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Olympians #11
Hephaistos: God of Fire
Thrown from Mount Olympus as a newborn and caught by Thetis and Eurynome, who raised him on the island of Lemnos, Hephaistos had an aptitude for creating beautiful objects from a very young age. Despite his rejection from Olympus, he swallowed his anger and spent his days perfecting his craft. His exquisitely forged gifts and weapons earned him back his seat in the heavens, but he was not treated as an equal. His brothers and sisters looked down at him for his lame leg, and even his own wife, Aphrodite, was disloyal, Witness Hephaistos' wrath as he creates a plan that’ll win him the respect he deserves.
77 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2019
38 people are currently reading
717 people want to read
About the author
George O'Connor
74 books456 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base and there are multiple George O'Conner's that illustrate comics
George O'Connor is the author of several picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Kapow!, Kersplash, and Sally and the Some-thing. JOURNEY INTO MOHAWK COUNTRY was his first graphic novel, a long-held dream that weaves together his passion for history and ongoing research into Native American life. He's also the author/illustrator of a new picture book, If I Had a Raptor.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
George O'Connor is the author of several picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Kapow!, Kersplash, and Sally and the Some-thing. JOURNEY INTO MOHAWK COUNTRY was his first graphic novel, a long-held dream that weaves together his passion for history and ongoing research into Native American life. He's also the author/illustrator of a new picture book, If I Had a Raptor.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
October 21, 2023
I thought this story was excellent. I have loved this series so much and this was an excellent story of Hephaistos, one of the less popular gods. I haven't really heard many stories with a focus on him and this does a great job giving him an arc and connecting him to other stories. I love how the story of Prometheus and Pandora are weaved into this narrative. It's fantastic.
We see he divorces Aphrodite after being humiliated by her with ares. He is a pretty kick-ass god really. He took his place on Mt. Olympus. I had never heard of the flying chair thing at the end. That was a good story and knowing more about Prometheus was interesting too. It was Hephaistos that bound him to the rock. Prometheus also have foresight and he knew this would happen to him and he did it anyway. Pandora married Prometheus brother Epimetheus which stands for After thought.
George did a wonderful job with this whole material. I keep tract of the darkened squares in the front and I'm hoping that he has 2 more volumes coming out, one about Dionysos and Hestia. Dionysos makes an appearance in this story and he is a great character. He marries Ariadne who is another character arc I love. I hope to see that. I also love gentle Hestia and I would love to see more about her.
He always has some interesting new stories of myths in his works and I notice he lists a bibliography at the back with a few books I've never heard of. I'm going to have to check a few of those works out. I think George is at the top of his game and this story is topnotch.
We see he divorces Aphrodite after being humiliated by her with ares. He is a pretty kick-ass god really. He took his place on Mt. Olympus. I had never heard of the flying chair thing at the end. That was a good story and knowing more about Prometheus was interesting too. It was Hephaistos that bound him to the rock. Prometheus also have foresight and he knew this would happen to him and he did it anyway. Pandora married Prometheus brother Epimetheus which stands for After thought.
George did a wonderful job with this whole material. I keep tract of the darkened squares in the front and I'm hoping that he has 2 more volumes coming out, one about Dionysos and Hestia. Dionysos makes an appearance in this story and he is a great character. He marries Ariadne who is another character arc I love. I hope to see that. I also love gentle Hestia and I would love to see more about her.
He always has some interesting new stories of myths in his works and I notice he lists a bibliography at the back with a few books I've never heard of. I'm going to have to check a few of those works out. I think George is at the top of his game and this story is topnotch.
August 24, 2018
I received an electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly learned more in this volume than I have for a long time. This is definitely in the top 3 favorite of this series for me.
I really liked hearing about Hephaestus' story, I knew basically nothing about it previously. And I'm glad we finally got to see Dionysus.
I'll definitely be buying a finished paper copy of this when it comes out! The last page had blank speech bubbles so I need to see how it ends lol.
I honestly learned more in this volume than I have for a long time. This is definitely in the top 3 favorite of this series for me.
I really liked hearing about Hephaestus' story, I knew basically nothing about it previously. And I'm glad we finally got to see Dionysus.
I'll definitely be buying a finished paper copy of this when it comes out! The last page had blank speech bubbles so I need to see how it ends lol.
February 11, 2019
best one yet
January 21, 2019
It’s time to get to know Hephaistos, son of Zeus and Hera, rejected by Hera but then accepted back to Mount Olympus when his family realized his crafty skills were highly desirable. He shares ups and downs of his life while fixing Prometheus to a rock as punishment for upsetting Zeus. Along the way some of Prometheus’ story and Pandora’s are shared too.
Boy, Hephaistos’ story just highlights how dysfunctional Zeus and Hera’s family is. Poor guy is rejected by his mother because she thinks he’s too ugly at birth, and then he loses his wife to his brother, and then he gets banished again for telling his dad to calm down (because Zeus can’t handle the truth). Hephaistos may be the most sane and mature one of the Mount Olympus lot. All that said, it isn’t really a fun read but it is a memorable way to learn your Greek mythology and O’Connor is quite skilled in how he puts these together. I also liked that O’Connor wove in Prometheus’ story and Pandora’s story too. It worked really well. Definitely recommended for middle school on up studying Greek mythology. I know I have many students who love this series and can’t wait for this book to come out (though they’ll be sad to hear this is the next to last one).
Notes on content [Based on ARC]: One minor swear word. A couple couples kissing on page. Ares and Aphrodite are caught in bed together (while Aphrodite is married to Hephaistos), but they are fully clothed. Some nude figures in various illustrations but shadows and other things are strategically placed so nothing is showing. The war of the titans is briefly mentioned and shown. Some animal innards shown in a sacrifice to the gods. Dionysos gets Hephaistos drunk (not depicted as a good thing).
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Boy, Hephaistos’ story just highlights how dysfunctional Zeus and Hera’s family is. Poor guy is rejected by his mother because she thinks he’s too ugly at birth, and then he loses his wife to his brother, and then he gets banished again for telling his dad to calm down (because Zeus can’t handle the truth). Hephaistos may be the most sane and mature one of the Mount Olympus lot. All that said, it isn’t really a fun read but it is a memorable way to learn your Greek mythology and O’Connor is quite skilled in how he puts these together. I also liked that O’Connor wove in Prometheus’ story and Pandora’s story too. It worked really well. Definitely recommended for middle school on up studying Greek mythology. I know I have many students who love this series and can’t wait for this book to come out (though they’ll be sad to hear this is the next to last one).
Notes on content [Based on ARC]: One minor swear word. A couple couples kissing on page. Ares and Aphrodite are caught in bed together (while Aphrodite is married to Hephaistos), but they are fully clothed. Some nude figures in various illustrations but shadows and other things are strategically placed so nothing is showing. The war of the titans is briefly mentioned and shown. Some animal innards shown in a sacrifice to the gods. Dionysos gets Hephaistos drunk (not depicted as a good thing).
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2019
This series is really a fun read. I love the artwork and learning about the Greek gods. Hephaistos is usually the butt of the joke but I really sympathized with his story. He's just a guy trying to make the best of it. He keeps the peace with his parents and is a good husband to Aphrodite. No one seems to respect him, and that's a shame. The gods are known for being awful but he isn't really like them.
I also liked the side story of Prometheus and Pandora. Prometheus is really for humankind and despite knowing what would happen when he stole fire back from the gods, he did it anyway to help us. That's a level a selflessness that few immortals are shown to have.
I also liked the side story of Prometheus and Pandora. Prometheus is really for humankind and despite knowing what would happen when he stole fire back from the gods, he did it anyway to help us. That's a level a selflessness that few immortals are shown to have.
January 28, 2020
This was a very good edition to the Olympians series. Hephaistos has always been one of my favorite gods!
May 2, 2023
This was the first book I read in this series. I'd rate it 3 and a third stars. It was very fun book, and I learned a lot about Greek mythology. Good for everyone, but it does have some mild adult content.
March 18, 2019
I LOVE THESE BOOKS SO MUCH
For my thoughts on the series as a whole, check out my review on Hermes: Tales of the Trickster. On this book, however...
Again, I LOVED IT.
How is it O'Connor always has at least one story I've never heard of? When I was nine I would've claimed I knew every Greek myth there was... this guy is a genius, I swear.
I wish he included Hephaistos and Athena's "child" (though he mentioned this in the G(r)eek Notes) and Hephaistos eventual relationship with one of the Graces - but overall I was really satisfied with this one.
Hephaistos's story brings out some of the worst in the gods - Hera throws him off the cliff, Aphrodite cheats on him with his brother - most of the gods treat him like dirt. And yet he ascends to Olympus in his own right.
And adding Prometheus's story here as an undercurrent... oh my goodness, it was so well done! Seriously, it was INCREDIBLE!!! And that last page actually made me teary. (And I've learned more about Prometheus. Well done, O'Connor. Well done.)
The artwork, beautiful. As always. I ADORE his renditions of all the gods and goddesses.
It looks like book 12 in this series may be the last one... which makes me really sad but would make sense because technically there are twelve Olympians... but he didn't write on Demeter and Hestia yet! I guess Demeter's pretty wrapped up in Hades: Lord of the Dead, and poor Hestia just doesn't have enough stories about her to merit her own book. But she does play a pretty important part in Dionysus's story, so we'll definitely see her there. I just... what will O'Connor have next for us after this series? What will I do with myself once this series is... over? Ugh, I don't want to think about it.
5/5 stars. I don't want this series to be over yet. But at least it should go out with a bang. Please. Read these books. They're the best.
For my thoughts on the series as a whole, check out my review on Hermes: Tales of the Trickster. On this book, however...
Again, I LOVED IT.
How is it O'Connor always has at least one story I've never heard of? When I was nine I would've claimed I knew every Greek myth there was... this guy is a genius, I swear.
I wish he included Hephaistos and Athena's "child" (though he mentioned this in the G(r)eek Notes) and Hephaistos eventual relationship with one of the Graces - but overall I was really satisfied with this one.
Hephaistos's story brings out some of the worst in the gods - Hera throws him off the cliff, Aphrodite cheats on him with his brother - most of the gods treat him like dirt. And yet he ascends to Olympus in his own right.
And adding Prometheus's story here as an undercurrent... oh my goodness, it was so well done! Seriously, it was INCREDIBLE!!! And that last page actually made me teary. (And I've learned more about Prometheus. Well done, O'Connor. Well done.)
The artwork, beautiful. As always. I ADORE his renditions of all the gods and goddesses.
It looks like book 12 in this series may be the last one... which makes me really sad but would make sense because technically there are twelve Olympians... but he didn't write on Demeter and Hestia yet! I guess Demeter's pretty wrapped up in Hades: Lord of the Dead, and poor Hestia just doesn't have enough stories about her to merit her own book. But she does play a pretty important part in Dionysus's story, so we'll definitely see her there. I just... what will O'Connor have next for us after this series? What will I do with myself once this series is... over? Ugh, I don't want to think about it.
5/5 stars. I don't want this series to be over yet. But at least it should go out with a bang. Please. Read these books. They're the best.
November 6, 2019
In the penultimate installment from the Olympian series, we are now at a point where officially, we are tying loose ends. Hephaistos, like Hermes from Olympians 10, is a character who has been around since the very beginning of the series, but unlike the Trickster, the Blacksmith god has been nearly invisible. His last place of prominence -- if we are to call it such -- is in Ares, Olympians 7, where he acts on Hera's behalf against his perfidious war god brother and his faithless wife Aphrodite.
Now we see him as he is, a god unwanted, unappreciated, and disrespected. He redeems himself, though in the process certain figures are not shown in the best of lights. O'Connor's Hephaistos is not someone to be pitied, but rather someone not to underestimated. He's not some wet rag in the background bemoaning a failed life. It's refreshing thus to see him as someone gentle, constructive, and peacemaking, but assertive when necessary -- even if his redemptive truth conflicts with the truths of others.
This narrative carries over from Artemis and Apollo the themes of Hera's outrage from a similarly faithless husband. It also serves as climax to the complex triangle among Hephaistos himself with Ares and Aphrodite. Prometheus also features heavily in the tellings, as well as a decidedly devious Hermes. And truthfully, Olympians does best when it's just about the relationships between the gods themselves, rather than too many extraneous stories of heroes.
The designs for the characters appear to reach their apex here. Everyone is so fully embodied, and so recognizable, so synonymous with their identities that one will be hard pressed to forget them once the series is done.
All in all, this is another solid entry to the set. And appropriately enough, the hero who saves the day for everyone is Dionysius, the star of Olympians 12.
Now we see him as he is, a god unwanted, unappreciated, and disrespected. He redeems himself, though in the process certain figures are not shown in the best of lights. O'Connor's Hephaistos is not someone to be pitied, but rather someone not to underestimated. He's not some wet rag in the background bemoaning a failed life. It's refreshing thus to see him as someone gentle, constructive, and peacemaking, but assertive when necessary -- even if his redemptive truth conflicts with the truths of others.
This narrative carries over from Artemis and Apollo the themes of Hera's outrage from a similarly faithless husband. It also serves as climax to the complex triangle among Hephaistos himself with Ares and Aphrodite. Prometheus also features heavily in the tellings, as well as a decidedly devious Hermes. And truthfully, Olympians does best when it's just about the relationships between the gods themselves, rather than too many extraneous stories of heroes.
The designs for the characters appear to reach their apex here. Everyone is so fully embodied, and so recognizable, so synonymous with their identities that one will be hard pressed to forget them once the series is done.
All in all, this is another solid entry to the set. And appropriately enough, the hero who saves the day for everyone is Dionysius, the star of Olympians 12.
June 22, 2022
This book is on FIRE!
Starting with Hephaistos binding Prometheus to a mountain for his his crimes against Zeus we see a variety of stories connecting the two legendary figures in one way or another as they share the book. Like a casual conversation between old acquaintances Hephaistos answers Prometheus' questions as he is prepared for his torture to come (for those that do not know the Prometheus story be glad you do not have incredible regenerate powers. As Wolverine from the X-men said Healing fast is not he same as pain suppression. Of the stories within this book we get the birth of Hephaistos, a taste of some of his inventions, Prometheus offending Zeus by tricking him to chose an inferior sacrifice, a husbands trap for his naughty wife, Prometheus stealing fire for humanity after Zeus took it away from them, a story about Pandora and Prometheus' brother Epimetheus getting jarred, how Hephaistos got back at the Olympians after he wanted to help everybody calm down.
For this volume the shiny part of the cover is Hephaistos' mighty hammer capable of withstanding the intense heats of his forge and that come from within himself. The same standard of art is found within the covers of this volume as many of the other volumes of the series which is just fine because George O'Connor has always had a high standard for not only his stories (which are often amusing but manage to convey a number of emotions) but also a consistency for his art which he has been working on for at least 10 years now. Within this volume like other volumes also be sure to check out the fun facts at the end of the book including profiles for Hephaistos, Prometheus, Pandora, and Helios (who has a more active roll in the series than Selene so I am glad he got one.)
Starting with Hephaistos binding Prometheus to a mountain for his his crimes against Zeus we see a variety of stories connecting the two legendary figures in one way or another as they share the book. Like a casual conversation between old acquaintances Hephaistos answers Prometheus' questions as he is prepared for his torture to come (for those that do not know the Prometheus story be glad you do not have incredible regenerate powers. As Wolverine from the X-men said Healing fast is not he same as pain suppression. Of the stories within this book we get the birth of Hephaistos, a taste of some of his inventions, Prometheus offending Zeus by tricking him to chose an inferior sacrifice, a husbands trap for his naughty wife, Prometheus stealing fire for humanity after Zeus took it away from them, a story about Pandora and Prometheus' brother Epimetheus getting jarred, how Hephaistos got back at the Olympians after he wanted to help everybody calm down.
For this volume the shiny part of the cover is Hephaistos' mighty hammer capable of withstanding the intense heats of his forge and that come from within himself. The same standard of art is found within the covers of this volume as many of the other volumes of the series which is just fine because George O'Connor has always had a high standard for not only his stories (which are often amusing but manage to convey a number of emotions) but also a consistency for his art which he has been working on for at least 10 years now. Within this volume like other volumes also be sure to check out the fun facts at the end of the book including profiles for Hephaistos, Prometheus, Pandora, and Helios (who has a more active roll in the series than Selene so I am glad he got one.)
July 19, 2019
Another fine entry in this quite wonderful series about Greek mythology. The cover would have us believe it is about the Greek god of the forge, Hephaistos, but Prometheus and his punishment for crimes against the gods steal the show and give the book its true fire.
Apparently, the series is wrapping up soon, but I'd love to see additional volumes or a spin-off of the many myths O'Connor has not yet had a chance to retell. Or perhaps a new series about the Norse, Native American or Egyptian pantheons?
Apparently, the series is wrapping up soon, but I'd love to see additional volumes or a spin-off of the many myths O'Connor has not yet had a chance to retell. Or perhaps a new series about the Norse, Native American or Egyptian pantheons?
April 20, 2019
Yay! My favorite of the Greek gods finally gets his book! And oh my, how human is his story as he struggles to impress the people who rejected him. The story of Prometheus is used as the frame story, and makes a good point of how mixed up Hephaestus is in that particular story. Loved the whole thing!
November 24, 2025
These are great little stories to teach Greek mythology. Hephaistos was an interesting one to learn about. Learning about him as this outcast God who's married and cheated on. I've never heard all these little details so it was cool to learn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2019
I have really enjoyed this series.
October 10, 2024
Favorite god <333 epic story
September 16, 2025
Poor guy! What a tough life for an Olympian. I have a new appreciation for his tough skin.
March 23, 2019
O’Connor’s series on the Olympians looks to be closing strong with this penultimate entry. The author takes full advantage of all the character development over the preceding 10 volumes and has the “main cast” interact delightfully, including a cheeky introduction of the debauched Dionysius.
Some of the art, particularly the facial expressions, was remarkably expressive and moving. It’s a shame this series will have to end soon, but it will be quite the legacy upon completion.
Between this series and Stephen Fry’s “Mythos” books I have gained a new appreciation for these classic tales, they truly are timeless in the best sense of the word.
Some of the art, particularly the facial expressions, was remarkably expressive and moving. It’s a shame this series will have to end soon, but it will be quite the legacy upon completion.
Between this series and Stephen Fry’s “Mythos” books I have gained a new appreciation for these classic tales, they truly are timeless in the best sense of the word.
March 11, 2019
I'd give this one a 3.5, and I'm sad to see this series coming to an end. As another reviewer remarked, if nothing else, this graphic novel about the God of Fire highlights just how messed up the family dynamics were in Mount Olympus as Zeus dallies with woman after woman and Hera continues to berate him. Poor Hephaistos is duped by his beautiful wife Aphrodite who dallies with Ares while he's distracted with a task Ares has set him on. When he exacts revenge, he really exacts revenge, and it's clear that it's been a long time coming. George O'Connor continues to bring these ancient stories to life in graphic format, making them easier for modern audiences to understand. As a longtime fan of mythology, I applaud his efforts and am pleased that the stories won't go out of style. They have much to teach us, even about the modern world and human nature.
January 27, 2020
My 12 year old is studying Greek mythology for Language Arts. We are reading The Lightning Thief together, and talking about the Greek gods and heroes.
The other day, on the way to his school, I asked him the same question that I asked someone very dear to me a few months ago.
“Which god are you?”
My son immediately answered “Ares!” Hmmm...not what I had hoped of a boy currently serving two days in-school suspension for hitting another child. I asked “Why?” and my son suggested sometimes we can’t help being who we are even if the world hates us or is afraid of us. I am not excusing his behavior. He was punished at home, too. But there was pain and hopelessness in that answer.
He then asked “What about you, dad?”
No hesitation for me either.
“Hephaestus. Or Vulcan.”
Same answer I gave to the very dear person a few months ago. And, with her, I elaborated on the reasons.
My son remembered my answer and checked this “graphic novel” out of his school library to show me.
He owed me two hours of homework for not doing any earlier this week. So after doing a couple of quizzes on Canvas and reading a chapter in The Lightning Thief, we read this together.
I was more than pleasantly surprised.
I expected a juvenile prose treatment of the misshapen god. Instead, we read a graphic novel that did not shy away from difficult subjects (without being explicit...age appropriate).
As soon as you open the book, there is a “family tree” of the Olympian gods starting with Gaea at the top. This was fascinating to me. We spent several minutes tracing names and lines and identifying the Titans and the Olympians.
The story starts, not with Hephaestus, but with Prometheus (“forethought”) and his brother Epimetheus (“afterthought”...I didn’t know...how did I miss the epistemology of these names all this time?). While I identify with Hephaestus, Prometheus has been a hero since reading Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound. He defied the gods to give humanity a chance to be greater. The graphic novel provides motives for this behavior taken from Aeschylus, but much easier to understand. Prometheus remains a hero to me, and more sympathetic than ever.
The story is told in flashbacks as Hephaestus manacles Prometheus to the mountain, and Hermes taunts both of them. Hermes explains the true reason for Prometheus’ punishment which is not the theft and bestowal of fire.
Prometheus recounts his role in helping deliver a laboring Hera while Zeus is kissing another woman. Hephaestus is ugly and misshapen, the poisoned fruit of a poisoned relationship. Prometheus pleads for the child god’s life as Hera casts him from Mount Olympus.
Hephaestus tells Prometheus what it is like residing in Olympus among all the duplicitous gods. Always useful, but never loved. Even by his wife, Aphrodite, who laughingly mocks him as Ares concocts a ruse to keep Hephaestus from their bedchambers so she can lay with Ares, his brother. Even by his father. His mother. The shame knows no end. And Hephaestus builds, fixes, with little complaint.
Heartbreaking.
The 12 year old was quiet and fixated on the story which is his tell that he is engrossed and feeling emotion. Not bad for a graphic novel.
The story covers Epimetheus and Pandora. And even philosophically muses that Hope remaining in the vessel may have been the cruelest of the evils released into the world. Hope? Blessing or curse? This would not have struck me like it did this afternoon save for a line in Seanan McGuire’s Every Heart a Doorway.
I would have given the graphic novel five stars, but for a few typos and some, in my opinion, misused panels.
You feel the pain of Hephaestus and his nobility...his need to belong and also his aversion to belonging to such a mercurial, morally dubious group, his family...his need to gain the respect of his parents.
You feel the weight of Prometheus’ visions and understand the price he paid to set them in motion. Even as he questions Hephaestus’ loyalty to a father who does not love or care for him.
Greek tragedy at its finest in about 30 minutes.
And the truest proof...a mesmerised 12 year old who began looking through it again as soon as we finished.
I love my little Ares. We will see if we can’t steer him a bit towards Athena.
The other day, on the way to his school, I asked him the same question that I asked someone very dear to me a few months ago.
“Which god are you?”
My son immediately answered “Ares!” Hmmm...not what I had hoped of a boy currently serving two days in-school suspension for hitting another child. I asked “Why?” and my son suggested sometimes we can’t help being who we are even if the world hates us or is afraid of us. I am not excusing his behavior. He was punished at home, too. But there was pain and hopelessness in that answer.
He then asked “What about you, dad?”
No hesitation for me either.
“Hephaestus. Or Vulcan.”
Same answer I gave to the very dear person a few months ago. And, with her, I elaborated on the reasons.
My son remembered my answer and checked this “graphic novel” out of his school library to show me.
He owed me two hours of homework for not doing any earlier this week. So after doing a couple of quizzes on Canvas and reading a chapter in The Lightning Thief, we read this together.
I was more than pleasantly surprised.
I expected a juvenile prose treatment of the misshapen god. Instead, we read a graphic novel that did not shy away from difficult subjects (without being explicit...age appropriate).
As soon as you open the book, there is a “family tree” of the Olympian gods starting with Gaea at the top. This was fascinating to me. We spent several minutes tracing names and lines and identifying the Titans and the Olympians.
The story starts, not with Hephaestus, but with Prometheus (“forethought”) and his brother Epimetheus (“afterthought”...I didn’t know...how did I miss the epistemology of these names all this time?). While I identify with Hephaestus, Prometheus has been a hero since reading Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound. He defied the gods to give humanity a chance to be greater. The graphic novel provides motives for this behavior taken from Aeschylus, but much easier to understand. Prometheus remains a hero to me, and more sympathetic than ever.
The story is told in flashbacks as Hephaestus manacles Prometheus to the mountain, and Hermes taunts both of them. Hermes explains the true reason for Prometheus’ punishment which is not the theft and bestowal of fire.
Prometheus recounts his role in helping deliver a laboring Hera while Zeus is kissing another woman. Hephaestus is ugly and misshapen, the poisoned fruit of a poisoned relationship. Prometheus pleads for the child god’s life as Hera casts him from Mount Olympus.
Hephaestus tells Prometheus what it is like residing in Olympus among all the duplicitous gods. Always useful, but never loved. Even by his wife, Aphrodite, who laughingly mocks him as Ares concocts a ruse to keep Hephaestus from their bedchambers so she can lay with Ares, his brother. Even by his father. His mother. The shame knows no end. And Hephaestus builds, fixes, with little complaint.
Heartbreaking.
The 12 year old was quiet and fixated on the story which is his tell that he is engrossed and feeling emotion. Not bad for a graphic novel.
The story covers Epimetheus and Pandora. And even philosophically muses that Hope remaining in the vessel may have been the cruelest of the evils released into the world. Hope? Blessing or curse? This would not have struck me like it did this afternoon save for a line in Seanan McGuire’s Every Heart a Doorway.
I would have given the graphic novel five stars, but for a few typos and some, in my opinion, misused panels.
You feel the pain of Hephaestus and his nobility...his need to belong and also his aversion to belonging to such a mercurial, morally dubious group, his family...his need to gain the respect of his parents.
You feel the weight of Prometheus’ visions and understand the price he paid to set them in motion. Even as he questions Hephaestus’ loyalty to a father who does not love or care for him.
Greek tragedy at its finest in about 30 minutes.
And the truest proof...a mesmerised 12 year old who began looking through it again as soon as we finished.
I love my little Ares. We will see if we can’t steer him a bit towards Athena.
February 27, 2019
GIVE ME ALL THE BOOKS. I hope O'Connor has another topic lined up of graphic novels because I will read them all too. I loved two things-- first the story and illustration again are spot-on and delightfully tragic and imaginative. Second, I love that I got to finish it and walk it over to a teacher obsessed with mythology who literally exploded at the sight of it for excitement. And her students check them out because of her love for them and their adoration for the stories too. It's a win all around.
This one is beautiful in it's tragedy and I knew NOTHING about the God of Fire. I didn't know he was married to Aphrodite and she cheated on him with his brother. So, he devised a plan. But was still cast off twice by his parents Hera and Zeus but his triumphant return the second time after ingeniously trapping his mother, he was able to stay at the top with the rest of the Olympians.
I thought it was a poignant story and the secondary characters that he chose to include was enriching. I also enjoyed reading his version of events at the end along with the the character profiles that are always included.
He hit it out of the park AGAIN.
This one is beautiful in it's tragedy and I knew NOTHING about the God of Fire. I didn't know he was married to Aphrodite and she cheated on him with his brother. So, he devised a plan. But was still cast off twice by his parents Hera and Zeus but his triumphant return the second time after ingeniously trapping his mother, he was able to stay at the top with the rest of the Olympians.
I thought it was a poignant story and the secondary characters that he chose to include was enriching. I also enjoyed reading his version of events at the end along with the the character profiles that are always included.
He hit it out of the park AGAIN.
March 8, 2019
O'Connor combines the story of Hephaistos with Prometheus in this volume about the Olympians. The art work over this series has improved as has the storytelling. If you like this series, you will enjoy this volume.
February 24, 2019
Excellent of course. Impressive because Hephaistos (Hephaestus) is usually characterized as the Eeyore of the Olympians, but O'Connor manages to show how the story can be interpreted to make him the master of his own destiny (and his parents somewhat bumbling fools). Very cool intertwining of his story with Prometheus'.
February 25, 2019
I will really miss this series. These volumes have great stories but the back matter is pure gold. The notes particularly are tiny slices into O'Connor's process and research and I adore them. The art is also, always fantastic. Highly recommend.
February 17, 2019
A terrific (maybe) end to a great series that share mythology in graphic novel format. They connect kids to Percy Jackson and to cultural references they'll need for understanding in the future. One of my favorite in the series.
September 19, 2018
O'Connor, George. Hephaistos: God of Fire. First Second, 2019.
This eleventh installment in George O'Connor's Olympians series focuses on Hephaistos, with a side plot surrounding the story of Prometheus. Full-color illustrations draw the eye to the page, and the action-filled plot will have readers turning pages to discover what happens next. The end matter includes information about various titans and gods and other information regarding particular panels throughout the story.
The Olympians graphic novels are very easy to read and fairly short, but they provide an appropriate amount of backstory about each of the various gods and goddesses. I always make sure my library has one copy of each of the titles in this series as it circulates well. It is popular with fans of the Percy Jackson series but also with kids who simply enjoy mythology. I like that this title can tie in to the nonfiction section of the library as well and may lead kids to read books outside of their normal comfort zone. Recommended
Recommended for: tweens
Red Flags: "mild fantasy peril;" Hephaistos and Dionysus have a drinking party at one point and Hephaistos gets fairly drunk
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purpose of review.
This eleventh installment in George O'Connor's Olympians series focuses on Hephaistos, with a side plot surrounding the story of Prometheus. Full-color illustrations draw the eye to the page, and the action-filled plot will have readers turning pages to discover what happens next. The end matter includes information about various titans and gods and other information regarding particular panels throughout the story.
The Olympians graphic novels are very easy to read and fairly short, but they provide an appropriate amount of backstory about each of the various gods and goddesses. I always make sure my library has one copy of each of the titles in this series as it circulates well. It is popular with fans of the Percy Jackson series but also with kids who simply enjoy mythology. I like that this title can tie in to the nonfiction section of the library as well and may lead kids to read books outside of their normal comfort zone. Recommended
Recommended for: tweens
Red Flags: "mild fantasy peril;" Hephaistos and Dionysus have a drinking party at one point and Hephaistos gets fairly drunk
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purpose of review.
February 3, 2019
I'd never have thought I would like it this much: this is acutally the only 4-star rating I've ever given to O'Connor's. Hephaistos's never been of one my favorite god but the author managed to bring a new side of him to light.
He never gives up. He's got a bit of a temper but it only comes out when he's really really mad. For instance, when he catches Aphrodite cheating on him with Ares. And I think that using Prometheus' myth to help telling the story was a great trick.
And, well, I also appreciate the fact that Hephaistos chooses to appear less than perfect. In a world where every god is physically perfect there's him and his wobbly legs.
Jeez... and now I have to wait a whole year before reading about Dyonisos.
He never gives up. He's got a bit of a temper but it only comes out when he's really really mad. For instance, when he catches Aphrodite cheating on him with Ares. And I think that using Prometheus' myth to help telling the story was a great trick.
And, well, I also appreciate the fact that Hephaistos chooses to appear less than perfect. In a world where every god is physically perfect there's him and his wobbly legs.
Jeez... and now I have to wait a whole year before reading about Dyonisos.
January 26, 2019
I've been waiting for this one for about three years, so maybe that's skewed my expectations a little. This is as solid as the others, don't get me wrong - I l o v e George's art and his narrative ability; he's so much more respectful of Greek religion than most other contemporary writers. There were moments that seemed...noticeably skewed toward "gag" humor, though. I loved the synopsis and was sure that with Hephaistos telling his own story, especially without the narrative of victimization, there might even be inclusion of Aglaia. It just didn't have as much content as I wanted, and wasn't as serious as I wanted it to be (Artemis' was damn near a Homeric hymn, and I l o v e d that, but Such Is).
January 29, 2019
The final title in the Olympians series—these books are a great way to experience the Greek Gods & Goddesses. Each of the 11 titles focuses on a god or goddess and tells the most important, revealing stories about them. Besides getting to know Hephaistos, God of Fire, the reader also meets Prometheus, his brother Epimetheus, and his wife Pandora. Good storytelling and great art.
February 8, 2019
Not one of the better volumes in the series. Like Hera's installment, it spends more time profiling other characters than the title character and the word balloons and text boxes are much larger than then they need to be, clogging panels with lots of extra white space in a poor attempts to disguise the lack of background detail.
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