Hermes: Tales of the Trickster (Olympians Series #10)

by George O'Connor

Overview

George O’Connor’s vibrant, kinetic art brings ancient tales to life in the New York Times Bestselling series The Olympians. This fusion of super-hero aesthetics and ancient Greek mythology is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson!

In this volume of Olympians, George O’Connor delves into the myth of Hermes, the trickster god. From his infancy, when he bewitches animals and bends them to his will (stealing a herd of Apollo’s prize cattle in the bargain), to his adolescence and adulthood when he becomes father to the equally mischievous Pan, Hermes’s story is wildly entertaining as he brings a little bit of chaos to everything he touches or creates. This volume is sure to be a fan favorite with its wit, charm, and storytelling.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626725256
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	01/30/2018
Series:	Olympians , #10
Pages:	80
Sales rank:	234,342
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.30(d)
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. You can visit him at georgeoconnorbooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Vibrant, energetic illustrations portray athletic gods and goddesses, grotesque beasts, and frenzied battles, veering between cartoonish humor and intense drama. As always, O’Connor’s copious research is evident and his love of all things Greek is contagious." —School Library Journal, starred review

"Another crowd-pleasing, compulsively readable entry in this divine series." —Kirkus, starred review

From the Publisher

★ 01/01/2018
Gr 4–8—Hermes, Greek god of thieves and liars (and much more), gets his due in the latest installment of the "Olympians" series. A wandering traveler, accompanied by a dog, relates tales of the roguish yet charismatic deity to entertain the watchman Argus, a giant covered in eyes. As a newborn, Hermes steals a herd of his half brother Apollo's cows, then cleverly covers his tracks. Though the impish youngster provokes his older sibling's rage, he charms his way into his father Zeus's good graces and a throne on Mount Olympus. Readers, and Argus, learn of Hermes's other talents and his offspring, including the mischievous half-goat, half-human Pan. The playful tone soon turns ominous as Hermes plays a pivotal role in the epic showdown between the Olympians and the monstrous Typhon. O'Connor retells well-known legends with panache, crafting an affectionate portrait of a complex figure and presenting the Olympians as a surprisingly tight-knit and loving family. The book ends with an appropriately witty twist that's bound to have readers seeking out more information on the tale of Argus and Io. Vibrant, energetic illustrations portray athletic gods and goddesses, grotesque beasts, and frenzied battles, veering between cartoonish humor and intense drama. As always, O'Connor's copious research is evident and his love of all things Greek is contagious. VERDICT Another stellar addition to graphic novel shelves, especially where previous titles in the series are popular.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

School Library Journal

★ 2017-11-22
The most mischievous of the gods presents some of his most outrageous pranks and exploits.Seeking shelter for himself and his dog, a seemingly ordinary, dark-skinned traveler regales a many-eyed watchman with tales of the trickster god's infancy ("Hermes was not a good little baby"), introduction to Olympus ("Where is that miserable, thieving, lying, little @#&?!?!"), and such unusual (even for gods) offspring as Hermaphrodite and Pan. Though it all leads up to an awesome climactic battle between Zeus and the humongous, ravening monster Typhon, readers are likely to find even more memorable a hilarious earlier episode involving doggy petitioners who repeatedly fail to complete their mission on behalf of all canine kind because every time they lay eyes on Zeus they "void their bowels." In any case the storyteller turns out to be Aesop, his dog the great trickster in disguise, his listener Argus the All-Seeing, and the whole frame story another mythological episode that will lead in to another volume in this exemplary series. As usual, in O'Connor's neatly framed panels the Olympians are ripped if male, poised and graceful if female, individual in features and skin color. Also as usual, he enhances his richly entertaining retellings with a massive family tree at the beginning, summary profiles of his main characters, notes, and discussion questions at the end.Another crowd-pleasing, compulsively readable entry in this divine series. (bibliography) (Graphic mythology. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews