Review by Booklist Review
As the first epic adventure, Homer's Odyssey blazed a trail of brave men battling through great journeys that is still followed today. Which is to say that teenage boys will go after it like gangbusters. Filled with battles pitting the homeward-bound warrior Odysseus against Cyclopes, sea creatures, siren songs, and vengeful gods, there's action to spare in the graphic adaptation, and industry legend Thomas, who reinvented Conan for comics, makes it as rip-roaring as possible, ably abetted by Tocchini's dynamic images of forceful figures and crashing oceans. But beneath the familiarity lurk some surprises in the historical depiction of heroism, as the casually adulterous and occasionally city-enslaving protagonist often functions as little more than a pawn of the era's true powers: the gods. Women don't come off exceedingly well either, depicted in the most abundant manner and serving as only temptresses or possessions. A follow-up to Marvel's The Iliad (2008) and The Trojan War (2009), this is, despite appearances, as much an unexpected historical sociology lesson as an heroic escapade, and would be best for patient readers with open minds.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
A great story never gets old, and Thomas offers up new adaptations of two classic adventures. The Odyssey begins here not with Odysseus starting for home after the Trojan War but with the troubles of his wife and son. This is a novel take for readers who know the story, but for newcomers it leaves Odysseus as a supporting character in his own tale and takes away some of the opening momentum. Still, once attention turns to Odysseus, things heat up quickly. Thomas handles the wealth of characters and events ably, keeping a quick pace without confusing the reader. Gods, goddesses, monsters, and heroes are all well imagined, and the action in the lush artwork equals the excitement of the story. In Stevenson's Kidnapped, another tale of adventure on the high seas and beyond, young David Balfour seeks out an unknown uncle after his father dies, but Uncle Ebenezer has him kidnapped to be sold into slavery in America. Fortunately, the ship encounters Jacobite Alan Breck Stewart, who helps David escape; unfortunately, David is soon implicated in murder and on the run with Alan, while trying to prove his innocence and reclaim his inheritance. Again, Thomas manages a bucket-load of plot, incorporating historical figures and details without losing narrative flow. The dialog and narration are nicely balanced, and the dramatic artwork successfully captures both action and characters. Verdict Attractive visuals and well-written texts do justice to the original works and should appeal to a broad audience of older teens and adults. Recommended.-Julia Cox, Penticton P.L., BC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
