Olympians--Zeus--King of the Gods

January 4, 2010
O'Connor ("Kapow!";"Journey into Mohawk Country") embarks on a new project: a series of graphic novels for young readers about Greek mythology ("Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess" follows in April, with "Hera" and "Hades" in the pipeline). While the D'Aulaires' "Book of Greek Myths" is the gold standard for illustrated introductions to Greek mythology, O'Connor offers a modern take with a new view of these original superhero stories with gritty yet heroic art and spare prose that lets the myths speak for themselves. The story is the one most schoolchildren knowthe Titans created Zeus and Hera, as well as the Cyclopes, and adventure ensuedbut O'Connor brings the young gods to life with memorable compositions and attention to detail (childlike fear on Hera's face as she navigates the treacherous new world, a bat screeching away as Zeus confronts the Cyclopes). Back matter includes notes, a bibliography, a list of recommended books for further reading, and discussion questions for readers, making it attractive for teachers and librarians for its information and depth of research. But that shouldn't stop tweens from enjoying the story. Ages 912. "(Jan.)" .

March 1, 2010
Gr 4 Up-This 12-volume series debuts with the origins of Zeus. O'Connor begins his retelling by starting from literally nothing. Then a simple brown circle introduces readers to Gaea, or Mother Earth. The creation of Olympians unfolds slowly with simple straightforward lines and silhouettes. Dark browns and blacks echo the early development of the Titans. The first fully rendered face is that of the infant Zeus, with his birth symbolized in a pastel palette. This new race of Gods is visually and strikingly different. Zeus's virility and vitality both bring the story to life and make it accessible to young readers. Zeus's encounters with gods, particularly his battle with his father Kronos, are visually compelling. Images of grasping hands, thunderbolts, close-up visages, gaping holes in the earth, and silhouetted bodies bring Zeus's struggle for dominance into clear focus. Oversize panels reinforce the heroic proportions of the story. It is telling that from such a simple beginning, the complex story is able to evolve naturally to a satisfying conclusion, as depicted on the final page showing Zeus and the new race of numerous immortal gods. O'Connor clearly hints throughout the retelling that more stories are forthcoming: "And that is a tale for another day." Endpapers show the Olympian Family Tree. Back matter includes an author's note, notation of Greek words, discussion questions, and recommended reading. This ultimate superhero story will appeal to anyone who enjoys Greek mythology or great comic art."Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2010
Grades 5-9 OConnor unveils his new Olympians graphic-novel series with this story of the daddy of Greek gods. Most immediately striking about this, aside from the exciting artwork, is the care OConnor takes to visualize the creation myth that begins with Gaea creating and taking as a husband the sky, Ouranos. Their childrenthe Titans and other proto-Olympian entitiesare often neglected or at best murkily covered, but here theyre vividly portrayed with all the magnificence of their beyond-good-and-evil power. After this breathtaking and lengthy sequence, Zeus enters the scene to grow from a feisty nymph-needling youth to a lightning boltwielding avenger. The extended, earth-shattering battle he wages with his father, Kronos, takes up the bulk of the story, delivering page after page of cataclysmic blows with the sensibility and hyperkinetic pacing of a literary superhero comic. While OConnor includes a generous bounty of bonus materials to gratify myth hounds, this series could well become the initiation point for a new cadre of acolytes. New volumes should come quickly, with Athena's book due in April 2010.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)