How some people overlook the issue also shows how normal classism is . Nine episodes were released before the comic was moved to the "Featured" category. I know at first it seems a little goddess girl meet older evil bad boy but it becomes so much more. It can be read here. Later, readers will learn that Persephone not only has never driven a car, but she also doesn't even have a license, living a sheltered existence under the shadow of her overprotective mother Demeter. Stylish and immersive, this is one of mythology's greatest stories -- The Taking of Persephone -- as it's never been told before. reimagining the classic characters and legends, challenge the more problematic aspects of the myths, How Lore Olympus Became One of the World's Most Popular Comics, Science Fiction Is the Ultimate Queer Space in Comics, Percy Jackson: How the Films Went Wrong - and How Disney+ Can Get It Right, Hercules is the PERFECT Disney Film for a Live-Action Remake. Lore Olympus is a romance webcomic created by Rachel Smythe and published by the webcomic platform Line WEBTOON. Some of Smythe's updates are about what you'd expect, like when she casts the brothers Zeus, Poseidon and Hades as club-hopping party boys and has Artemis describe Persephone's mom Demeter as a "helicopter." For more information, please see our A home wrecker. There is a rape scene, but it is a depiction of the character's mental state during rather than a depiction of rape. I hate that this comic is basically just Greek Fifty Shades of Grey. Some believe Persephone chose to eat the fruit and othersbelieve Hades tricked her, however, after spending time in the Underworld together, they fall in love. There are sexual nuances throughout the story- the act is implied, but there is no nudity or explicit scenes. How have we stayed the same?" ", "I always assumed that falling in love", "I love the way you treat me and I want to feel that way all the time. He's delivered conference papers on non-verbal decision-making in Seneca and Sandman. This event has haunted Hades ever since. The art of Lore Olympus is as nuanced and lush as the story, and the use of bright colors and saturated backgrounds makes for a truly unique reading experience. This agenda appears most clearly in the book's art. And week after week after week, i started to feel differently about Lore Olympus. Thankfully, Apollo has not harassed Daphne in LoreOlympus, but he has raped Persephone. The final confrontation between Aphrodite and Hades is unexpectedly sweet. When Hermes and cool-guy Apollo stop by, the quartet play a board game and heat up dinner in a Crock-Pot. Sometimes she inserts deliberate anachronisms to remind the reader that this isn't just the modern world with gods in it, but a world that's both ancient and modern at once. I resent the way she writes her story so poorly and yet it appeals to so many unsuspecting people. She can be contacted at caitlin.c@cbr.com, and her social is @comiccookbook. All rights reserved. fantasy combined with tech is often fun, and a lot of "modern god" takes can be really entertaining (ex: that post about hades trying to win back cerberus from a stubborn little girl) but the way LO handles it is very lacking. We're told that twentysomethings are playing first-gen video games, reminiscing about Beanie Babies and decorating their apartments in grandmillenial style. make this book a great read for anyone who's thought about the stubbornness of human nature and the resilience of classic tropes. I hate the fact that she wrote Nymphs as some kind of allegory or parallel for the working class yet the two main nymphs that we see are 1. Smythe's take on classic myth is anything but hidebound. Full quote:"I always assumed that falling in love would be something that would happen slowly over time not all at once.". Lore Olympus is a romance webcomic created by New Zealand artist Rachel Smythe. Aphrodite sees through Hades's chaste monitions against interfering with Persephone and asks him if all of her tricks led to something positive. I hate Lore Olympus so fucking much and I feel like I will never escape the clutches of something that used to bring me joy but now only makes my heart race with anger. Zeus is also lying to Hebe and likely others by claiming Persephone . By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Send in any LO critiques (LO art critiques are also welcomed) - She/They - LGBTQ+ - POC (Black) -. I think the storyline is generally for adults but a young adult reading this wouldnt be exposed to anything explicitly inappropriate in my opinion. New Graphic Novel 'Celestia' Wanders An Earth That's No Longer Home, 'Prince Of Cats' Melds Comics, Hip-Hop And Shakespeare. In Plato's dialogue about finding love, called the Symposium or "Drinking Party," Socrates tells a story about how he learned about the meaning of true love from a soothsayer named Diotima. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The friendships and the lies, the gossip and the wild parties, and of course, forbidden love. As someone who loves greek mythology and hadesXpersephone i was hooked. After meeting at Zeus' party, Hades and Persephonedevelop feelings for one another, however, each of them have obstacles in their way. In Hades's adaptation of the quote, love is akin to bankruptcy, a lack (actually that's one of the original meanings of the Greek word eros). Because it turns out, the gods arent so different from us after all, especially when it comes to their problems. Privacy Policy. Withthis season wrappedfor the summer, here are the biggest mythsLore Olympusreimagines so far. I love Webtoons like Bastard, I'm the Grimm Reaper, Killstagram, etc, and wanted to try out some more romance, and wanted to give it a try. It also plays on the theme of similarity which Hades tries to identify with Persephone and disassociate with Minthe. Gradually and then suddenly. With huge, innocent, heavily lined eyes and ridiculously bodacious curves, Persephone in particular looks like a mid-century male's fantasy of the ultimate submissive sex toy. (Later in the book Persephone is roofied, however, so readers sensitive to depictions of sexual assault should steer clear.). In Lore Olympus, Persephone is the youngest goddess, a character best poised to modernize the Underworld much like the historical evolution of belief and practice. The quote comes from an emotional letter that Hades writes as a therapeutic exercise, addressed to a hypothetical Persephone. Most importantly, Smythe's Hades doesn't kidnap Persephone at all. Later when the story shifts to Minthe's perspective,audiences see how apparent the Olympians' derision impacts her self-esteem, but for now, it feels like the brotherly pep talk Hades needs to imagine better opportunities. Lore Olympus continues the long tradition of Greek mythology, reimagining the classic characters and legends, so they bettersuit contemporary audiences, challenge the more problematic aspects of the myths and make an overall engaging story that is unpredictable despite being based on lore centuries old. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Cookie Notice But its inner heart is as backwards-looking as floral upholstery and reruns of Friends. 2. the modern take of LO isnt necessarily bad, but i dont think its handled well. like. Caitlin Sinclair Chappell is a writer turned editor at CBR. After his mother, Aphrodite, grows jealous of how beautiful Psyche is, she demands Eros make her fall in love with a beast, however, he becomes smittenby Psyche. There's Classism Among The Olympians in "Lore Olympus." This may sound like a bad thing to like the comic, but classism is a real-life issue that makes the world and the characters more real. Persephone's story dominates this book, which collects episodes 1-25 (the webcomic is now on episode 178). My first Webtoon was My Deepest Secret, and as expected, it left an amazing impression. After allowing her sisters to visit, they convince Psyche that Eros is a monster, who she should kill. Sure, aspects of Lore's style may look cutting-edge it's obviously created entirely on a digital drawing app, for one thing, with no pen and paper in sight. These gods play the same interpersonal games that dominate today's sexually frank, cell-phone-mediated social world. [deleted] 2 yr. ago. Eros steals her away from a loveless engagement, gifting her a homefor themselves, but he keeps his godly identity a secret. The subreddit dedicated to webtoons. Im not. Images excerpted from LORE OLYMPUS: Volume One by Rachel Smythe, copyright 2021 by Rachel Smythe. Witness what the gods doafter dark. Aphrodite seems to argue that Hades's love of Persephone more closely aligns with Phaedrus's definition of love from the Symposium, a bond between two people spurs them to be better. It isbeautiful, poignant, and complex. NEXT: Lore Olympus: Persephone's Top 10 Outfits, Ranked. Just know Ive left the fandom and could give like two shits less what the creator does with it anymore it will always remain trash in my mind. RELATED: Lore Olympus: 10 Cosplays Fit For the Gods. And it feels like a significant stopping point for a chapter to end. With that, a mature teen could likely . EDIT EDIT: its been two years since I made this post (and also my Reddit account) from what Ive heard LO has not gotten any better, I guess its actually gotten worse. What started as a love for comics, film and television turned into a career after graduating with honors from Lewis & Clark College. #LoreOlympus is one of the most popular comics on #Webtoon . The comic is a modern retelling of the relationship between the Greek goddess and god Persephone and Hades.It began publishing weekly on the platform Webtoon in March 2018. "Two ways. Hades reveals to readers in this scene that he had intentions to propose to his emotionally abusive girlfriend, the river nymph Minthe, at the party where he met Persephone. It's a choice Smythe seems to have made in order to point out how retrograde today's skimpy fashions are. And the way the author responded to those critics..didnt sit well with me. However, it is a beautiful story with many nuances, and it takes a more mature understanding to enjoy and comprehend. I resent the way she writes her story so poorly and yet it appeals to so many unsuspecting people. When Persephone sees him with her friend, she threatens to tell Daphne the truth, and if she does, this could be what causes Daphne to reject Apollo in the future if Smythe decides to pull more inspiration from the original myth. We already cannot wait for book two. hide caption. I've never really heard of it and the art looks really pretty, but I've tried to research on it and not able to find out any source that pointed out what the story is. The story follows Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, who has been raised in the mortal realm by her overprotective mother, Demeter. Since it's start in 2018, the graphic novel has garnered 4.8million subscribers and an average o. "What you want is an excellent queen of the Underworld, not an 'ok' one. Persephone shows herself to be headstrong and plucky enough not to put up with any criticism from the God of the Underworld in this scene, which makes an impression on him. I have read so many beautiful, fascinating Webtoons and am obsessed. The webcomic definitely contains some mature topics for teenagers, I think I would give it an age rating of +16 or +18. It just brings a child into a tense situation. Reader Q&A, In it, Hades tries to articulate all of his apprehensions about diving into a new relationship with a goddess he knows nothing about. Dark Simplicity by Jayke. This causes her great remorse. When he's not reenacting the first half of Blast From the Past in his apartment on loop, he's been teaching an infant to read The Butter Battle. But Smythe's take on classic myth is anything but hidebound. At the same time, though, Smythe wants her readers to reflect on how the antiquated values that have shaped social relations since the time of myth persist in our modern era. This comic makes so viscerally angry. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! The first time we see Persephone, she's planning to wear a toga-style robe to Zeus' big party. Such topics may not be of particular interest to that many of Lore's millions of fans. Ares is one of the more ambiguous characters of Olympus. Lore Olympus changes the original myths, but the themes and bones of these stories are still present in the Webtoon. The Webtoon is full of references to . The writing just needs to level up, so to speak. And this may have been discussed already, but I'm giving my 2 cents worth as someone who grew up on movies/tv shows, comics, and books that had this same issue, as well as someone who actually studies art. Lore Olympus: Volume Three. It aligns Persephone with progressive politics in the United States, while also reiterating the fact that she has no patience for the impersonal way that things are done in Olympus. Etelka Lehoczky has written about books for The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Review of Books and The New York Times. I know thats a strong word and thats fine if you want be upset with me but honestly I do hate this comic. You can be upset at me, thats fine but please be upset at me for the right reasons not just because this is your favorite comic and you think that because I hate it you should too, just maybe be more critical of the media you consume. Contrary to this, however, the two instantly click after their encounter and begin a flirtatious friendship that promises to bloom into something more. Smythe probably doesn't intend this, but part of the idea of sameness in her story is a big deal in Platonic philosophy called "assimilation to the divine" or homoitheosis (Republic 10.613ff, Laws 4.716, and Theatetus, "Escape [from a world of evils], Socrates says, "is to become like a God," 176b1. I want to read it but really don't want to be disappointed, is it really worth reading? and our hide caption. Full quote: "being optimistic doesn't make you nave. Another time, a god is seen reading an actual newspaper (the very notion!). Its just that nothing really happens in an episode. like theres no story building and it takes episodes to move the plot forward. [Many YA readers have already experienced the story on Webtoon, you can check out the comic there to see if you think it's a good match. The story is a modern retelling of the Greek myth concerning the relationship between the God of the Underworld, Hades, and the Goddess of Spring, Persephone. I feel some of the episodes could be combined into one to make a solid story instead of breaking it up into 3 parts. He produced a limited-run podcast on the crossroads between American pop culture and the classical world. I binged as far as i could and reread it too. Apollo even offered her his lyre to show his "love," which differs from Lore Olympus, where Persephone takes his lyre and damages it to show her hate. Welcome back. Lore Olympus regularly deals with themes of physical and mental abuse, sexual trauma, and toxic relationships. Lore Olympus is subject to a lot of scrutiny- i try to expand on whymy socials:https://malacalico.carrd.co/castlevania zine preorders and info:https://castle. "), which would be appropriate to Hades's job as a banker, but also to the mood of the letter. In the moment, Persephone's observation about banks feels like a throwaway line, but Smythe's critique of the banking system and, by implication, Hades's whole business model is a smart jab. Did you show her the best you could be? "You look like a relic." When shesneaks up onEros in his sleep, she discovers he is a god, and the betrayal leads to his broken heart. Feel free to discuss webtoon series and chapters as well as collaborate with other artists and writers to make your own webtoon. Lore Olympus Wiki is a FANDOM Anime Community. There are explicit depictions of a sexual assault and its aftermath, though there isn't explicit sexual content in the series, and I personally think it's important for teens to explore in fiction which can help them make sense of their experiences or find more agency in their own lives when faced with toxic relationships or assault. the tech replaces almost all the . InLore Olympus, Daphne has been wanting to go out with Apollo for some time, however, he's been fixated on Persephone. Before Hades knew Persephone, he had a toxic relationship with Minthe, a nymph. RELATED: Science Fiction Is the Ultimate Queer Space in Comics. The art is great, the characters are cute, but the writing. not so great. Here are the lines that changed relationships in Lore Olympus and perfectly encapsulated this moment. It's like couples that adopt a baby to fix their marriage. WithZeus in hiding, he was able to grow into maturity, eventually infiltrating Cronus' home and poisoning him to throw up his siblings, who had also grown up. WARNING: The following contains mentions of rape, abuse and sexual harassment, as well as spoilers for Lore Olympus, by Rachel Smythe, available now on Webtoons.. Lore Olympus has been one of the biggest comics on Webtoons thanks to creator Rachel Smythe's reimagining of Greek myths. A-Cup Angst: Once she finds out about Persephone, Minthe starts becoming insecure about her body and checks out her breast size in the bathroom mirror.Humorously illustrated in the December 29th Q-and-A, which included an image of Minthe and Persephone based on a famous photo of Sophia Loren side-eyeing Jayne Mansfield. Lore Olympus is a retelling of Greek myths, particularly the myth of Persephone's abduction by Hades, king of the underworld. The childhood of Hades is only told through dreams and flashbacks, butit is revealed in one of these nightmares what his father did to him. You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Zeus knocked up Semele while Persephone was banished. For Persephone, it's her overprotective mother and the predetermined plansfor her to be a Goddess of Eternal Maidenhood, something Persephone isn't sure she wants. It can be read here. Pyrrhic and Victoria discuss the #1 Award Winning Webtoon, Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe, episodes 1-70.#webtoon #webtoonreaction #webtoonrecommendation #web. KEEP READING: 10 LGBTQ Webcomics to Read During Pride. With that, a mature teen could likely handle it. Her faces seem to be inspired by an unlikely forebear: They have the yearning eyes and pointy noses of Jules Feiffer's people. Rachel Smythe's writing in the ultra-popular webcomic Lore Olympus contains elements of tragedy and comedy that suit modern sensibilities through the medium of classical themes. Feel free to discuss webtoon series and chapters as well as collaborate with other artists and writers to make your own webtoon. The webtoon sensation is finally in print, and it is a stunning celebration of one of the first love stories ever told. Just like you, the same as you. He called Persephone to her apartment so she could deliver the kid, because he doesn't want his family in Olympus to find out. The diverse, subtle ways Smythe reiterates her central question which can be summed up as something like, "How have we changed in the past two millennia? Here are some webtoons to read if you liked Lore Olympus: 1. On June 13th, 2020, the Season 1 finale, "The Bringer of Death" was released, concluding the first season with 115 episodes. Lore Olympus was the first webtoon i read. Lore Olympus was the first webtoon i read. I do not think it's overrated. For more information, please see our Prior to Hades kidnapping Persephone,several Gods, including Ares, Apollo, and Hermes, all asked for Persephone's hand, but they were rejected. Minor stories within Persephone's story are also featured, including that of Eros and Psyche. TLDR; I hate Lore Olympus and think the author poorly handled the basic fundamentals of its plot , characters and apparent themes. This contention seems to suggest a rather depressing corollary, though: Maybe those classic stories aren't just relevant, they're sufficient. Rachel Smythe's Lore Olympus is a powerful tale focusing on the relationship between Persephone and Hades. #1 NEW YORK TIMES . "You can't wear that!" There's a reason why Jim Henson's crew picked it up and are making it into an animated series. its kinda like something-something-cliffhanger. After some time, Persephone eatssix pomegranate seeds, which keeps her in the Underworld for six months each year. The episodes are so short, and thats not my complaint. Most creatives struggle to build and keep their audience because that, more than anything, affects their earning potential. Feel free to discuss webtoon series and chapters as well as collaborate with other artists and writers to make your own webtoon. Like I understand that feminist media tends to focus and value female representation of minorities above male . Hades, the eldest of the big three gods, was eaten by his father, Cronus, despite his mother's attempts to keepHades hidden. Stylish and immersive, this is one of mythologys greatest stories -- The Taking of Persephone -- as its never been told before. I know that Rachel credits art assistants, and she does profit off her story, so i dont feel super bad about critiquing her. This colorful take on the rather ubiquitous tales of Greek mythology offers a look at one of the Western world's most misunderstood gods, as well as the unlikely romance between him and Persephone. Lore Olympus is a modern retelling of the myths of the Greek pantheon, majorly focusing on the growing relationship between the deities Hades and Persephone. Readers tune into Lore Olympus weekly because of the beautiful visuals, the gripping arcs, and because Smythe has her finger on the pulse of what it means to be in love in 2020: wanting something you don't think you can or deserve to have. I barely used Tumblr prior to this, but it seemed like a good fit after finding and lurking in some of the other blogs and communities (shoutout to @antiloreolympus, @minthe-lover, @minthesupremacy, @ngloreolympus , @lore-olympus-reimagined and @nymphsupremacy , y'all grabbed me by the collar and made me your bitch with your great takes and art . I cant stand and I mean I CANNOT STAND how many fucking plots get introduced, dropped, brought up once or twice twenty episodes later, only to be dropped again until theyre necessary for the plot. A bit later I noticed this famous Webtoon going around called 'Lore Olympus'. Season 1 deals with Persephone navigating both the freedom and danger that Olympus presents, as well as her growing feelings for Hades, and her conflicted feelings regarding her TGOEM scholarship, which requires her to remain abstinent. But in this moment, she seems perfectly capable of handling Hades's fancy car during a drive on the morning after their meet-cute. Annie LaHue (Episode 31 - 100)Bre Boswell (Episode 101 -). Beyond writing and editing, she was the Film School Director at River Way Ranch Camp and the Assistant Director on the play Famous. Lore Olympus is subject to a lot of scrutiny i try to expand on whymy socials:https://malacalico.carrd.co/castlevania zine preorders and info:https://castlevaniazine.bigcartel.com/https://castlevaniazine.carrd.co/Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe:https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/lore-olympus/list?title_no=1320\u0026page=1music:The following music was used for this media project:Music: Elevator Music by Tim KuligFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8872-elevator-musicLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://timkulig.com/albums how to move in richie's plank experience,