Isis & Osiris To the ends of the earth : an Egyptian myth

Part of the umbrella Graphic Universe series, Graphic Myths and Legends books attempt to fuse the grandeur of mythology with a modern sensibility and style. This example, featuring the only female lead in the series' five books, proves a mixed success, even though Isis' love for her family and her harsh temper make for a well-rounded mythological heroine. The compact hardcover is colorful and fast moving, with bright illustrations and comic-book action pages. However, the blend of ancient subject matter with current expressions and language and a modern art style that emphasizes cartoonlike exaggeration feels incongruous enough to turn off some young readers even as it draws in others. A glossary and additional readings are appended. --Jesse Karp Copyright 2006 Booklist

Gr 3-8-These titles attempt, with varying success, to bring classic tales alive. Each one includes dialogue with a contemporary tone, which stretches the stories out. However, some of Hercules's labors get fairly short shrift in order to fit them all into this format. Although the art varies stylistically from book to book, it all shares the same basic palette and the general look of an American comic. Each volume has two overlapping notes, one on sources before the table of contents and the other, titled "Creating...," at the end. The further-reading lists are brief and include, variously, Bulfinch's Mythology for Thor and Hercules as well as the DVD of The Mummy starring Boris Karloff for Isis. Overall, Hercules and Isis are more pleasing updates than King Arthur or Thor but all convey the basic elements of the myths in a format that is increasingly popular. Keep in mind Marcia Williams's King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Candlewick, 1996; o.p.) as an alternative and more complete comic-book take on the Arthurian cycle and the recently re-released D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths (New York Review of Books, 2005) as an alternative to Thor.-Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Each comic tells a condensed version of a myth or legend. The colorful art is dramatic, but the retellings are often disjointed, with mid-story jumps and endings that trail away. Each book begins with an introduction (on the copyright page) and includes an explanation of the author's and illustrator's creation processes. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Graphic Myths and Legends titles: The Trojan Horse, Isis & Osiris, King Arthur, Thor & Loki, and Hercules.] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.