Isis & Osiris: To the Ends of the Earth (Graphic Myths & Legends) [Paperback]

Jeff Limke (Author), David Witt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2007 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Graphic Myths & Legends

Osiris is the greatest king and god of the Land of the Nile. He is a generous ruler, and the people love and worship him--along with his wife and queen, the goddess Isis. But Osiris's jealous brother Set has a terrible plan to get rid of Osiris forever and take his place on the Egyptian throne. Will Egypt suffer under an evil tyrant? Or can Isis use her magic and her love to save Osiris and conquer Set?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-8–These titles attempt, with varying success, to bring classic tales alive. Each one includes dialogue with a contemporary tone, which stretches the stories out. However, some of Hercules's labors get fairly short shrift in order to fit them all into this format. Although the art varies stylistically from book to book, it all shares the same basic palette and the general look of an American comic. Each volume has two overlapping notes, one on sources before the table of contents and the other, titled Creating…, at the end. The further-reading lists are brief and include, variously, Bulfinch's Mythology for Thor and Hercules as well as the DVD of The Mummy starring Boris Karloff for Isis. Overall, Hercules and Isis are more pleasing updates than King Arthur or Thor but all convey the basic elements of the myths in a format that is increasingly popular. Keep in mind Marcia Williams's King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Candlewick, 1996; o.p.) as an alternative and more complete comic-book take on the Arthurian cycle and the recently re-released D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths (New York Review of Books, 2005) as an alternative to Thor.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

From Booklist

Part of the umbrella Graphic Universe series, Graphic Myths and Legends books attempt to fuse the grandeur of mythology with a modern sensibility and style. This example, featuring the only female lead in the series' five books, proves a mixed success, even though Isis' love for her family and her harsh temper make for a well-rounded mythological heroine. The compact hardcover is colorful and fast moving, with bright illustrations and comic-book action pages. However, the blend of ancient subject matter with current expressions and language and a modern art style that emphasizes cartoonlike exaggeration feels incongruous enough to turn off some young readers even as it draws in others. A glossary and additional readings are appended. Jesse Karp
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Graphic Universe (October 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822564823
• ISBN-13: 978-0822564829
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #461,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pleasant surprise, July 30, 2007

By 

Emily Haven (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Isis & Osiris (Graphic Myths & Legends) (Library Binding)

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I stumbled across it in the library, but given that it was an actual children's book about ancient Gods and Goddesses, I was just happy to find ANYTHING that dealt with that subject matter. Graphic novel..? Uhm... okay... I normally don't read graphic novels or read them to my daughter, so this was out of character for me.

I was so pleasantly surprised. The author has done his research. I was fairly familiar with the mythology surrounding Isis already, but even I learned a few new things. The way the stories are told breathe life into them and I expect they would awaken a child's interest much more readily than some of the drab retellings out there. And for those of you who really know your Isis/Osiris mythology, the author neatly avoids explaining WHICH part Isis wasn't able to find. So no awkward unplanned-for discussions about anatomy, if your child (or you- you know who you are!) isn't/aren't ready for that just yet. I imagine that would be a concern for some people more than others, but hopefully I can put your mind at rest if this matters to you.

As a side note, the illustrations of young hawk-headed Horus are ADORABLE.

I've borrowed this book for two weeks, and I fully intend on sharing it with my daughter tomorrow. I'd recommend it to Pagan parents like myself, to anyone interested in Egyptian mythology, or simply to those who enjoy a good graphic novel. This book works on a lot of levels and holds appeal for a lot of levels. Enjoy- I did!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's ok, October 1, 2009

By 

Tranquility (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Isis & Osiris: To the Ends of the Earth (Graphic Myths & Legends) (Paperback)

As a kid I was really interested in Egyptology, so when I ran across this I was really excited to check it out. There are a few parts in the story the artwork is fairly good, but I wouldn't rate it top notch.

Also, the story line that is written follows loosely from the Isian mythos. The authors took a couple key parts of short stories about the trials of Isis and tried to make it the whole story. It was ok, but the mythos had so many better instances the authors could have used to let Isis shine as a goddess of magic, motherhood and charity I was left wondering why did they make her on the shallow side? If they had done this with the story of Jesus you would only have read about him arguing with the money lenders and raising a guy from the dead. There was so much more, but you might have only seen a glimpse. This is the way this story read.

The authors also made Isis too human with petty emotions. While this was not entirely out of character to the mythos, she went from sad, indignant and angry for rather trivial issues and they completely failed to give her a aire of higher wisdom. A missed opportunity.

I give this book 4 stars because despite it's shortcomings it's rare for such stories to be retold for a younger audience and I think such attempts need to be encouraged.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good comicbook!, January 7, 2008

By 

S. Robinson "comicbooklover" (Earth) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Isis & Osiris: To the Ends of the Earth (Graphic Myths & Legends) (Paperback)

I ENJOYED READING THIS COMICBOOK ABOUT ANCIENT EGYPT AND THE STORY OF ISIS,OSIRIS,HORUS & SET AND WHAT HAPPENED. I LIKE THE ARTISTS' DRAWING STYLE AND THE STORY IS WRITTEN WELL TO GO ALONG WITH THE DRAWINGS!

BRAVO!