Hades: Lord of the Dead (Olympians)

by George O'Connor | Graphic Novels |
ISBN: 1596434341 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 6/19/2013
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, June 19, 2013
I got this slim softcover at Toadstool Books in Milford NH (after a dramatic episode in which the staff managed to catch and liberate a hummingbird that had gotten inside the store and was beating against the windows). Since so many recent representations of Hades have been unjustly negative (see the TV Tropes page Everybody Hates Hades for more), I was pleased to see a story in which he does not come across as the villain!

The book opens in stark fashion - an entirely black page with these words in white: "This is what happens to you when you die." The following pages lead you to the banks of the River Styx, onto Charon's boat, and into the underworld - where, unless you'd done something bad enough to deserve eternal punishment, you'd drink the waters of Lethe and forget... everything... Then you join the hordes of other nameless shades waiting for - for what?

Intriguing opening, eh? From here we switch to the sunlit surface of Earth, where Demeter is busily defending her daughter Kore (as Persephone is sometimes known) from the many randy gods. Kore isn't keen on being controlled, of course, and a mother-daughter spat ensues. When Kore goes off by herself, Hades appears and carries her off (in some spectacular panels) - and the story takes off. She's not happy at first, but he wooes her, and as he's shown as powerful and quite handsome (in a pale-skin/black-hair/brooding kind of way), and respectful of her wishes - and willing to offer her a chance to choose her own future... well, she's sorely tempted.

The story unfolds as per myth, with some amusing side notes regarding the responses of the other gods to Demeter's complaints. And there's a delightful little tweak to the way in which Persephone becomes Hades' bride, one that I like very much, even if it isn't quite canon. (The story also suggests that Persephone's influence helps to improve the situation for the shades that come to her realm.)

The author includes some commentary about the changes he made to the myths, and plenty of notes on the characters and events in the story. The notes are worth reading on their own, and are often very funny.

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Chunky's Cinema in Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Released 10 yrs ago (8/21/2013 UTC) at Chunky's Cinema in Nashua, New Hampshire USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I left this book propped up on a street lamp in front of Chunky's at about 6; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 2013 One Word Title release challenge. ***

Journal Entry 3 by Murph603 at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, August 22, 2013
Just found this book after I got out of elysium! (Great movie, by the way) Cant wait to read it.

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