Zeus, King of the Gods by George O’Connor

Zeus, King of the Gods, (#1 in The Olympians graphic-novel series) by George O’Connor.  First Second, 2012, 80 pages.

Reading Level: Picture books (graphic novel), ages 9-12

Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) and up

Bottom line: This series by a popular children’s illustrator is a great way to introduce middle-grade comic-book fans to the Olympian gods.

So, how did Zeus get started?  No, how did time get started?  No—what was the beginning of earth and sky?  To tell this tale, O’Connor (illustrator of Captain Awesome , along with an impressive graphic-novel resume) goes back to Mother Earth.  Hungry for companionship, Gaea created the sky, Ouranos, to keep her company.  From their union came the Titans, as well as monsters like the Cyclopes and the Hekodonchieres (with fifty heads and 100 hundred hands).  The monster children don’t please Ouranos, who throws them into Tartarus.  This angers their mother Gaea, so she makes a sickle out of the quarter moon, which the titan Kronos uses to slash open the sky and establish himself as King.  No better dad than his own dad, he swallows each child his wife Rhea bears, except the last: our hero.

With the exception of a few jokey touches and a lot of comic-book grunting (Rarrgh!  Hurh! Nngh!), the story is told straight-up with impressive art work and informative notes at the end.  Also discussion questions, such as, “Zeus’s dad tries to eat him.  Has your dad ever tried to eat you?”  (There are a few serious discussion questions, too).  The Olympians series includes four more titles now, dedicated respectively to Athena, Hades, Hera, and (later this year) Poseidon.  For comic book fans, there’s no downside to them.

Cautions: Violence (comic-book style)

Overall value: 4 (out of 5)

• Educational value: 4
• Artistic value: 4

Categories: Graphic Novel, Middle Grades, Adventure, Mythology

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