This review is one I’m particularly proud of as it highlights the immense contribution another New Zealander has made to the prevalence of Classics in popular culture. Rachel Smythe, an all round fabulous human being, created the Webtoon Lore Olympus in 2017 and has since conquered the platform with over 6 million subscribers and well over a Billion views. It has won a variety of awards, is extremely highly rated and is making moves further afield into other media.
So what is a Webtoon? Well the platform coined the name for a type of digital comic, primarily designed for reading on a smart phone - so a long scrolling vertical canvas that is not limited by the size of a page or screen. Originating in South Korea, the format has become increasingly popular as access to smart phones continues to soar around the world and bring new avenues of literacy to millions.
So what is Lore Olympus? Well the name does suggest a connection to the Greek Gods, though it is much more than this. Beginning as a romantic modern retelling of the relationship between Persephone and Hades, it combines stunning visuals with an endearing and entertaining story. Notably, it also deals with the difficult nature of the original subject matter, as well as introducing other modern topics that young people often face, in a respectful and informative way.
There are those who will not enjoy a modern retelling or a version of the myth of Persephone that does not follow the original - that is much within their rights. However I can say that Lore Olympus has both a deep love for the original mythos as well as an incredibly creative and captivating style that makes the story its own. It is particularly accessible for young adult audiences, making it an excellent way of introducing to Classics those who might otherwise have missed out.
The character of Persephone, our main protagonist, is young and naïve but her development is extremely empowering. Possessing far more agency than in the original myth, she is both a romantic lead but also an extremely human personality. Hades is a dark, reserved, brooding type whose world is suddenly turned upside down with the arrival of this young, colourful lady - and the rest writes itself from there. At its heart it is a sweet love story, but the supporting cast of Olympians, minor gods and even the odd Titan, make for a plot that never meanders or stands still.
The most exciting aspect, however, is the incredibly beautiful art that Smythe uses to bring the characters and their worlds to life. A refreshing depiction of a modernised Underworld, the elegance of Olympus and the wild nature of the mortal realm all make for gorgeous backdrops. The Gods all have their unique colours that help give them greater personality, and the scenes are never dull. As an aesthetic, it is extremely gorgeous and hopefully the few pictures I’ve included here will give you that sense.
I probably don’t have to tell many people to read this since it has such an incredible presence, but I thoroughly recommend it to you or any people in your lives ready to deal with some of the more mature themes it brings. Find it at Webtoon or immortalised in published form. The comic updates weekly, though there are already well over 200 episodes to read. Be warned, though - it is extremely bingeable and those will run out very quickly, and you’ll be stuck waiting with the rest of us for each Sunday to roll around.
Let me know what you think! Have you read it? Do you know any other webtoons with a Classical subject? Drop a comment below.