Rating: WARTY!
This is from an advance review copy for which I thank the publisher.
This was a 'Read Now' graphic novel at Net Galley and a reviewer takes their chances with works in that category! I frequent it because there is a gem in there often enough to make it worthwhile. This was not such a read, unfortunately. The artwork was monotonous, indifferent, and dull, and the story was lacking in anything compelling, although I did finish it, since it's only 160 pages. Had it been longer I would probably have DNF'd it.
The story is of Herakles (more popularly known as Hercules in the same way that nuclear is too often known as nu-cue-ler in our illiterate society unfortunately). Legend has it that Herakles murdered his entire family and to atone for it, he had to live with his cousin, King Eurystheus, for twelve years, during which time, he could have his indentured servant do whatever tasks he saw fit to lay on Herakles.
Herakles was famously tasked with completing ten labors nearly all of which involved animals. I don't know what that says about ancient Greek society (maybe that it was agricultural back then?). In two of these tasks, he was disqualified because he had help, so he ended up doing the dirty dozen (so to speak!):
- Slay the Nemean lion, which was a shapeshifter
- Slay the Lernaean Hydra which had been created for the express purpose of slaying Herakles
- Capture the Ceryneian deer, which was faster than a speeding arrow
- Bring back the fearsome Erymanthian Boar alive
- Clean the stables of King Augeas which hadn't been cleaned in three decades and which held 1,000 cattle
- Defeat the carnivorous Stymphalian birds which had beaks of bronze
- Capture the Cretan Bull
- Capture the carnivorous Mares of Diomedes
- Retrieve the belt of Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons
- Rustle the cattle of Geryon
- Retrieve some of the golden apples of the Hesperides
- Capture Kerberos, the multi-headed hound of Hades
The author tries to inject humor into the story but it fell flat for me, and I did not enjoy these adventures at all. I wish the author all the best in his endeavors, but I have no intention of reading any more volumes in this series.
