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Jason and the Argonauts
A graphic tale from Greek mythology - of the impossible voyage of Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece to save his people.
112 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2011
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About the author
William Shakespeare
27.4k books46.6k followersWilliam Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 7, 2018
Cool graphic version!
February 23, 2019
A very beautiful story which would not have been half good if it was just about a quest and revenge.
June 21, 2023
Good read! Lovely illustrations! Suited for the dark tale!
The Greek were really a sad, vengeful, depressed, cursed lot.
The Greek were really a sad, vengeful, depressed, cursed lot.
February 21, 2025
Good book, but the ending was even better.
May 10, 2015
This graphic novel version of Jason and the Argonauts isn't half bad. The artwork isn't my favourite but there are some particularly nice sequences such as Eros shooting his arrow of love at Medea and the zombie army.
The sex and violence is a little sanitised - Medea simply stabs her brother Apsyrtus - we don't see him chopped up into little pieces. Similarly we don't see her slitting her children's throats, they die in a fire. There is one head being lopped off in a battle sequence, but I do feel that this has been watered down. The sexier scenes with the Lemnean women, water nymphs and of course Medea herself are also glossed over.
Some of the adventures are missed out, I guess due to length - I was particularly sad not to see the attack of the Stymphalian birds.
It is however an excellent introduction to the Jason myth and does include the tragic fate of him and Medea. After watching the Harryhausen movie this is a very good next step before tackling the actual Argonautica.
The sex and violence is a little sanitised - Medea simply stabs her brother Apsyrtus - we don't see him chopped up into little pieces. Similarly we don't see her slitting her children's throats, they die in a fire. There is one head being lopped off in a battle sequence, but I do feel that this has been watered down. The sexier scenes with the Lemnean women, water nymphs and of course Medea herself are also glossed over.
Some of the adventures are missed out, I guess due to length - I was particularly sad not to see the attack of the Stymphalian birds.
It is however an excellent introduction to the Jason myth and does include the tragic fate of him and Medea. After watching the Harryhausen movie this is a very good next step before tackling the actual Argonautica.
February 15, 2012
This graphic novel will appeal to readers who have gotten hooked on Greek mythology by the recent trend in fiction and films. This version of the story of Jason could have been longer, which would prevent a couple of abrupt transitions, but is otherwise a nice retelling of the classic parts of the Argosy.
I don't know why Talos, the bronze giant, has what appears to be plumb bobs hanging from his mechanical elbows, but otherwise the designs are very interesting, and draw in the eye of the reader.
I don't know why Talos, the bronze giant, has what appears to be plumb bobs hanging from his mechanical elbows, but otherwise the designs are very interesting, and draw in the eye of the reader.
November 15, 2013
This was a graphic novel designed for the non and hard readers. The illustrations were not as good as they could be and thought the story line was okay, to much was left out as had to be I guess to make it fit the format.
That all being said this is still a good recommendation for those who dis-like reading or the hard readers.This is designed to keep them interested in reading.
That all being said this is still a good recommendation for those who dis-like reading or the hard readers.This is designed to keep them interested in reading.
August 13, 2012
A briskly paced, fun and remarkably all-ages version of the ancient Argonauts myth. Recommended for educators.
January 12, 2013
This one's pretty darn good. Best ancient mythology book I've seen. If you know, a better, let me know.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews