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Marathon
The epic tale of the original marathon runner.
Twenty-five centuries later, it still inspires men to greatness.
It set the foundation for one of the greatest global peace efforts of the twentieth century—the modern Olympic Games.
It was a turning point in ancient history. It was also the greatest fear of a man whose legacy will never be forgotten.
In 490, an Athenian messenger named Eucles ran over 300 miles to turn the tides of battle, and in so doing preserved ancient Greek civilization from subjugation to the Persian Empire.
This is his story.
Twenty-five centuries later, it still inspires men to greatness.
It set the foundation for one of the greatest global peace efforts of the twentieth century—the modern Olympic Games.
It was a turning point in ancient history. It was also the greatest fear of a man whose legacy will never be forgotten.
In 490, an Athenian messenger named Eucles ran over 300 miles to turn the tides of battle, and in so doing preserved ancient Greek civilization from subjugation to the Persian Empire.
This is his story.
187 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2012
6 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Boaz Yakin
16 books17 followersFor more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/boaz-yakin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
September 25, 2023
The story of Eucles is told in this stunning GN - if you liked 300 by Frank Miller you will enjoy this classic tale of courage and dedication. This is the origin of the marathon at the Summer Olympics - a run that was made to save lives. It never ceases to amaze me how history is better than the best written fiction!
February 15, 2012
3.5 stars.
THE MONTH: AUGUST, 490 BC.
TEMPERATURE: 108 DEGREES, FAHRENHEIT
DISTANCE FROM ATHENS TO SPARTA: 153 MILES.
When I was younger, there would come a point, every summer, where I wouldn’t see my dad for about 21 days.
Jo- “Dad, can we go out to the park? It’s actually sunny today!”
Papa W- “Open a window or something then.”
Jo- “Dad, I just got my shoelaces caught in my bike and I just fell over my handlebars and landed in a patch of nettles and I’M BLEEDING TO DEATH.”*
Papa W- “Go and ask your mum for a plaster.”
And the reason? The reason for my childhood neglect?! **
The Tour de France.
You may be wondering why, in a book review about the origins of the Marathon, why I am telling you about a traumatic childhood memory.
Two reasons, really:
1) This is the reason why I’m not a rabid sports fan.
2) The siblings and me used to visit my grandparent’s for a few weeks every summer. This was mostly because we absolutely loved going to visit them and they loved having us, but … sometimes I wonder whether it was just a coincidence that it happened to fall on the weeks when the men are scaling the Pyrenees.
Now, I’m getting to the point.
I’ve come to love the cycling and I’m currently glued to watching the lad’s bid for this year’s Grand Slam but my true love will always be the athletics.
And this is because of my grandma.
Every year, the two of us would sit in her living room and drink tea while we watched the Olympics and the championships and we would discuss the chances of GB bringing home gold and how fit Philips Idowu looks this year.
Well, that could have just been me because my grandma will always be a fan of the running events (and *cough* the lycra-clad runners. It seems my grandma would rather have a runner as a grandson-in-law than a triple jumper with “silly coloured hair and facial piercings” *sigh* grandmas, eh?) and, here is where this story becomes relevant, we’d always get up early to defy time zones and watch the marathon.
(Got there in the end, didn’t I?)
So when I found out that there was a graphic novel about the origins of the race on Netgalley, I had to request it.
One of my resolutions this year was to read more historical fiction and, well, I don’t think I could get much more historical than a book set in 490 BC.
My knowledge of Ancient Greek history begins and ends with the one time when one of my friends made me watch 300 and I fell asleep. So, as you can imagine, there were times when I got incredibly confused as to what was happening. But, even though there were a few parts that tripped me up, I appreciate that Yakin didn’t feel like he needed to regurgitate a history book. I sometimes feel that authors are so determined to let the reader know just how much research they have done that the story gets lost, but it really wasn’t the case here. The dialogue wasn’t crammed with historical detail and it always felt natural.
Yakin’s words perfectly portrayed the strength, the drama and the tension of the original story of a man who is willing to do the impossible to protect his city.
For the majority of this book, my heart was pounding and there was an uncomfortable lump in my throat!
And Infurnari’s illustrations… wow.
The details in the battle scenes are nothing short of spectacular. I spent about ten minutes just staring at one particular page trying to take in every single section.
I have to admit, there were a few characters that looked really similar and I found it a bit difficult to tell who was who and why the baddie has suddenly become a goodie and the goodie has become a baddie.
There were far too many angry men with beards in this book.
But, on the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s something completely different to anything I’ve ever read and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this to anyone who is a fan of graphic novels, historical fiction and sports.
*This actually happened. Well, not the whole “bleeding to death” incident but I did fall into some nettles and I scraped the skin off my nose. School pictures were, of course, the following week because my life, ladies and gentlemen, is ridiculous.
** This may have been slightly exaggerated for comedic value.
I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley.
You can read this review and lots of other exciting things on my blog here.
THE MONTH: AUGUST, 490 BC.
TEMPERATURE: 108 DEGREES, FAHRENHEIT
DISTANCE FROM ATHENS TO SPARTA: 153 MILES.
When I was younger, there would come a point, every summer, where I wouldn’t see my dad for about 21 days.
Jo- “Dad, can we go out to the park? It’s actually sunny today!”
Papa W- “Open a window or something then.”
Jo- “Dad, I just got my shoelaces caught in my bike and I just fell over my handlebars and landed in a patch of nettles and I’M BLEEDING TO DEATH.”*
Papa W- “Go and ask your mum for a plaster.”
And the reason? The reason for my childhood neglect?! **
The Tour de France.
You may be wondering why, in a book review about the origins of the Marathon, why I am telling you about a traumatic childhood memory.
Two reasons, really:
1) This is the reason why I’m not a rabid sports fan.
2) The siblings and me used to visit my grandparent’s for a few weeks every summer. This was mostly because we absolutely loved going to visit them and they loved having us, but … sometimes I wonder whether it was just a coincidence that it happened to fall on the weeks when the men are scaling the Pyrenees.
Now, I’m getting to the point.
I’ve come to love the cycling and I’m currently glued to watching the lad’s bid for this year’s Grand Slam but my true love will always be the athletics.
And this is because of my grandma.
Every year, the two of us would sit in her living room and drink tea while we watched the Olympics and the championships and we would discuss the chances of GB bringing home gold and how fit Philips Idowu looks this year.
Well, that could have just been me because my grandma will always be a fan of the running events (and *cough* the lycra-clad runners. It seems my grandma would rather have a runner as a grandson-in-law than a triple jumper with “silly coloured hair and facial piercings” *sigh* grandmas, eh?) and, here is where this story becomes relevant, we’d always get up early to defy time zones and watch the marathon.
(Got there in the end, didn’t I?)
So when I found out that there was a graphic novel about the origins of the race on Netgalley, I had to request it.
One of my resolutions this year was to read more historical fiction and, well, I don’t think I could get much more historical than a book set in 490 BC.
My knowledge of Ancient Greek history begins and ends with the one time when one of my friends made me watch 300 and I fell asleep. So, as you can imagine, there were times when I got incredibly confused as to what was happening. But, even though there were a few parts that tripped me up, I appreciate that Yakin didn’t feel like he needed to regurgitate a history book. I sometimes feel that authors are so determined to let the reader know just how much research they have done that the story gets lost, but it really wasn’t the case here. The dialogue wasn’t crammed with historical detail and it always felt natural.
Yakin’s words perfectly portrayed the strength, the drama and the tension of the original story of a man who is willing to do the impossible to protect his city.
For the majority of this book, my heart was pounding and there was an uncomfortable lump in my throat!
And Infurnari’s illustrations… wow.
The details in the battle scenes are nothing short of spectacular. I spent about ten minutes just staring at one particular page trying to take in every single section.
I have to admit, there were a few characters that looked really similar and I found it a bit difficult to tell who was who and why the baddie has suddenly become a goodie and the goodie has become a baddie.
There were far too many angry men with beards in this book.
But, on the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s something completely different to anything I’ve ever read and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this to anyone who is a fan of graphic novels, historical fiction and sports.
*This actually happened. Well, not the whole “bleeding to death” incident but I did fall into some nettles and I scraped the skin off my nose. School pictures were, of course, the following week because my life, ladies and gentlemen, is ridiculous.
** This may have been slightly exaggerated for comedic value.
I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley.
You can read this review and lots of other exciting things on my blog here.
February 6, 2012
A fabulous tale of the original marathon, "The Battle of Marathon is considered the pivotal moment in the preservation of Western civilization and the democratic ideal."
Boaz Yakin, illustrated by Joe Infurnari; Boaz Yakin is an American screenwriter and film director based in New York City. He has written and/or directed many major Hollywood movies such as “The Punisher,” “The Rookie,” “A Price Above Rubies,” and “Remember The Titans.”
Joe Infurnari is an acclaimed comics writer and illustrator living in Brooklyn. His work has been recognized with multiple Eisner nominations. He is the illustrator of First Second’s Mush! See more of Joe’s work at JoeInfurnari.com.
Boaz Yakin, illustrated by Joe Infurnari; Boaz Yakin is an American screenwriter and film director based in New York City. He has written and/or directed many major Hollywood movies such as “The Punisher,” “The Rookie,” “A Price Above Rubies,” and “Remember The Titans.”
Joe Infurnari is an acclaimed comics writer and illustrator living in Brooklyn. His work has been recognized with multiple Eisner nominations. He is the illustrator of First Second’s Mush! See more of Joe’s work at JoeInfurnari.com.
January 9, 2018
Marathon retells, at a furious clip, the legend of the first marathon run ever: that of a tireless Greek, here called Eucles, whose nonstop running helped Athens gain victory over the Persians who sought to conquer them in 490 BCE. Eucles runs from Athens to Sparta in a failed attempt to garner timely support from the Spartans, then runs from Sparta to Marathon, there to join the embattled Athenians in their assault on the Persian invasion force, and thence runs to Athens (that fabled 26-mile distance) to warn of approaching Persian ships. The book's narrative consists of running, fighting, running some more, being chased, and, for a lot of characters, dying. Did I mention the running?
This story of the first Persian invasion of Greece, drawing as it does from Herodotus and Plutarch, cannot help but recall Frank Miller's 300—which retells part of the second Persian invasion of Greece, an event that Marathon alludes to briefly, in effect consigning Miller to sequel status (Miller's hero, Leonidas, is here recast as a voice of reason against his father Cleomenes' mindless tyranny). Surely this project was greenlit because of 300? In any case, like Miller's work, Marathon locates in its ancient heroes the origins of prized American values, in this case not just liberty but democracy and the self-respect of the common man. Thankfully, it lacks Miller's hateful stereotyping and one-sided veneration of brute power. (But it does seem like the treatment for another movie waiting to happen.)
The book has momentum to spare: it starts at a run and stays there, sprinting briskly from one challenge to the next. Infurnari's sketchy, fiercely energetic naturalism conveys the necessary desperation; the violence goes by in a blur, punctuated by the occasional moment of fatal clarity. Gorgeous sepiatone production compensates a bit for the hazy indeterminacy of the settings, which run a distant second to the characters' hurtling bodies. The layouts bespeak the influence of manga, alternating open and paneled images, laying smaller panels on top of bleeds, and, in the most violent, action-filled moments, favoring slashing, diagonal panel shapes. The net effect recalls Sanpei Shirato or Goseki Kojima when they're whipped up to full fury. I like this; a more sober graphic treatment, like that typical of European historical BD with their ligne claire tendency and full color, wouldn't do the job for me.
Unfortunately, Infurnari pays the price in narrative clarity. The action is hard to follow, and the characters often indistinct. His frenzied graphics run afoul of what seems to be a fully researched scenario by Yakin, one which includes a large handful of characters drawn from historical personages and demands a certain precision—if for no other reason than so that we can tell the characters apart and understand the surprises and reversals in the plot. Marathon doesn't help us do this. It's too much of a blur. Staring at the pages in hope of understanding doesn't help; in fact it's better just to read at a runner's pace, and not worry about the details, even though this robs the story of what could be some powerful comeuppances and resolutions.
Simply put, the story is hard to keep track of—and this isn't one of those art comics where a deliberate obscurity adds to the atmosphere or buzz. Rather, this is a story that maneuvers like a blockbuster movie, and asks for emotional investment and big returns. So some middle ground was needed between too-staid precision and frenetic sketch-work, something that would have preserved Infurnari's breakneck pacing but made it easier to tell who is who and what's going on. For all its energy, Marathon ends up a vagueness.
This story of the first Persian invasion of Greece, drawing as it does from Herodotus and Plutarch, cannot help but recall Frank Miller's 300—which retells part of the second Persian invasion of Greece, an event that Marathon alludes to briefly, in effect consigning Miller to sequel status (Miller's hero, Leonidas, is here recast as a voice of reason against his father Cleomenes' mindless tyranny). Surely this project was greenlit because of 300? In any case, like Miller's work, Marathon locates in its ancient heroes the origins of prized American values, in this case not just liberty but democracy and the self-respect of the common man. Thankfully, it lacks Miller's hateful stereotyping and one-sided veneration of brute power. (But it does seem like the treatment for another movie waiting to happen.)
The book has momentum to spare: it starts at a run and stays there, sprinting briskly from one challenge to the next. Infurnari's sketchy, fiercely energetic naturalism conveys the necessary desperation; the violence goes by in a blur, punctuated by the occasional moment of fatal clarity. Gorgeous sepiatone production compensates a bit for the hazy indeterminacy of the settings, which run a distant second to the characters' hurtling bodies. The layouts bespeak the influence of manga, alternating open and paneled images, laying smaller panels on top of bleeds, and, in the most violent, action-filled moments, favoring slashing, diagonal panel shapes. The net effect recalls Sanpei Shirato or Goseki Kojima when they're whipped up to full fury. I like this; a more sober graphic treatment, like that typical of European historical BD with their ligne claire tendency and full color, wouldn't do the job for me.
Unfortunately, Infurnari pays the price in narrative clarity. The action is hard to follow, and the characters often indistinct. His frenzied graphics run afoul of what seems to be a fully researched scenario by Yakin, one which includes a large handful of characters drawn from historical personages and demands a certain precision—if for no other reason than so that we can tell the characters apart and understand the surprises and reversals in the plot. Marathon doesn't help us do this. It's too much of a blur. Staring at the pages in hope of understanding doesn't help; in fact it's better just to read at a runner's pace, and not worry about the details, even though this robs the story of what could be some powerful comeuppances and resolutions.
Simply put, the story is hard to keep track of—and this isn't one of those art comics where a deliberate obscurity adds to the atmosphere or buzz. Rather, this is a story that maneuvers like a blockbuster movie, and asks for emotional investment and big returns. So some middle ground was needed between too-staid precision and frenetic sketch-work, something that would have preserved Infurnari's breakneck pacing but made it easier to tell who is who and what's going on. For all its energy, Marathon ends up a vagueness.
September 25, 2023
In honor of the recent Olympics in Rio (2016), I read Marathon, tagged “the epic tale of the original marathon runner”.
Eucles, also known as Pheidippides in some historical documents, is introduced as a fleet youth in 502 BC who wins a race against the illegitimate son of King Hippias of Athens to become one of the king’s official messengers. Due to Eucles’s slave status, Hippias is disgusted that his son would lose to him, and kills his son. The king warns the boy if he ever does not deliver a message, his family will be put to death. Eucles’s victory comes at a heavy price, for he is sabotaged by the prince’s friends during a delivery, resulting in his parent’s death. This forever turns Eucles against the king, and he is glad when the king is sent into exile for his evil tyranny a few years later.
Hippias vows revenge and with the help of Persian King Darius and an army of battleships, invades Greece in 490 BC with the intent to destroy the newly democratic Athens. The Athenians are outnumbered heavily and ask a now grown and married Eucles to run to Sparta to see if the soldiers there will come to their aid. He runs an almost 300-mile round trip to be denied assistance by Sparta. He returns exhausted with the bad news as the Battle of Marathon, which occurred outside of the city of Marathon, is about to begin. Despite his weakened state, he insists in joining the soldiers. The soldiers hold off the Persian army, but the city of Athens is still is at risk for it stands undefended. Eucles makes a final run to the city to announce Greece’s victory, but adds a warning that they must stand guard against a final attack, before he collapses and dies. The citizens make a show of solidarity, and the Persians turn back, for they fear an additional battle will further weaken them. Against all odds, the city of Athens win and their democratic ideal will continue forward into the future influencing future civilizations. In thankfulness of Eucles sacrifice, a new race was instituted in the Olympic games, and his story is passed into legend.
This legend, which is sketchy in details and has several inconsistencies, is the basis for this tale of historical fiction. The question is how much of the story is legend and how much is historical fact? Liberties are taken in describing Eucles life, for even if his name is suspect, the details about his childhood and marriage would be made up even if historically accurate of the era. The facts are there was a runner, and the details about the battle would be accurate, but all other details are conjecture. If used in a classroom, a teacher should challenge students to think critically about sources of information and could be used as a learning opportunity.
The beginning artwork captures the look of Athens and the Greek countryside, and the clothing and architecture seem historically accurate. But then the panels during warfare become a blur and are evocative of the chaos of the battlefield, but at a detriment to the story. Several of the soldiers and leaders become indistinguishable from one another, and the story loses clarity and accuracy at that point.
That I lost track of the storyline made this story more muddled than I would have liked. While the historical tale was worthy to share, and the artwork was drawn well, especially at the beginning and end, I came away slightly disappointed that the middle was so confusing. I would still give it a recommendation, but with reservations.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2016/08/2...
Eucles, also known as Pheidippides in some historical documents, is introduced as a fleet youth in 502 BC who wins a race against the illegitimate son of King Hippias of Athens to become one of the king’s official messengers. Due to Eucles’s slave status, Hippias is disgusted that his son would lose to him, and kills his son. The king warns the boy if he ever does not deliver a message, his family will be put to death. Eucles’s victory comes at a heavy price, for he is sabotaged by the prince’s friends during a delivery, resulting in his parent’s death. This forever turns Eucles against the king, and he is glad when the king is sent into exile for his evil tyranny a few years later.
Hippias vows revenge and with the help of Persian King Darius and an army of battleships, invades Greece in 490 BC with the intent to destroy the newly democratic Athens. The Athenians are outnumbered heavily and ask a now grown and married Eucles to run to Sparta to see if the soldiers there will come to their aid. He runs an almost 300-mile round trip to be denied assistance by Sparta. He returns exhausted with the bad news as the Battle of Marathon, which occurred outside of the city of Marathon, is about to begin. Despite his weakened state, he insists in joining the soldiers. The soldiers hold off the Persian army, but the city of Athens is still is at risk for it stands undefended. Eucles makes a final run to the city to announce Greece’s victory, but adds a warning that they must stand guard against a final attack, before he collapses and dies. The citizens make a show of solidarity, and the Persians turn back, for they fear an additional battle will further weaken them. Against all odds, the city of Athens win and their democratic ideal will continue forward into the future influencing future civilizations. In thankfulness of Eucles sacrifice, a new race was instituted in the Olympic games, and his story is passed into legend.
This legend, which is sketchy in details and has several inconsistencies, is the basis for this tale of historical fiction. The question is how much of the story is legend and how much is historical fact? Liberties are taken in describing Eucles life, for even if his name is suspect, the details about his childhood and marriage would be made up even if historically accurate of the era. The facts are there was a runner, and the details about the battle would be accurate, but all other details are conjecture. If used in a classroom, a teacher should challenge students to think critically about sources of information and could be used as a learning opportunity.
The beginning artwork captures the look of Athens and the Greek countryside, and the clothing and architecture seem historically accurate. But then the panels during warfare become a blur and are evocative of the chaos of the battlefield, but at a detriment to the story. Several of the soldiers and leaders become indistinguishable from one another, and the story loses clarity and accuracy at that point.
That I lost track of the storyline made this story more muddled than I would have liked. While the historical tale was worthy to share, and the artwork was drawn well, especially at the beginning and end, I came away slightly disappointed that the middle was so confusing. I would still give it a recommendation, but with reservations.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2016/08/2...
first-second-publications
June 12, 2012This book is thrilling, and also historical! Two great tastes that go great together.
Boaz Yakin and Joe Infurnari's graphic novel _Marathon_ is the story of the desperate run that inspired our marathons today. But this original run wasn't for exercise or for sport -- it was a last-ditch attempt to save civilization as we know it from marauding barbarian hordes.
Will civilization be saved? Will everyone die in attempting this first-ever marathon without doing any training? Only reading this book will answer these questions!
Boaz Yakin and Joe Infurnari's graphic novel _Marathon_ is the story of the desperate run that inspired our marathons today. But this original run wasn't for exercise or for sport -- it was a last-ditch attempt to save civilization as we know it from marauding barbarian hordes.
Will civilization be saved? Will everyone die in attempting this first-ever marathon without doing any training? Only reading this book will answer these questions!
March 22, 2015
My son Ezra, 11, just finished this book. Closing it, he said, "You know, they always say that history is written by the winners. And ok sometimes that's because all the losers are dead, but sometimes maybe it's because the losers just don't want to talk about it. They're like, 'Ugh, shut up, go away, don't remind me.'"
May 22, 2012
This graphic depiction of Eucles, the Athenian runner whose exploits saved the city from the Persians, and who inspired the Olympic marathon event, specifically focuses on the key Battle of Marathon. Here, the Athenian army, hopelessly outnumbered, held the Persian army at bay for five days, to keep the Persians from sailing on to Athens. This was a huge moment in the Greco-Persian wars, because it showed the Greeks that they could defeat the mighty Persian military. Eucles is a major figure in these events, and this novel shows his early years as a slave, his service as a message runner, and the unparalleled endurance he showed during the battle, when he ran from Athens to Sparta (around 150 miles), to ask for Spartan assistance in the battle; he then ran immediately from Sparta to Marathon, to deliver the Spartan's response (basically, we're be there, but we'll take our time); finally, Eucles and a small band of Athenian soldiers ran the 26 miles from Marathon to Athens, to deliver news of the battle, and warn the Athenian citizens of the Persians' approaching ships. According to legend, these exploits were so heroic, particularly the final run to Athens, that they inspired the marathon run at the first Olympic Games, in 1896, where runners recreated the Marathon-to-Athens run.
While this GN provides a nice historical overview of the Battle of Marathon, and some of the key players, the accuracy of the events is always open to some debate. I also agree with other reviews I've read so far, that the novel presents a lot of characters (it is Greek history, after all); because of the influx of names, and shifts in time, it's somewhat difficult to follow the plot and the roster. The artwork is fantastic - while done in black and white, there is a shift in color tone, to indicate when the readers are seeing flashbacks and present events. I think this novel is a good demonstration that, no matter how effective the artwork, all comic art still relies on a good, well-organized story. With clearer writing and sequencing/pacing, this could have been an easier-to-understand read. As it stands, I could follow it, but it probably took a little more work than should have been necessary.
While this GN provides a nice historical overview of the Battle of Marathon, and some of the key players, the accuracy of the events is always open to some debate. I also agree with other reviews I've read so far, that the novel presents a lot of characters (it is Greek history, after all); because of the influx of names, and shifts in time, it's somewhat difficult to follow the plot and the roster. The artwork is fantastic - while done in black and white, there is a shift in color tone, to indicate when the readers are seeing flashbacks and present events. I think this novel is a good demonstration that, no matter how effective the artwork, all comic art still relies on a good, well-organized story. With clearer writing and sequencing/pacing, this could have been an easier-to-understand read. As it stands, I could follow it, but it probably took a little more work than should have been necessary.
February 8, 2012
ARC provided by NetGalley
Athens faces its greatest battle...the Persian army has come to conquer them, and accompanying them is their ex-tyrant king Hippias. The Athenian army will respond to the challenge, but they cannot hold the city and the Persian army off by themselves. They need assistance from the Spartans, who live 153 miles away. The Athenians send their greatest and fastest runner, Eucles, to ask them to come and fight and then lead them back in time to defeat the Persians. And thus begins the greatest race ever known ..and an event that continues to inspire mankind to greatness in the Olympic Games.
What really attracted me to this book was the artwork, that striking image on the cover of a man racing, sweat pouring down his brow, and the world seemingly burning behind him. And that evocative style remains throughout the book and it’s easy to get swept up in it, moving eagerly from page to page to follow the story and getting lost in the details. It’s easy to see the great care spent creating the art, the attention to detail, and creating lines that seemingly move off the page as the characters fight.
The telling of the story is somewhat jumbled in a couples of places, especially at the beginning, due to flashback scenes instead of just telling a straight story. It’s particularly troublesome in the first few pages, because we’re thrown into the story and see Eucles running and then suddenly we’re thrown back in time to see Eucles first great race and the troubles that followed him from it. I would have almost preferred a small prologue to set the stage vs. showing us these flashbacks. But once you get past the first few pages the story settles down into a more recognizable format and presents a gripping tale of the strength of one man to do what he can to save his city and his people.
Overall this is a solid book that I have no problem recommending to readers, especially teen readers who are interested in sports. I highly recommend the book and give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Athens faces its greatest battle...the Persian army has come to conquer them, and accompanying them is their ex-tyrant king Hippias. The Athenian army will respond to the challenge, but they cannot hold the city and the Persian army off by themselves. They need assistance from the Spartans, who live 153 miles away. The Athenians send their greatest and fastest runner, Eucles, to ask them to come and fight and then lead them back in time to defeat the Persians. And thus begins the greatest race ever known ..and an event that continues to inspire mankind to greatness in the Olympic Games.
What really attracted me to this book was the artwork, that striking image on the cover of a man racing, sweat pouring down his brow, and the world seemingly burning behind him. And that evocative style remains throughout the book and it’s easy to get swept up in it, moving eagerly from page to page to follow the story and getting lost in the details. It’s easy to see the great care spent creating the art, the attention to detail, and creating lines that seemingly move off the page as the characters fight.
The telling of the story is somewhat jumbled in a couples of places, especially at the beginning, due to flashback scenes instead of just telling a straight story. It’s particularly troublesome in the first few pages, because we’re thrown into the story and see Eucles running and then suddenly we’re thrown back in time to see Eucles first great race and the troubles that followed him from it. I would have almost preferred a small prologue to set the stage vs. showing us these flashbacks. But once you get past the first few pages the story settles down into a more recognizable format and presents a gripping tale of the strength of one man to do what he can to save his city and his people.
Overall this is a solid book that I have no problem recommending to readers, especially teen readers who are interested in sports. I highly recommend the book and give it 4 out of 5 stars.
June 12, 2016
Marathon by Boaz Yakin is a graphic novel in black and white that tells the epic tale of the original marathon runner. Over twenty five centuries later it is the foundation for the worldwide sports event that unites all nations, the Olympics.
In 490, the Athenian messenger Eucles ran over 300 miles to help thwart the invasion of the Persians and save his home of Athens and its fledgling democracy from being destroyed.
Born into a slave family, the child Eucles shows his ability to run long distances and fast speeds, and wins the favor of the cruel King of Athens, Hippias. But it is a favor with danger and death attached as Eucles loses his family and parents to the King's harsh rule. Years later, when the Spartans invade, Hippias is exiled from Athens. The Greek city of Athens then begins its democracy with no King, and years later finds themselves under threat of invasion. With an alliance with the Persian God-King, Darius, Hippias has returned to claim his kingdom. Knowing, on their own, they cannot withstand such an invasion, the Athenians send out their best messenger to the Spartans to seek an alliance.
In the space of a few days, the Athenian Eucles must run 300 miles, avoid bandits and theives and the pursuing invading army to save his city from the returning tyrant, King Hippias.
Though any comparison to Frank Miller's 300 is unfair, the story of Eucles is one of perseverance and hope. One man facing all placed in front of him to save those he loves. What is one man capable of when he is all that stands between the destruction of all he loves.
A well written and drawn graphic novel. Of a forgotten man and a forgotten time.
In 490, the Athenian messenger Eucles ran over 300 miles to help thwart the invasion of the Persians and save his home of Athens and its fledgling democracy from being destroyed.
Born into a slave family, the child Eucles shows his ability to run long distances and fast speeds, and wins the favor of the cruel King of Athens, Hippias. But it is a favor with danger and death attached as Eucles loses his family and parents to the King's harsh rule. Years later, when the Spartans invade, Hippias is exiled from Athens. The Greek city of Athens then begins its democracy with no King, and years later finds themselves under threat of invasion. With an alliance with the Persian God-King, Darius, Hippias has returned to claim his kingdom. Knowing, on their own, they cannot withstand such an invasion, the Athenians send out their best messenger to the Spartans to seek an alliance.
In the space of a few days, the Athenian Eucles must run 300 miles, avoid bandits and theives and the pursuing invading army to save his city from the returning tyrant, King Hippias.
Though any comparison to Frank Miller's 300 is unfair, the story of Eucles is one of perseverance and hope. One man facing all placed in front of him to save those he loves. What is one man capable of when he is all that stands between the destruction of all he loves.
A well written and drawn graphic novel. Of a forgotten man and a forgotten time.
July 17, 2012
How could I not pick this up when two of my favorite things, running and graphic novels, collide?
Knowing a little bit of history about the reason the marathon came to be (courtesy of my history buff husband), this story was sure to satisfy. Yakin takes us through the events surrounding the Persian Empire on their quest to invade Greece literally mile by mile. The mileage is covered by Athenian messenger, Eucles, while he darts from Athens to Sparta to Marathon and back to Athens with messages of battle. The story of Eucles is amazing to begin with but Infurnari brings to life the famous runner’s emotions and drive as he pushes his body to the limit for the love of his own people. His artwork took a little while to get used to but once I really looked into the characters eyes, I saw much emotion displayed in them. The lines that seemed to jut out began to take shape and I ended up feeling more emotion than I expected while reading this. We know how this story ends but those last few pages ignite the fire in the belly that fuels runners to run.
Beautifully done, boys.
Knowing a little bit of history about the reason the marathon came to be (courtesy of my history buff husband), this story was sure to satisfy. Yakin takes us through the events surrounding the Persian Empire on their quest to invade Greece literally mile by mile. The mileage is covered by Athenian messenger, Eucles, while he darts from Athens to Sparta to Marathon and back to Athens with messages of battle. The story of Eucles is amazing to begin with but Infurnari brings to life the famous runner’s emotions and drive as he pushes his body to the limit for the love of his own people. His artwork took a little while to get used to but once I really looked into the characters eyes, I saw much emotion displayed in them. The lines that seemed to jut out began to take shape and I ended up feeling more emotion than I expected while reading this. We know how this story ends but those last few pages ignite the fire in the belly that fuels runners to run.
Beautifully done, boys.
October 31, 2016
This book covers the history of the greatest run ever. Eucles is an Athenian messenger that ran for 153 miles to warn of the impending destruction of Athens from the Persian fleet. The art style is black and white, with a heavy usage of motion lines and detail.
Link for art:http://www.comicbookdaily.com/wp-cont...
This book was a lot better than I expected. To be honest, I was not sure how much of a book could be written on the run Eucles ran, but Yakin really was able to spice up the plot by extrapolating the brief references of the names in the original retelling. Feuds were written that were not a part of history, and Eucles was accompanied by 9 men on his run.
The central conflict of this story was whether Eucles would be to reach Athens before the Persian fleet. It was quite suspenseful, but there was a satisfactory resolution.
I recommend this book as it is a quick and thrilling read.
Link for art:http://www.comicbookdaily.com/wp-cont...
This book was a lot better than I expected. To be honest, I was not sure how much of a book could be written on the run Eucles ran, but Yakin really was able to spice up the plot by extrapolating the brief references of the names in the original retelling. Feuds were written that were not a part of history, and Eucles was accompanied by 9 men on his run.
The central conflict of this story was whether Eucles would be to reach Athens before the Persian fleet. It was quite suspenseful, but there was a satisfactory resolution.
I recommend this book as it is a quick and thrilling read.
March 22, 2013
This is what graphic storytelling is all about! This is the perfect marriage of a writer who knows how and when to shut up and let the illustrator tell the action, and of course the illustrator is absolutely brilliant! So much of this story is conveyed through the imagery, and I am amazed on many levels at the skill with which it was executed. The illustration itself helped set a thrilling pace that is not only rare in comics but it is extremely rare that it is successfully established by the illustration!
Well done, gentlemen, well done!
Well done, gentlemen, well done!
February 8, 2012
The Adobe version of this graphic novel is hard to read so that might be part of the problem, but I had a lot trouble following the story. The illustrations are fantastic, and the dialogue is intense. However, it is difficult to distinguish the characters and the plot is quite complicated. The historical summary at the end of the book is not adequate to inform the reader. Again, the print version of this story might be easier to comprehend.
January 7, 2013
I'd give this 2.5 stars. This book gets good midway through, which is unfortunate that the first part didn't feel so routine. The art has a sketchyness that I really like, especially because of the paper it's printed on, but the storytelling sometimes suffers as action scenes become hard to follow and the panels end up being snapshots instead of telling you what's happening.
February 17, 2013
The art does not serve this story well. It's so sketchy and makes it impossible to follow the story. Difficult to tell characters apart, unsure when jumps in time occur, and action is mostly undecipherable.
February 24, 2014
I found this graphic novel account of the history of the marathon confusing. The artwork is sketchy which does fit the mood of the book, but makes it difficult to follow the story. Also, as with most historical fiction, a complete author's note would have helped.
March 12, 2018
From slave to legend, Marathon tells the story of Eucles, the original marathon runner, and his heroic journey across Greece to prepare Athens for the first Persian invasion commandeered by King Hippias, the exiled tyrant of Athens. A winner of the Olympic games, Eucles earns his freedom as an Athenian citizen working as Hippias' messenger. After losing his parents to the tyrant's cruelty for not delivering a message on time, Eucles now embarks on a quest of bravery and vengeance for the Athenian army to face the Persian invaders and Hippias years after his dethronement. Throughout his quest, Eucles encounters hardships such as bandits, exhaustion, and even the Persians following in hot pursuit after him. For the fate of Greece, for the fate of Athens, for the fate of his wife Nia, Eucles must run.
The narrative itself is very action-packed, yet sometimes can become muddied by the sketched art style and the limited color palette of black, white, and brown. There are times when the artwork can become confusing as to what certain panels are trying to portray, but for the most part the sketched art style is fantastic. Action within the story is incredible and the art accentuates the dramatic power behind each sequence on levels worthy of both the Greek Epic and graphic novel genres. Eucles' journey is an incredible feat that is done justice in this story, done so well you almost wish there was a soundtrack to the whole graphic novel, or even wish that this would be made into a movie. I know I'd love to see this story become a Hollywood blockbuster! A strong protagonist, a tyrannical antagonist, and a plethora of unique characters out of historical fame, Marathon is a truly awesome read.
The narrative itself is very action-packed, yet sometimes can become muddied by the sketched art style and the limited color palette of black, white, and brown. There are times when the artwork can become confusing as to what certain panels are trying to portray, but for the most part the sketched art style is fantastic. Action within the story is incredible and the art accentuates the dramatic power behind each sequence on levels worthy of both the Greek Epic and graphic novel genres. Eucles' journey is an incredible feat that is done justice in this story, done so well you almost wish there was a soundtrack to the whole graphic novel, or even wish that this would be made into a movie. I know I'd love to see this story become a Hollywood blockbuster! A strong protagonist, a tyrannical antagonist, and a plethora of unique characters out of historical fame, Marathon is a truly awesome read.
February 17, 2019
There is a good story in here somewhere and at moments it does peak through but mostly it is lost in a blur of rushed story-telling, confused art work and a mauling of history. From the beginning I found myself putting in way too much effort trying to figure out who was who during the herky-jerky prologue that was the main character’s youth. Then when the battle for Athens was under way, it just grew worse. Most of the dialogue was inelegant and the art work under-conceived—just throw a bunch of stuff in there and have someone shout what’s happening. When you have to reread portions to figure out who is who in a story designed to mimic the impetus of a runner you have already lost the race. As implied by the cover art and the title the best part of the book is the dramatic run at the end much of which is thrilling and well executed (dialogue at a minimum). However, by this point I was shouldering enough annoyance to hinder my interest in the goings on and what should have been a stirring victorious conclusion became just the last pages of a book I was closing so I could read something else.
November 3, 2017
I really liked this graphic novel, though it was tough to get through because the scenes can be confusing. I like what Yakin is doing here - he uses fascinating perspective in his illustrations, the dialogue is terse and action is high. I sort of felt like I was dropped into the middle of a conversation and needed to catch up a bit, but really liked the experience. I am am fascinated by ancient history and the book made me want to learn more about the Spartans, the Athenians, their wars and ties.
July 28, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel. It depicts the story of Eucles, the runner who ran the 42 km from Marathon to Athens to warn them of the Persian invasion.
The story by Yakin was utterly gripping and fast-paced, supported by the thrilling artwork of Infurnari. Though some of the character art left me confused because of the similarity in looks and emotions, the story and the energetic artwork left me wowing at the end.
The story by Yakin was utterly gripping and fast-paced, supported by the thrilling artwork of Infurnari. Though some of the character art left me confused because of the similarity in looks and emotions, the story and the energetic artwork left me wowing at the end.
January 8, 2018
This book is by Boaz Yakin. This story about a man in the war when he was born, he help anyone to
Fight. One time he lead the solders to the mountain to attack other people, during the war he save a
Girl. And the girl love him. The next day, he go away, a year ago he lose for a war, and he lost. A country find him and the that girl is the princess in the coutry.
Fight. One time he lead the solders to the mountain to attack other people, during the war he save a
Girl. And the girl love him. The next day, he go away, a year ago he lose for a war, and he lost. A country find him and the that girl is the princess in the coutry.
April 2, 2018
I have no idea how anyone could make the Battle of Marathon boring, but Yakin and the artist succeeded. Too little dialogue, too little characterization, too little differentiation among the various characters, none of which is helped by the confusing faded brown on faded brown with faded brown overtones of the artwork. Run, run, run, fight, fight, fight, run, fight, lather, rinse, repeat.
December 13, 2018
Marathon
Written by Boaz Yakin, art by Joe Infurnari
a Graphic Novel
Publisher First Second
This is the story about The Battle of Marathon, the Great Eucles, and the origin of marathon in Olympic.
".....the appetites of the gods are boundless - - but we men must know when to quit."
Should I reread 300? Maybe this time I will understand better😀
17-18 November 2018
Written by Boaz Yakin, art by Joe Infurnari
a Graphic Novel
Publisher First Second
This is the story about The Battle of Marathon, the Great Eucles, and the origin of marathon in Olympic.
".....the appetites of the gods are boundless - - but we men must know when to quit."
Should I reread 300? Maybe this time I will understand better😀
17-18 November 2018
January 27, 2020
Very well done graphic novel. Being based on such a specific historical event, the plot doesn't have a great flow to it and sort of feels like it starts and stops and picks back up again, but the last third of the book is amazing and totally makes up for any gripes I have with the initial pacing.
August 18, 2022
Fast paced and action packed. The sketchy art style is obviously there to add texture to such a gritty and emotional story; however, it can make it difficult to follow the flow of the story and even to tell what exactly is happening in any particular panel.
March 27, 2017
Fun read. I went running afterwards .
October 28, 2018
Somewhat confusing, both story and drawings.
November 6, 2018
Fantastic graphic novel on the origin of Marathon tradition.
May 14, 2020
Interesting re-telling of the story, but the panels were sometimes a little too hectic to decipher.
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