The Odyssey (All Action Classics No. 3)

Homer (Author), & Mucci, T. (Adapter). (2009). The odyssey [All action classics no. 3]. New York, NY: Sterling. ISBN: 978-1-4027-3155-6

Author: Homer
Website (Wikipedia): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer

Adapted By: Tim Mucci
Website: http://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330

Illustrated By:
Ben Caldwell - http://www.actioncartooning.com/
Rick Lacy - http://ricklacy.blogspot.com/
Emanuel Tenderini - no illustrator website

Media Used: pencil and digital colors

Summary: Homer’s mythic tale of heroism, vengeance, and homecoming is re-written in graphic novel format. All of the pivotal characters and plot points are portrayed.

Personal Thoughts (Provided by S.Butts): I always loved mythology, going out of my way to read every story I could, memorizing all of the characters and their significance. The tales of Greek heroes still play a part in our modern conversation, and as evidenced by such titles as Percy Jackson, we as a culture still find importance in these literary icons. However, if a student is not gripped by the same love of these tales as many of us have, slogging through the Iliad and the Odyssey might be daunting. This All-Action Classics interpretation (#3 in a great series) makes the story accessible to a more general audience, while staying true to the original. The colorful artwork shows the beasts such as the Cyclops and Charybdis in all of their legendary horror, the goddesses’ unearthly beauty, and the underworld’s stark loneliness. Even better, the personalities of the characters are conveyed, from Odysseus’ cleverness to the petty rages and indifference of the gods. The illustrations all have a great sense of movement, conveying the stormy environment Odyssues was travelling through on his journey home.

"The Classics Revisited" Group Project - Check out our group's presentation of this and other literary classic graphic novel adaptations that we have suggested for high school students.

Curricular Connection: High School Literature
Appropriate for use for classic literature studies, sections on mythology, and even world history. Best used in conjunction with the original text, and not stand-alone, as it assumes a familiarity with the characters.