What do you think?
Rate this book
Medusa
A superhero graphic novel with a mythological twist by Eisner-nominated artist Tony Parker (God of War and Mass Effect).
Everything you know about Medusa is a lie.
Forever cursed to be remembered as a monster, this ageless yet very mortal hero has spent millennia saving humanity from the horrors of legend.
But now, today, in Scotland, she has met a foe that makes even the gods hide in fear. Armed with unwavering resolve, will the mighty Medusa be able to save mankind one last time?
Everything you know about Medusa is a lie.
Forever cursed to be remembered as a monster, this ageless yet very mortal hero has spent millennia saving humanity from the horrors of legend.
But now, today, in Scotland, she has met a foe that makes even the gods hide in fear. Armed with unwavering resolve, will the mighty Medusa be able to save mankind one last time?
88 pages, Paperback
Published October 22, 2024
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 18, 2025
Medusa as super hero! Interesting and imaginative take on an old story. Entertaining and fabulous art!
March 4, 2025
Somewhere in Scotland, in the historical archive room of a public library, a centuries-old figure of ancient mythology rapid-fires text after text to her friends about the dark entity currently possessing the local populace: "I could use your help. Please reply when you can."
Medusa is not afraid of confronting the damnable cretons that force humans to bleed black ichor from their orifices. Medusa is not so prideful as to refuse to admit when the danger ahead is unlike any danger before. And Medusa is not so jaded that she won't insist somebody call the local paramedics when a little girl, possessed by some old, rogue deity, scarcely survives her encounter with the mythological.
MEDUSA poses a rather intriguing concept: The Gorgon of legend spends her hours, every hour, fighting back and killing off whatever fractals of the deified realm might bring harm to mortals. Some laugh, some call her a god-killer, and some merely shrug at this eternal job without benefits. The only truth worth knowing is that Medusa is a new kind of hero-archeologist. And she means business.
Figuring out how to save the world against a goddess of nature and love, who has since been devoured by corruption, is one tall task. Who was this goddess? Who corrupted her? Why was she corrupted? And can she be saved? MEDUSA, however clever with its concept, isn't quite so thrilling a story. This single-volume comic is self-contained, but the pacing is chaotic and the action scenes lack cohesion. Sometimes, Medusa meets a friend or two to help her solve this new problem (in Scotland); sometimes, she charges into a corrupted dig site and puts herself on the edge of annihilation; and sometimes, she asks far-off deities of far-off worlds for a weapon to wield against an even worse enemy.
It sounds like fun, and it is, but the lack of narrative perspective beyond chaos on Scotland's streets and a lady with snakes for hair busily chopping apart demons, readers find themselves lost more often than not. It's fun, for example, to see Medusa skulk the labyrinthine halls of Hephaestus' old place in search of some helpful tools, but almost all of the dialogue between Medusa and the labyrinth's tenants is high-minded double-speak lacking context. And in the end, readers receive zero explanation as to how or why Medusa gets what she wants, they're only left with a nonsense promise to a markedly absent tertiary character: "I'll come back to fix you as soon as [..] I can."
MEDUSA is a beautiful comic book, so there's that. Readers with the courage to look past plot points that are difficult to explain or investigate (e.g., corrupted creatures ramble a multitude of languages and take myriad inexplicable forms) will likely find solace in Bonvillain's incredible artwork (e.g., balletic action posing, detailed armor and costume designs). Medusa's character design is gorgeous: lean but muscular, athletic, capable of taking a hit, and kitted out with an old pistol, a few old blades, and a stone mask to protect bystanders. If not for the credible character art, remarkable coloring, and curious idea of running one of mythology's most misrepresented figures into the realm of the heroes, MEDUSA would be an extraordinarily difficult book to recommend.
Medusa is not afraid of confronting the damnable cretons that force humans to bleed black ichor from their orifices. Medusa is not so prideful as to refuse to admit when the danger ahead is unlike any danger before. And Medusa is not so jaded that she won't insist somebody call the local paramedics when a little girl, possessed by some old, rogue deity, scarcely survives her encounter with the mythological.
MEDUSA poses a rather intriguing concept: The Gorgon of legend spends her hours, every hour, fighting back and killing off whatever fractals of the deified realm might bring harm to mortals. Some laugh, some call her a god-killer, and some merely shrug at this eternal job without benefits. The only truth worth knowing is that Medusa is a new kind of hero-archeologist. And she means business.
Figuring out how to save the world against a goddess of nature and love, who has since been devoured by corruption, is one tall task. Who was this goddess? Who corrupted her? Why was she corrupted? And can she be saved? MEDUSA, however clever with its concept, isn't quite so thrilling a story. This single-volume comic is self-contained, but the pacing is chaotic and the action scenes lack cohesion. Sometimes, Medusa meets a friend or two to help her solve this new problem (in Scotland); sometimes, she charges into a corrupted dig site and puts herself on the edge of annihilation; and sometimes, she asks far-off deities of far-off worlds for a weapon to wield against an even worse enemy.
It sounds like fun, and it is, but the lack of narrative perspective beyond chaos on Scotland's streets and a lady with snakes for hair busily chopping apart demons, readers find themselves lost more often than not. It's fun, for example, to see Medusa skulk the labyrinthine halls of Hephaestus' old place in search of some helpful tools, but almost all of the dialogue between Medusa and the labyrinth's tenants is high-minded double-speak lacking context. And in the end, readers receive zero explanation as to how or why Medusa gets what she wants, they're only left with a nonsense promise to a markedly absent tertiary character: "I'll come back to fix you as soon as [..] I can."
MEDUSA is a beautiful comic book, so there's that. Readers with the courage to look past plot points that are difficult to explain or investigate (e.g., corrupted creatures ramble a multitude of languages and take myriad inexplicable forms) will likely find solace in Bonvillain's incredible artwork (e.g., balletic action posing, detailed armor and costume designs). Medusa's character design is gorgeous: lean but muscular, athletic, capable of taking a hit, and kitted out with an old pistol, a few old blades, and a stone mask to protect bystanders. If not for the credible character art, remarkable coloring, and curious idea of running one of mythology's most misrepresented figures into the realm of the heroes, MEDUSA would be an extraordinarily difficult book to recommend.
December 12, 2024
Her face hidden behind a mass (it remains unrevealed over the course of the comic), this story presents her as an immortal superhero and much-maligned champion of mankind. Parker's artwork is lovely, and reminiscent of Promethea, and the story has echoes of that series as well as American Gods.
Unfortunately, the artwork and the mythic references are not enough to compensate for a near-incoherent story lacking any human element or grounding in reality, with page after page of cosmic battles which have no feeling of urgency as we're never given any well-defined stakes or characters to care about. Annotating the references and staring at the art are worthwhile endeavors, but I found actually reading it a chore.
Unfortunately, the artwork and the mythic references are not enough to compensate for a near-incoherent story lacking any human element or grounding in reality, with page after page of cosmic battles which have no feeling of urgency as we're never given any well-defined stakes or characters to care about. Annotating the references and staring at the art are worthwhile endeavors, but I found actually reading it a chore.
October 26, 2024
Love the concept, casting Medusa as an immortal action hero…I mean.. take all my money!!!
This short graphic novel however is a bit too chaotic and tries to fit perhaps too much into quite a short page count - imagine walking into an action blockbuster 10 minutes before the end and that’s kind of how this book feels.
A great idea and some lovely action sequences, but a bit of a misfire I’m afraid.
This short graphic novel however is a bit too chaotic and tries to fit perhaps too much into quite a short page count - imagine walking into an action blockbuster 10 minutes before the end and that’s kind of how this book feels.
A great idea and some lovely action sequences, but a bit of a misfire I’m afraid.
October 22, 2024
This was completely incoherent. I had no idea what was happening for the most part. Something about Medusa acting as an action hero who fights some kind of infection. There's some other Greek mythological creatures involved too but their appearances didn't really make any sense either. This felt like a story where several chapters had been removed at random.
November 29, 2024
Albeit slightly chaotic and lacking context, this was a great start to a comic book series. Medusa's story in modern times has changed from a monster who turned people into stone, to a survivor of the cruelty of Zeus and this comic book series further turns her story into one of a hero.
I applaud the creativity and love the artwork. I look forward to seeing where this goes.
I applaud the creativity and love the artwork. I look forward to seeing where this goes.
August 21, 2024
ARC from Edelweiss.
February 3, 2025
Lovely artwork and a great concept, but I think a few 100 extra pages would have really benefited this story. It feels a little packed and rushed.
February 19, 2025
I'm a little disappointed with this book. I thought the artwork was a little choppy at times and the story could have been tighter.
June 20, 2025
Loved the design of the cobra hair. But the story doesn't offer much.
October 15, 2025
I don't have much to say >_< It was a cool take on the classic Medusa, but the plot was basic, and I also feel like I was missing some lore... like am I supposed to know how powerful some of these characters are?
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews