She says that finding true love is a journey like climbing the rungs of a ladder from the recognition of pretty people to pretty ideas. Her faces seem to be inspired by an unlikely forebear: They have the yearning eyes and pointy noses of Jules Feiffer's people. 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 had Asclepius put the baby in his leg and incubated it there for a few years. My biggest complaint is that there are occasional glaring editing errors that . 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. For more information, please see our Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The old episodes were subsequently deleted from the platform and have not been officially released. Eros steals her away from a loveless engagement, gifting her a homefor themselves, but he keeps his godly identity a secret. With the Gods free, a war raged on, leading to the Olympians taking over, which is also included inLore Olympus,but it is primarily background information. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. Zeus knocked up Semele while Persephone was banished. This part of the myth has not been included fully in the Webtoon, but it's been teased that Aphrodite has something instorefor Psyche and her son. I hate that she spends so much time attempting to flesh out a character only for her to make her unsympathetic, like seriously what was the FUCKING POINT?! its kinda like something-something-cliffhanger. 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. 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. Over the span of the last year, Smythe has explored problematic elements of sexual violence through the lens of the Me Too Movement, the pain of codependent relationships, and the way that feelings of desire creep up . It also plays on the theme of similarity which Hades tries to identify with Persephone and disassociate with Minthe. The second season of Lore Olympus began on August 2nd, 2020. Reader Q&A, Because it turns out, the gods aren't so different from us after all, especially when it comes to their problems. Persephone's story dominates this book, which collects episodes 1-25 (the webcomic is now on episode 178). The fact that Smythe is the main artist, as well as the story's creator, is pretty dang impressive, too. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. And the way the author responded to those critics..didnt sit well with me. Its just that nothing really happens in an episode. like theres no story building and it takes episodes to move the plot forward. Lore's characters may be inspired by the original stories, but they act less like their millennia-old versions than like young people of today. I say she's mentally a child due to several reasons. you've probably heard that the kids today are very into nostalgia. The story was relaunched on March 4th, 2018. Persephone's story dominates this book, which collects episodes 1-25 . The world of Webtoon and Manghwa absolutely fascinated me, and still does to this day. Over the span of the last year, Smythe has explored problematic elements of sexual violence through the lens of the Me Too Movement, the pain of codependent relationships, and the way that feelings of desire creep up when someone least expects it. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. In mythology, this is fairly close to the truth. InLore Olympus, Daphne has been wanting to go out with Apollo for some time, however, he's been fixated on Persephone. 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. In Greek mythology, this is the opposite. Lore Olympus has become the most popular Webtoon to date. "You can't wear that!" In October 2019, the Jim Henson Company announced a partnership with Line WEBTOON to create an animated Lore Olympus series. "Two ways. "You look like a relic." Cookie Notice 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. But though the Persephone-Hades relationship is at its center, Smythe ponders and plays with virtually every other god and mortal we know from ancient mythology. "What you want is an excellent queen of the Underworld, not an 'ok' one. Hades and Hera in a scene from Lore Olympus. "), which would be appropriate to Hades's job as a banker, but also to the mood of the letter. Hades drives Persephone home after her first day of work, giving them yet another chance to have a heart-to-heart in a car. Contrary to this, however, the two instantly click after their encounter and begin a flirtatious friendship that promises to bloom into something more. 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. 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. An earlier version of this story referred to Artemis as Persephone's sister. 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. Because it turns out, the gods arent so different from us after all, especially when it comes to their problems. 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. I know thats a strong word and thats fine if you want be upset with me but honestly I do hate this comic. Lore Olympus was the first webtoon i read. Furthermore, the original myth has Psyche perform several tasks to proveto Aphrodite that she loves Eros. A bit later I noticed this famous Webtoon going around called 'Lore Olympus'. 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 potential is there, the art is there, the story is there. Semele gave birth prematurely and died. It's a poignant callback that shows his personal growth and argues for the individual's power to rewrite their stories of trauma. Feel free to discuss webtoon series and chapters as well as collaborate with other artists and writers to make your own webtoon. Persephone and Demeter have been punished for ten years so far, and he's failing Persephone over the tiniest errors. Plus, it reveals that even our beloved characters aren't picture perfect. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. This is one of the most direct adaptations of the myths in Lore Olympus, with the main difference being that Eros originally hid himself entirely from Psyche, so she wasn't even sure what he looked like. Most creatives struggle to build and keep their audience because that, more than anything, affects their earning potential. I know that Rachel credits art assistants, and she does profit off her story, so i dont feel super bad about critiquing her. 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. i understand allot goes into making one of these. The art is great, the characters are cute, but the writing. not so great. The comic makes several major deviations from the original myths, most notably in how the Gods and their realms are depicted- for example, Olympus and the Underworld are shown as modern metropolises, while the realm of mortals is set in the time of ancient Greece. her friend Artemis tells her. 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. He produced a limited-run podcast on the crossroads between American pop culture and the classical world. RELATED: 10 Lore Olympus Memes That Are Too Hilarious For Words. You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Dark Simplicity by Jayke. Lore Olympus Connection. Ares is one of the more ambiguous characters of Olympus. There's a trigger warning at the beginning of the book for sexual assault/rape. I resent that she employed the May . In it, Hades tries to articulate all of his apprehensions about diving into a new relationship with a goddess he knows nothing about. Here are some webtoons to read if you liked Lore Olympus: 1. This is pulled directly from Greek mythology, where Cronus ate all his children, aside from Zeus, out of fear they would overthrow him. Withthis season wrappedfor the summer, here are the biggest mythsLore Olympusreimagines so far. ", "being optimistic doesn't make you nave", "Do you need me to kill someone for you? My first Webtoon was My Deepest Secret, and as expected, it left an amazing impression. I hate that this comic is basically just Greek Fifty Shades of Grey. She just became Hades wife and Queen of the Underworld, she hasn't even found her fucking footing. To say their relationshipwas volatile is putting it lightly. A home wrecker. 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. 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 Hardcover - October 11, 2022. and our This causes her great remorse. For more information, please see our He's childish, he picks favorites, he's stubborn and can be dense enough to shatter bricks. But Smythe's take on classic myth is anything but hidebound. Feeling stifled by Demeter's strict routines, Persephone is eventually allowed to move to Olympus to live with Artemis and attend college. like. On June 13th, 2020, the Season 1 finale, "The Bringer of Death" was released, concluding the first season with 115 episodes. Hades's sentiment is a paraphrase of Ernest Hemingway from The Sun Also Rises ("How did you go bankrupt?" 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. This is crazy to me. When Zeus and Hera discuss the prospects of outing Apollo for his behavior towards and acts of violence against Persephone, Zeus is dismissive of consequences, because of Apollo's fame or kudos, in the Greek. Minthe is drawn as a manipulative, careless, emotionally abusive character when audiences first meet her; however,Smythe's focalization of the narrative onto Minthe challenges readers to shift their sympathies. However, it is a beautiful story with many nuances, and it takes a more mature understanding to enjoy and comprehend. The Webtoon is full of references to . the tech replaces almost all the . And it feels like a significant stopping point for a chapter to end. 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? He eventually calls it quits for good, partially because he has truly found someone who values him and partially because he's realized he deserves a healthier, more stable life. Instead, Aphrodite has Eros a flighty guy with a shopping addiction get Persephone drunk and hide the passed-out girl in the backseat of Hades' sports car. Hades spots Persephone for the first time in Lore Olympus Season 2 explores the unpermitted and covered up act of wrath committed by Persephone before the series began, and the repercussions of said act when it comes to light. I think it's just bad. Minthe gaslights, belittles, and emotionally abuses Hades,even whenhe tries to salvage their relationship. Get in contact to talk about Neil Gaiman, Rick Remender, or Jeanette Winterson. But in this moment, she seems perfectly capable of handling Hades's fancy car during a drive on the morning after their meet-cute. 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. [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. Lore Olympus was the first webtoon i read. 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). Cookie Notice What started as a love for comics, film and television turned into a career after graduating with honors from Lewis & Clark College. 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. Sally Austin There's a trigger warning at the beginning of the book for sexual assault/rape. 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. RELATED: Hercules is the PERFECT Disney Film for a Live-Action Remake. Del Rey Privacy Policy. The subreddit dedicated to webtoons. 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. My Dear Cold Blooded King. I wish the content warning had been stronger and more clear--I would not have read it. Hades, the eldest of the big three gods, was eaten by his father, Cronus, despite his mother's attempts to keepHades hidden. At one point two gods call one another using corded phones. After allowing her sisters to visit, they convince Psyche that Eros is a monster, who she should kill. Witness what the gods doafter dark. Lore Olympus: Volume Three. So i started reading other webtoons while waiting between episodes. 2. the modern take of LO isnt necessarily bad, but i dont think its handled well. It's a choice Smythe seems to have made in order to point out how retrograde today's skimpy fashions are. In your care. It can be read here. lol. stab in the dark, i think that rachel may have signed a contract and is making the art as bad as possible as a way of bombing the comic;now, im not a supporter of her or anything as some things she has written or drawn are unacceptable but this big of a drop in quality is weirdly suspicious. Full quote:"I always assumed that falling in love would be something that would happen slowly over time not all at once.". Another time, a god is seen reading an actual newspaper (the very notion!). Hades's emendation to his therapeutic letter to Persephone marks a decisive shift away from his early feelings of apprehension and doubt. Why do we need new stories at all? The webcomic definitely contains some mature topics for teenagers, I think I would give it an age rating of +16 or +18. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. With that, a mature teen could likely . Scan this QR code to download the app now. But ive read other ones where each chapter/episode is fleshed out. Persephone also is the perpetrator of an Act of Wrath, more accidental (buildings and ground collapsing) than intentional. The sense of anachronism is particularly strong in Smythe's female characters, most of whom have absurdly exaggerated hourglass figures and dress in extremely revealing outfits and high heels. Minthe appeals to their toxic codependency, as if it's an argument in favor of staying together. The line also hints at the fact that there are more confidence and adventure to Persephone than first impressions suggest. #LoreOlympus is one of the most popular comics on #Webtoon . The friendships and the lies, the gossip and the wild parties, and of course, forbidden love. Zeus is also lying to Hebe and likely others by claiming Persephone . ; Adaptational Expansion: In the original myths, she is just some minor . I do not think it's overrated. Just like you, the same as you. Easily one of, and in fact, the most popular title on the platform is Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe. I resent that she employed the May December romance and had the guts to think no one would notice. Here are the webcomic's best quotes. Lore Olympus continues the long tradition of Greek mythology, reimagining the classic characters and legends, so they better suit 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. 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." Now Im not saying its a bad webtoon. Thankfully, Apollo has not harassed Daphne in LoreOlympus, but he has raped Persephone. 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 . Witness what the gods doafter dark. 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. We're told that twentysomethings are playing first-gen video games, reminiscing about Beanie Babies and decorating their apartments in grandmillenial style. 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. especially since sometimes the quality fixes for a split second and then goes back to being..almost ironic anybody have any better ideas? Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Images excerpted from LORE OLYMPUS: Volume One by Rachel Smythe, copyright 2021 by Rachel Smythe. But anyone who's drawn into Smythe's world will appreciate its beauty and wit, and few will escape its seductive ambiguity. NEXT: Lore Olympus: Persephone's Top 10 Outfits, Ranked. 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. RELATED: How Lore Olympus Became One of the World's Most Popular Comics. An abuser and 2. This is an adult graphic novel that I would not recommend for teens. Along with Hades being head over heels for Persephone, several other Gods long to be with her, includingAres and Apollo. I would say this is a book for YA readers rather than teen readers. Before Hades knew Persephone, he had a toxic relationship with Minthe, a nymph. Feel free to discuss webtoon series and chapters as well as collaborate with other artists and writers to make your own webtoon. The pilot version of the comic was originally published in the "Discover" category of the platform (now . This agenda appears most clearly in the book's art. It's like couples that adopt a baby to fix their marriage. 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. I hate how all (and yes I mean all) the characters have such inconsistent characterization that it isnt surprising when they act out of character, its just frustrating. Prior to Hades kidnapping Persephone,several Gods, including Ares, Apollo, and Hermes, all asked for Persephone's hand, but they were rejected. ", "Mother says banks are run by greedy charlatans. ), RELATED: The 5 Most Underrated Characters in Lore Olympus (& The 5 Most Overrated).