Olympians

Starred review from November 1, 2014
In the latest of his inimitable Olympians series, O'Connor comes around to Ares and the Trojan War.The heroically ripped Ares is depicted howling maniacally on the cover and later thundering into the melee in a chariot driven by Eris, the goddess of discord and plainly (as the author puts it in his closing "G[r]eek Notes") "crazier than an outhouse rat." Ares is openly reviled by his father, Zeus, thoroughly drubbed by his cooler-headed half-sib Athena ("Bring it, blowhard!") but ultimately savvy enough to see his father's subtle hand in the war's course. In short, he comes across (like much of his immortal family) as wild and flawed but not one-dimensional. In compressed form, the major events of the Iliad and the subsequent sack of Troy serve as cause and backdrop for the internecine strife that the earthly war brings to Olympus. On both stages, Athena, still fuming from the beauty contest that started it all, practically steals the show. Zigzagging between Earth and Olympus, the sequential scenes present a typically lively mix of melodramatic action and strong reaction shots-enhanced, often, by not-exactly-Classical language. For all the chaotic violence, though, there is little visible gore. What family doesn't have its little disagreements? Thank goodness the Olympians have many. (family tree, afterword, discussion questions, source notes). (Graphic mythology. 8-14)

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Starred review from March 1, 2015

Gr 4-8-In this nuanced, multilayered view of the usually vilified bringer of war, O'Connor continues his exceptional graphic novel series about the Greek gods. Less a biographical take on the subject and more of a character study, this entry is seen through the lens of the events that take place in Homer's iconic battle-driven epic poem The Iliad. Just like the original source material, the complex relationships among the deities and the tension and drama that arise when the glory and fate of their own demigod sons are at stake, take center stage. Ares is presented in many ways as his father's son, as evidenced by his affair with Aphrodite, but he also tries to rebel against Zeus's practice of using humans for sport. O'Connor highlights that of all the gods, Ares is the only one who grieves the death of his mortal son, shedding light on his own strained relationship with his father. Humor and zingers combine with the author's adept handling of Greek mythology, history, and popular culture. The variety of panels lends a dynamic feel to the battle scenes and confrontations between the dueling sides. The mostly scarlet-tinged color scheme is in perfect tune with the raging, bloodthirsty god of war's modus operandi. The author's extensive notes amusingly explain connections to The Odyssey, The Aeneid, and the series' previous works. VERDICT This expertly executed graphic novel will have fans anxiously awaiting even more adventures of mythological proportions.-Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2014
Grades 6-9 O'Connor draws most of his material for this final volume of his popular series from The Iliad, an account of a long and bloody war perfect for showcasing Ares' anger. He takes readers right into the chaotic action, depicting a blood-drenched, muscle-bound, red-eyed war god in the midst of battle, set on appropriately rusty red backgrounds. Ares and the other Olympians are divided over whether the Greeks or Trojans should win the war, and O'Connor focuses mostly on the gods' and goddesses' bickering and interference. Meanwhile, scenes of Greeks and Trojans battling are clearly depicted in the panels, and an author's note links the illustrations to moments in Homer's epic for readers unfamiliar with the story. Greek myths are full of frothy drama and revenge, which sometimes gets lost in prose versions, but O'Connor's comic-book-style artwork, witty asides, and clearly drawn characters make for very entertaining reading, and it's informative, too, especially if paired with more staid accounts of the deities. Ares is the seventh volume in this planned 12-book series, and the first 6 are now available together as a boxed set.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)