Customer Reviews

The Iliad (Marvel Illustrated)

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Very fine. However it's slightly smaller than comic book size, so the print is a bit smaller too. This was disppointing.

"The Iliad" is the classic tale of ancient Greek literature, Homer's epic of the siege of Troy by a coalition of Greek city states to recover the famously beautiful Helen, wife of a Greek King. Author Roy Thomas and illustrator Miguel Angel Sepulveda have taken on the daunting task of translating a long story into the graphic novel format for Marvel Comics. The results are impressive.

"The Iliad" takes place in the tenth year of the siege, as the Greeks and the Trojans each begin to waver in their sense of purpose. The quest to recover Helen from Paris, a prince of Troy, becomes entangled in disputes among the Greeks. A quarrel with Menelaus, leader of the Greek expedition, causes the nearly invincible warrior Achilles to sulk in his tent. His absence will have dire consequences for the Greek army on the battlefield in front of Troy. Hector, Troy's own champion, will rally the Trojans to a supreme effort that will threaten not only to end the siege, but to annihilate the Greeks as well. Achilles will be forced to choose between his pride and his companions.

Translating "The Iliad" into graphic novel format is undoubtedly a challenge. Thomas and Sepulveda have succeeded more or less well in refining a long tale about the ancient Greeks and Trojans into a graphic novel of reasonable length, with the best of the story captured in vibrant artwork. That said, the story is tough to follow, with its many characters hardly distinguishable in their helmets, and their lives complicated by the competing interventions of the Olympian gods in the affairs of men.

"The Iliad" as produced by Marvel Comics is highly recommended as an introduction to a classic tale for young adults. This reviewer wishes the graphic novel had been rendered in a larger format for easier viewing of the art, and recommends time and patience in the reading.

I bought this for my 11yo son, who was interested in the Greek stories from the newer Percy Jackson series. This volume, accompanied by the equally excellent adaptation of the Odyssey, was thoroughly enjoyable and a great introduction to this classic story.