The Odyssey: A Graphic Adaptation of Homer’s Epic Tale

by Seymour Chwast

Seymour Chwast, an icon of the graphic design world, has delighted audiences with his adaptations of The Divine Comedy and The Canterbury Tales. Now he turns to Homer's Odyssey, one of the best-known stories in history. The tale is one that begs for visual interpretation, filled with mythic characters we all know well: the Cyclops, the Lotus-Eaters, the cannibal Laestrygonians, the Sirens, the monster Scylla (beside the whirlpool Charybdis), Poseidon, Athena, and Zeus.... Featuring a bold black, white, and blue interior design throughout, imbued with his own sly humor, The Odyssey brings us a dazzling new vision of one of the epic journeys.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Mythology, Fiction, Classics, Graphic Novels Comics, Young Adult

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2012

Reviews

[Angelo IG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Η ιδέα να μετατραπεί η Οδύσσεια σε κάτι σαν space opera είναι ενδιαφέρουσα, με τα σκίτσα να συνδυάζουν το φουτουριστικό με το κλασικό μέσα από μια pop art αισθητική. Προσωπικά, το ύφος τους δεν είναι του γούστου μου, παρότι αναγνωρίζω την αξία του Chwast. Επίσης πιστεύω το βασικό πρόβλημα είναι ότι η αφήγηση είναι υπερβολικά συμπυκνωμένη, με απότομες μεταβάσεις, σκηνές που περνούν βιαστικά και χαρακτήρες χωρίς καθόλου βάθος. Η ιστορία είναι έτσι δοσμένη, που φαντάζομαι ότι κάποιος που δεν γνωρίζει ήδη αρκετά καλά το έπος θα δυσκολευτεί να καταλάβει ποιος είναι ποιος και γιατί συμβαίνουν ορισμένα πράγματα. Προφανώς, δεν περιμένω από μια ελεύθερη διασκευή να αναπαράγει πιστά το πρωτότυπο (άλλωστε, αυτό είναι και το νόημα μιας διασκευής), όμως εδώ η τόση απλοποίηση αφαιρεί μεγάλο μέρος από την ποιητικότητα, τη μελαγχολία και το βάρος της επιστροφής του Οδυσσέα. Πάντως, είναι ευχάριστο και διαβάζεται γρήγορα.

[Sofia Silverchild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πολύ καλή, φουτουριστική, διασκευή.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a silly way to tell this classic tale, but I enjoyed it as a quick read.

[Sofia Acero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Qué manera de perder la oportunidad de contar está historia épica y perfecta, que no necesita de naves espaciales.

[JoLene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad and when I was picking up the book at the library, I saw this graphic novel. The Penelopiad is Penolope's side of the story, based on The Odyssey. Since it had been a long time since I read The Odyssey, I thought a graphic novel would be a fun way to refresh my memory.

Unfortunately, I can't say that I really enjoyed this version of the story. It did provide a bit of refresher with some of the key players, but I really didn't understand why they "updated" the story so that they were travelling in planes, cars and rocket ships --- there didn't seem to be a context for this change as they were still going to the same old places covered in The Odyssey. I realize that Chwast has a body of work that introduces the classics in graphic novel form -- perhaps to appeal to young readers --- but The Illiad and the The Odyssey don't really need to be dumbed down.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took out this graphic novel since I love Greek mythology.
This was all about The Odyssey. A good adaptation, I was entertained by the use of spaceships for some of the travel rather than ships.

[Evi Routoula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Φουτουριστικό κόμικ της γνωστής Οδύσσειας. Ωραία σχέδια, μέσα σε 120 σελίδες έχεις όλη την ιστορία ωραία δοσμένη.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seymour Chwast's graphic adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey is, of course, about Odysseus and his journey home after the Trojan War. Chwast makes the story into a space opera, but it retains most of the key elements.

I have never read Homer's The Odyssey, and I found Chwast's version to be pretty confusing. It felt like he left a lot out for the graphic novel, and several times, I think he left out so much that only someone who already knew the story would be able to follow this version. I did enjoy the story, and I intend to read the original (someday!).

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun version with flash gordon rayguns and spaceships.

[Akshay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Odyssey: A Graphic Adaptation of Homer's Epic Tale by Seymour Chwast

Seymour Chwast, the celebrated co-founder of Push Pin Studios, brings his signature graphic-design eye to Homer's classic in this compact retelling. It's the third in his series of illustrated classics, following his adaptations of The Divine Comedy and The Canterbury Tales, and it shows both the strengths and the limits of his approach.

The premise is simple: Odysseus, fresh off his victory in the Trojan War, just wants to get home — but a decade of monsters, gods, and misadventures stands in his way. Chwast reimagines the journey with the Cyclops, the Lotus-Eaters, the cannibal Laestrygonians, the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, Poseidon, Athena, and Zeus all making appearances, rendered in bold black, white, and blue illustrations.

What makes this version distinctive — and divisive — is Chwast's decision to reimagine the ancient world through a pulpy, retro-futurist lens. Odysseus and his crew travel by rocket ship rather than by oar, and the story's mythic dangers are recast as something closer to comic-book supervillains. It's a playful, irreverent choice that turns a dense, intimidating epic into something closer to a breezy adventure comic.

Less concerned with the moral or philosophical weight of the material, this adaptation is more focused on pure adventure — a rousing, lightweight ride through familiar territory.

Where it succeeds:

Chwast's linework is confident and full of dry humor, and fans of graphic design or his earlier adaptations will likely enjoy seeing his style applied to Homer. As a fast, visually striking refresher for readers who already know the story, it works well as a coffee-table curiosity.

Where it stumbles:

Several readers and critics have noted that the anachronistic, space-age setting doesn't add much beyond visual flair — the same locations and plot beats remain intact underneath the new costume, leaving the concept feeling more decorative than purposeful. Critics have also flagged this as the weakest of Chwast's three classic adaptations, playful but slight compared to the sharper, more original take he brought to Dante.

Readers unfamiliar with the source material have found the compressed, image-driven storytelling more disorienting than illuminating, since so much of Homer's original text and nuance is stripped away in favor of visual shorthand — meaning newcomers may finish the book without fully grasping Odysseus's journey.

Verdict: An inventive but lightweight take on a heavyweight classic — best appreciated as a witty visual riff for readers already familiar with The Odyssey, rather than as an introduction to it.

[Daniel A. Penagos-Betancur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se siente en el aire el éxito en taquilla del verano del año. Y de ese éxito quieren probar un poco todos los que más puedan unirse a este. No encuentro otra explicación para que de la nada ahora haya tantas ediciones de Odisea por todas partes. Y esta adaptación de Seymour no es la excepción a esta ola «itaquense» que se vive en la actualidad.

Digamos que esta es una adaptación, por no decir que es un resumen muuuy general, del viaje de regreso de Ulises a su casa en una especie de clave de ópera espacial. No esperen encontrar acá una profundidad igual a la de la obra original y no esperen encontrarse con una explicación del porqué Ulises parece el papá de Flash Gordon y del porqué viaja en una nave espacial.

Lo más llamativo del libro, la verdad, es el estilo pictórico de Seymour. Son dibujos sencillos, sin mucha profundidad, pero con la información y caracterización justa para no perderse entre página y página con los personajes. Me llamó mucho la atención el uso indiscriminado y en cantidades muy llamativas del azul, un color inexistente en la cultura y lengua griega.

Sin duda, es un libro para pasar la tarde de domingo o para recordar la línea general de una gran historia.

[Shaun · Rating 2 out of 5]

This graphic novel just didn't work for me. The movement of the Odyssey into a Space Opera setting for me worked, but it doesn't play that much of a role, other than being a decorative cover for the original story. The layout is often confusing as well, with some panels being unclear as to where they should be progressed from or to. It's an odd book, and it takes a lot of the powerful moments of the original and waters them down to a playful jaunt through the classic tale.

I am also not a huge fan of the art style, but it doesn't detract from the storytelling in my opinion. I should also add that I don't think it adds anything either, just another mode of presentation.

Not a bad book, just a poor reskin.

[Jifu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated what Chwast was going for here - but for me, it didn't really end up working out. I feel like it would have been better if the Flash Gordon-style motif had been more fully embraced, instead of the way it was unevenly seasoned throughout the illustrations mostly via spaceships, laser guns and many of the outfits. That, and the layout honestly got confusing quite frequently, and I found myself lost at several points even though this was a pretty condensed telling of the ancient classic.

Again, I have appreciation for what was intended here - but I ultimately wasn't a fan. I feel like nothing was really significantly added to theThe Odyssey as I know it and understand it.

[Austin Jimison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This my first foray into Chwast's very stylish world. I loved the illustrations and stylized representations of everything from the ship that Odysseus sailed through the sea (of stars) with, to what he seems to be wearing and fighting with, throughout his epic tale.

I'm a fan of the original story, and I know that if I didn't have the background I would have been very lost reading this re-telling. That being said I would absolutely recommend to anyone with an affinity for Greek Mythology that wants to simply revist these fond stories in a quick apertif sort of way.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Circe sent us on our way to Hades with a fresh wind. Elpenor, one of my men, heard us marching to the ship to leave. He woke and left to join us. Drunk, he forgot he was on a roof. He fell. He made his own way to Hades.

Book 11: Down the Black Hole

The ship traveled to the river of ocean where the Cimmerians abide.

There's a lot of creativity in Seymour Chwast's graphic adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey, but it's not that great. The problem is his childish, cartoony illustrations--think Odysseus as Buck Rogers and the setting a 50's themed space serial--doesn't do much for the story. As for the story, Chwast paraphrases events to the point where even a hint of the old epic is buried and forgotten. A real disappointment. How can you mess up a graphic adaptation of The Odyssey?

[Min · Rating 3 out of 5]

True to Chwast's style, there is a slight change in scenery, and the story is condensed almost to the point of being a cheerless outline. This is a slight nudge better than the Divine Comedy.
At this point, the condensation of such lengthy stories boiled down to nearly nothing makes it great for a study guide, or a starting point to adding one's own details when telling it to a child.

[Brenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art style was very fun but I feel like this book didn't do a very good job conveying the story. If I hadn't already known the story of the Odyssey, I feel like I would have been very confused and lost in what was happening and why. Which is a shame. I feel like a graphic novel of the Odyssey would help make the story more digestible for a larger audience, but this wasn't it chief.

[Jenni K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection ! Graphic novel meets the classics !
Illustrations and content are outstanding
A new appreciation for a graphic novel approach and delivery of a very classic must-read

Where were this to be added to reading lists in middle to high school students - oh wow, a page turner that all can understand and appreciate

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, anachronistic graphic novel about The Odyssey. I'm planning on using this text to help front load the Odyssey to my students, so hopefully this helps. Although the original text is written in medias res, I don't think this graphic novel follows that completely.

[Dee Robb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of this book was amazing, but the execution was a bit weak. You must know the original story to follow the plot at all. If graphic retellings of classics you know and love are your thing, then this is a great book for you!

[kathe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope.
This one just did not work for me. I am not opposed to changing classics. However, this one made no sense to me. However, for a younger audience who haven't read the original or are not familiar with it at all, it might work.
The graphics weren't my favorite either.

[Hannah Prince · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am familiar with Homer and the epic poems, and I found the construction of the story confusing enough to put down and not want to pick back up. There were also some inconsistent visual elements that distracted me.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

This version of The Odyssey isn’t so much reinterpreted and updated as it is watered and dumbed down.

The art is not much to look at and the writing is worse than that.

This book gets a hard pass.

[Heather Culley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in school, and I have no memory of the last two chapters AS HOMER INTENDED.

[Darren U · Rating 4 out of 5]

It kinda bizarre to have space ship and gun in the troy war

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the artwork and will look for more by this adapter/illustrator.

[Grace Walter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Visually interesting, but almost always pulls back from the emotionally impactful moments in favor of the easy joke.

[April Dickinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a weird and violent story. Definitely preferred reading this condensed and illustrated version cuz now I know I’d never read the “real thing.”

[Mark Opalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Getting into to trouble and out again is really everyone’s story isn’t it?”

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a miss for me. Too brief. It was more like a point form summary.