An Introduction to “Lore Olympus”

The webcomic “Lore Olympus” by Rachel Smythe retells Greek myths through a modern lens, focusing on the relationship between Persephone, goddess of spring, and Hades, king of the underworld. On its own & metatextually, it’s a thoughtful, skillful story about agency & identity. 1/10

“Lore Olympus” primarily retells “The Abduction of Persephone.” This myth involves Hades kidnapping Persephone to live in the underworld. She eventually escapes (or is rescued) but because she ate a pomegranate (food of the underworld), she must return for part of each year. 2/10

The myth relates to the cycle of seasons; it’s winter when the goddess of spring is in the underworld. A variety of contemporary “dark romance” novels also reimagine “The Abduction of Persephone” through a variety of lenses, with varying degrees of feminist purpose. 3/10

In “Lore Olympus,” Persephone is taken to the underworld against her will, but while Hades is immediately enthralled by Persephone, he does not intentionally kidnap her. Instead, a vengeful Aphrodite has a drunken Persephone placed in the back of Hades’ car to embarrass him. 4/10

The comic then becomes a slow-burning “will they, won’t they” romance between Hades and the younger Persephone, enlivened by a sprawling cast of mythic figures and beset by secrets, self-doubt, family politics, questions of fate & agency, and various traumas. 5/10

By foregrounding Persephone’s perspective & agency, “Lore Olympus” can be considered a feminist retelling. But while it’s a deeply romantic story, its relationships are not idyllic. And sexual violence remains a central aspect of Persephone’s story (though it’s not committed by Hades). 6/10

But the complexity and darkness of “Lore Olympus” reflects its source texts and is crucial to the story’s power. Myths can be brutal because they reflect brutal realities. But because myths are stories, they can also be rewritten to meet the needs of the moment. 7/10

According to fans and critics, “Lore Olympus” has done a very good job of meeting the needs of the moment. It’s won multiple Eisner, Harvey, and Ringo Awards, and with over 6 million subscribers on Webtoon, it’s one of the most popular comics of the 2010s. 8/10

From an academic standpoint, “Lore Olympus” has also become a prime case study in translation studies, with no less than 4 peer-reviewed articles published on the subject of the Webtoon’s translation to various world languages. 9/10

Our forthcoming cluster of content on “Lore Olympus” will explore the representation of sexual violence, the use of colour, the meaning(s) of female agency, the romanticization of Hades, and much more. Stay tuned! 10/10