Apollo: The Brilliant One is the latest entry in
George O'Connor's
Olympians series. Like the other books, this one is full of a great array of Greek myths featuring the titular character, and the contents of the book mirror and portray his personality. This a a beautiful book to look at, and it is structured around a series of presentations by the
Nine Muses.
In each story, we see Apollo in action, killing
Python, establishing the
Oracle at Delphi, becoming a patron of the arts, getting revenge on mortals who dare compare themselves to him, and turning his attention to a number of females (always with disastrous results). There is also a sizable section about his famed son
Asklepios, the first doctor. Even though he was beautiful and full of song, Apollo's stories belie a dark side that emerges with each tale. This is a complex, entertaining, and thoughtful book, well worthy of the series. And like the other entries, it features copious endnotes, footnotes, and additional references for further reading.
All of the reviews I have read for this book have been laudatory.
Shelley Diaz gave it a starred review and called it "A shining example of a graphic novel that educates and entertains.
" Sarah Rachel Egelman wrote that it was "a fantastic and exciting introduction to this important god of ancient Greece."
Kirkus Reviews commented positively about Apollo's portrayal as a tragic hero.
Apollo: The Brilliant One was published by
First Second, who has a preview and much more available
here.
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