Lore Olympus : Web Comic-Book Romance Story

Lore Olympus is a popular webcomic series by Rachel Smythe that retells the myth of Persephone and Hades in a modern setting. The series explores the romance, drama, and challenges faced by the characters as they navigate the world of gods and mortals.

Lore Olympus is based on the classic Greek myth of The Abduction of Persephone, but with a twist: the story takes place in a contemporary world where the gods have access to modern technology, such as smartphones, cars, and tabloids. However, the scenes in the mortal realm are set in the ancient times, reflecting the original myths. The series also deals with mature themes, such as rape, abuse, trauma, and consent.

The Main Characters of Lore Olympus

The main characters are Persephone, the goddess of spring and a prospective member of The Goddesses of Eternal Maidenhood (TGOEM), a group of virgin goddesses led by Artemis; and Hades, the god of the underworld and the CEO of Underworld Corp, a company that manages the souls of the dead. The two meet at a party hosted by Zeus, Hades’ brother and the king of the gods, and feel an instant attraction to each other. However, their relationship is complicated by several factors, such as Persephone’s scholarship from TGOEM, which requires her to remain a virgin; Hades’ on-and-off relationship with Minthe, a nymph who works as his secretary and often mistreats him; and Persephone’s traumatic experience of being raped by Apollo, another brother of Hades and the god of the sun.

Plot of Lore Olympus

The series follows the development of Persephone and Hades’ relationship, as well as the conflicts and secrets that arise from their interactions with other gods and goddesses. Some of the supporting characters include Hera, the queen of the gods and Hades’ sister-in-law, who is sympathetic to Persephone and helps her in various ways; Eros, the god of love and Aphrodite’s son, who is Persephone’s best friend and protector; Hephaestus, the god of fire and metalwork and Aphrodite’s husband, who is Hades’ friend and business partner; Ares, the god of war and Aphrodite’s lover, who is Eros’ half-brother and rival; Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and Persephone’s mother, who is overprotective of her daughter and unaware of her rape; and Thanatos, the god of death and Hades’ employee, who is jealous of Hades and plots to ruin Persephone’s reputation.

The series also incorporates elements from other Greek myths, such as the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, the story of Psyche and Eros, and the story of the Trojan War. The series also features cameo appearances by other mythical figures, such as Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the underworld; Charon, the ferryman of the underworld; the Fates, the three sisters who control the destiny of mortals; and the Furies, the three goddesses who punish the wicked.

#1 on Webtoon

Lore Olympus is currently the most popular comic on Webtoon, with over 1.3 billion views and 6.4 million subscribers as of August 2023. The series has won several awards, such as the Harvey Award for Best Digital Book in 2019, the Eisner Award for Best Webcomic in 2020 and 2021, and the Ringo Award for Best Webcomic in 2020. The series is also being adapted into a television series by Jim Henson Company and Webtoon.

Lore Olympus is a captivating and creative series that appeals to fans of romance, mythology, and fantasy. The series showcases the author’s talent for storytelling, art, and character development, as well as her ability to tackle sensitive and relevant issues with sensitivity and nuance. Lore Olympus is a series that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with the characters and their stories.

Every Sunday a new episode is released of the web comic-book Lore Olympus. There are more than 250 episodes already and you can read them all here at Webtoons. It starts at Episode 1 and you can choose the episode in the top navigation bar. Or can pick up the Lore Olympus graphic novel vol. 1.