fundamentally good-natured personality always managing to complicate matters further.

Most of Volume Three takes place in the Underworld, first with Hades giving Persephone a tour supplying surprising discoveries about herself, and continuing with other denizens. As with the gods living above the surface, they’re reduced to having the same petty concerns as humanity. Minthe wants to maintain her relationship with Hades, as much as a power play than anything else, yet isn’t averse to fooling around on the side. However, she doesn’t apply the same standards to Hades, and woe betide anyone else who takes his attention.

Smythe also introduces a couple of new faces and fleshes out some people we’ve seen before, Artemis in particular, and there’s a great role for Eros as well, his characterisation a real treat. We’re given the aftermath of the famous Eros and Psyche story, following through on what Smythe supplied in Volume One.

New to this volume is the introduction of brief catch-up pages (“Previously on Lore Olympus”), but as they largely refer to events earlier in the volume, it seems they’re from the original online publication, and not needed here.

Lore Olympus has been really good, but Volume Three sees so much come together it’s an even greater treat. Bring on Volume Four. The first three volumes in hardcover are also available as a slipcased box set.