Hinds, Gareth. The Odyssey, A Graphic Novel. Somerville: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763642686
The Characters
The main character of The Odyssey is obviously Odysseus! In this version of Homer's epic poem, Odysseus is a strappingly buff older gentleman. Other characters include his son Telemachus, his wife Penelope, and the various gods and goddesses, kings and queens he meets along his way back home to Ithaca.
The Plot
Odysseus's plot hasn't changed much in this version. He desperately wants to get home after the Trojan war, but gets strung along and toyed with by the gods, especially Poseidon after he blinds one of the sea god's cyclops sons.
The Setting
The setting of this graphic novel is the Mediterranean and various islands that Odysseus stops at on his long journey back to Ithaca.
The Theme
A theme of The Odyssey is the idea that brains are better than brawn, although Odysseus is pretty muscly for an old, old man.
The Style
The graphic novel version of The Odyssey is illustrated in watercolor and colored pencils. It shows in colorful detail the exploits of Odysseus as he travels back to his home after the Trojan War. There is not much text in the graphic novel version, especially compared to the epic, but the pictures almost do a better job of telling the story, which is what good graphic novels do.
The Analysis
I enjoy The Odyssey in pretty much every form. Mythology is one of my favorite subjects to study and seeing the visualization of the ancient Greek gods and goddesses in delicate colored pencil was lovely. It's always interesting to see different people's adaptations of the classics, and in this version, you really do see what the author was thinking, since he drew it!
The Review
Jesse Karp (Booklist, Sep. 15, 2010 (Vol. 107, No. 2))
Starred Review* As the proliferation of recent Odyssey graphic novelizations approaches the record held by Shakespeare adaptations, it is perhaps appropriate that Hinds, the Bard’s premiere sequential adapter, should produce the most lavish retelling of Homer yet. Showing great artistic evolution since his rough-and-tumble Beowulf (2007), Hinds lets the epic story take its time, with a slow build and pages that aren’t afraid to alternate packed dialogue with titanic action. The sumptuous art, produced with grain, texture, and hue, evokes a time long past while detailing every line and drop of sweat on Odysseus’ face and conveying the sheer grandeur of seeing a god rise out of the ocean. Teens may be baffled by the hero’s commitment to the same pantheon of gods who heap trouble in his path, but they will not lose touch with the universal qualities of steadfastness that Odysseus still embodies. The mythic trials have seldom felt more grueling or genuine, and this makes a perfect pairing with Tim Mucci and Ben Caldwell’s adaptation for a slightly younger audience from the All-Action Classics series, affording a chance to see how an archetypal story can function so powerfully at both the realistic and the stylized ends of the artistic spectrum. A grand example of Hinds’ ability to combine historical adventure with human understanding.
Since some teens find might find Odysseus and mythology a little daunting, it could be more intriguing to watch the 1997 TV movie The Odyssey, assuming you have a movie license, after discussing the epic and the graphic novel. Other mythological movies could be watched, too, like Troy or even Clash of the Titans.
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