The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myth [Hardcover]

Charles R. Smith (Author), P. Craig Russell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up

Meet the most impressive of the gods and goddesses of Olympus-and even a few monsters-and see them revealed for what they really were: ancient superheroes with the power to shift shape, move mountains, and change fate. In this innovative introduction to Greek mythology, energetic poems and dynamic comic book style illustrations create a seamless blend of the ancient and contemporary that depicts the gods in all their super-human glory.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charles R. Smith, Jr. is the acclaimed creator of over 17 children's books for children. Some of his titles include the Baby Love series, I am America and Hoop Kings. He has been praised for both his stunning photography and his energetic poetry that appeals to kids. Charles maintains a Web site at www.charlesrsmithjr.com.

P. Craig Russell is a highly acclaimed comic and graphic novel artist. He has worked on many series with D.C. Comics, an illustrated series of the fairy tales of Oscar Wilde, and has collaborated with Neil Gaiman on several books, including The Sandman, Endless Nights, and a graphic novel version of Coraline, which is due out next year.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031601043X
• ISBN-13: 978-0316010436
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 0.8 x 11.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,578,297 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greek Myths Revitalized, July 7, 2008

By 

Mary "Book Lady" (Culver City, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myth (Hardcover)

This book was the hottest book in my classroom! It is totally accessible to the pre-teen early teen set! When I took them to The Getty Villa, my students could identify the gods and goddesses without reading the labels. A true delight!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat disappointing mix, June 17, 2008

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myth (Hardcover)

The gods and goddesses of Greek mythology and the legends that surround them are the stuff of superheroes. Arrow-and-lightning-bolt-slinging good guys and bad guys with super powers. They are helpful and vindictive, jealous and generous. Their stories are fascinating.

The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myth tells the stories of twelve of the gods and goddesses and some of the other major players in Greek mythology. Illustrated in almost a comic book style (it isn't boxed out, but the drawing style is similar), you really get the superhero feel of these legends. You see the light versus the darkness and the clash of personalities.

I have to say that the poetic style of the stories didn't work well for me. While the stories are interesting, they would have been more effectively told in straight prose. I could never zero in on the meter to make the read just flow naturally, so I found myself trying to make the cadence work rather than understanding the story. Also, the illustrations are masterful, but many are disturbing. Granted, the subject matter is creepy-Mothers become vampires and eat their children, Medusa seduces sailors to their deaths, Hades and his dog Cerberus. Bloody weapons and "evil" eyes. Ick.

So, though it is a well-made book, and I can appreciate the creativity of both the author and illustrator, I'm not a big fan of the final product.

Armchair Interviews says: Scary subjects in a picture book and geared to ages 9-12 seem like a genre mix-up.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for kids, March 23, 2011

By 

Jane Obersat - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myth (Hardcover)

Kid will really enjoyed this book because of the great drawings and the poetic verse. For those who love mythology it is a fun book and with the graphic novel style of illustration encourages even the reluctant readers.