Review by Frank Plowright
In the same manner as Heartstopper, Rachel Smythe is presenting an ongoing story in Lore Olympus, so the book opens with Episode 26. Volume One ended with Episode 25.
What’s been revealed to date is the Greek gods still live in the modern world, still regard humanity as their playthings, and the broken family relationships between them still apply. They’re not very pleasant people. Apart, that is, from Persephone, who’s been kept away from the family by hiding her on Earth. While she knows of other gods, she’s not caught up in the fractured family dynamics, and so doesn’t have the same attitude toward Hades as the remainder. In fact, they get on extremely well, and that’s where Volume Two opens, with a phone call.
It’s a long phone call, and one in which Persephone reveals much about herself, but Hades remains guarded. It’s fascinating for Smythe moving into relatively fresh territory as far as the gods are concerned, investigating why they’re allocated tasks, why Hades is single, and the differences in forms of Spring.
Smythe has mastered an extremely decompressed form of storytelling, where the original online serialisation dictates the pace, yet her writing is refined enough to ensure fascination prevails, while the accompanying art is varied and strong on emotional reaction. While individual scenes are still prolonged, when compared to the opening volume, Smythe’s storytelling has improved, and she’s now packing more into shorter sequences, a scene of Hades composing a letter while something else is happening being a prime example.
The manipulative and sometimes toxic personalities of the gods as recorded millennia ago are ideally suited to soap opera drama, and Smythe introduces several more of them this time, each with an agenda. Her modern versions are thoughtfully designed, and it’s out with the togas and in with the expensive modern day flash, with a suited Hecate in trenchcoat, hat and shades very memorable.
Lore Olympus is created for first consumption on phones, viewed a panel at a time, the format greatly diminishing the visual possibilities of comics. However, Smythe’s consistently imaginative design creates such eye-catching panels it overcomes a handicap in book form. Based primarily on people, Smythe’s impressive use of colour further amplifies the visual charm.
Smythe has also fine tuned a method of turning the tables on readers. We expect gods to be immortal, yet that’s a double edged sword when it comes to Hades being besotted by Persephone, which has seemed innocent and charming. However, highlighting the actual difference in their ages introduces an altogether different tone, and a creepiness factor emerges with the disclosure that Persephone actually is nineteen, not an immortal who resembles a girl of that age.
The continuing combination of attractive art, a very well characterised cast and one problem following the next makes Lore Olympus a compelling drama, and the ending is great. Bring on Volume Three. Alternatively, the first three hardcovers are combined in a slipcased box set.
