Aphrodite: Goddess of Love (Olympians Series #6)

by George O'Connor, George O'Connor (Illustrator)

Overview

In volume six of Olympians, graphic novel author/artist George O'Connor turns the spotlight on Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Look for the same thoroughly researched and wonderfully accessible comics storytelling as O'Connor tackles the story of the Aphrodite from her dramatic birth (emerging from sea-foam) to her role in the Trojan War.

O'Connor has outdone himself with this volume: the story is riveting and the artwork is beyond compare. Greek mythology has never been so vivid! This title has Common Core connections.

A Neal Porter Book

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596439474
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	12/31/2013
Series:	George O'Connor's Olympians Series , #6
Pages:	80
Product dimensions:	7.60(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	GN660L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 14 Years

About the Author

George O'Connor is the New York Times–bestselling author of Olympians, the series of graphic novels featuring the tragic, dramatic, and epic lives of the Greek Pantheon and its counterpart featuring the Norse Gods, the series Asgardians. His first graphic novel, Journey into Mohawk Country, pushed the boundaries of the genre, using as its sole text the actual historical journal of the seventeenth-century Dutch trader Harmen Meyndertsz van den Bogaert. He also illustrated acclaimed playwright Adam Rapp’s Ball Peen Hammer. He teamed up with writer Daniel G. Newman on Unrig: How to Fix Our Broken Democracy, the first volume in the World Citizen Comics series. George is also the creator of popular picture books such as the New York Times–bestselling Kapow! and If I Had a Triceratops. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

George O'Connor is the New York Times–bestselling author of Olympians, the series of graphic novels featuring the tragic, dramatic, and epic lives of the Greek Pantheon and its counterpart featuring the Norse Gods, the series Asgardians. His first graphic novel, Journey into Mohawk Country, pushed the boundaries of the genre, using as its sole text the actual historical journal of the seventeenth-century Dutch trader Harmen Meyndertsz van den Bogaert. He also illustrated acclaimed playwright Adam Rapp’s Ball Peen Hammer. He teamed up with writer Daniel G. Newman on Unrig: How to Fix Our Broken Democracy, the first volume in the World Citizen Comics series. George is also the creator of popular picture books such as the New York Times–bestselling Kapow! and If I Had a Triceratops. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the Olympians series:

"The generation weaned on the Marvel Universe will find much to love in O’Connor’s 12-book series. He faithfully depicts the origin stories and exploits of the major gods and goddesses, but in the style and language of classic superhero comics." —New York Times

“Definitely worth a visit for any young demigod.” —Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series

“This series is a must for every graphic novel collection.” —SLJ Good Comics for Kids

"A first-rate series." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2013-10-23
O'Connor spotlights the goddess of beauty and love in this solid addition to his Olympians series. Aphrodite's three attendants, the Charites, narrate a slightly-too-long recap of the origin of the Titans and Olympians, leading up to the goddess's birth. This telling emphasizes the power of Eros as an independent force in order to highlight the dangerous potential of Aphrodite, Eros' embodiment. After a series of shorter myths, various affairs and the introduction of Aphrodite's capricious son (a mischievous cherub she names Eros, of course), the story concentrates on the beauty contest of the goddesses Aphrodite, Hera and Athena, judged by the mortal Paris. The problematic female stereotypes inherent in a story of powerful women fighting over looks are brought to center stage and addressed by the characters. They find the contest "beneath" them and "debasing" even while participating and reframe the contest as one of power by offering Paris boons--Hera would make him a rich king, Athena a conquering hero. Aphrodite offers him the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen of Troy. Graphically, O'Connor compensates for the lack of action in Aphrodite's myths by taking advantage of the comic-book format for humor, with quick lines of dialogue and humorous reaction shots. This neatly nuanced take on Aphrodite shows respect for the ultrafeminine heroine. (author's note, character profiles, "G[r]eek Notes," discussion questions, bibliography) (Graphic mythology. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews

2014 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens, Long-listed
2014 YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens, Long-listed

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