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Underworld
Hades, God of the Underworld, is seeking a successor. The prize? His fabled horn of plenty, source of boundless wealth. But to winnow down the applicant pool, Hades has devised a series of challenges as deadly to hopefuls as they are enlightening to readers, taking us all on a tour of the soil: its uses and abuses, riches and resources. Beneath our feet lies a world teeming with life, whose fate is intimately tied with our own. In this fantasy adventure Mathieu Burniat deftly blends pop science and mythology to educate and enthrall on a topic vital to our troubled times.
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Published September 22, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 20, 2022
Another curious bande dessinée, an adventure in the mythical underworld that takes place in the literal, biological underworld. Characters are shrunk down to insect-size and we get a sort of survival race while we're educated on the natural world.
I appreciate its weirdness, and the cartooniness of the art works in its favour.
(Picked up a review copy through NetGalley)
I appreciate its weirdness, and the cartooniness of the art works in its favour.
(Picked up a review copy through NetGalley)
October 13, 2021
"Hades, god of the underworld, seeking a successor in the land of the dead."
This was a message that was sent to applicants.
Suzanne 16 years old, must make her way through Hades's cruel and hell-like challenge along with other humans. The match is disgusting and horrifying, but they should pass five levels to win it.
Suzanne and Tom are two main characters, try to defeat Hades' challenges together. Hades wants to humans understand the damages they cause on earth!
This wasn't a mythology book, this was an adventure scientific, biology, competition, and fantasy comic book for the adult readers.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me a chance to read Underworld by Script & art by Mathieu Burniat, I have given my honest review.
This was a message that was sent to applicants.
Suzanne 16 years old, must make her way through Hades's cruel and hell-like challenge along with other humans. The match is disgusting and horrifying, but they should pass five levels to win it.
Suzanne and Tom are two main characters, try to defeat Hades' challenges together. Hades wants to humans understand the damages they cause on earth!
This wasn't a mythology book, this was an adventure scientific, biology, competition, and fantasy comic book for the adult readers.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me a chance to read Underworld by Script & art by Mathieu Burniat, I have given my honest review.
October 26, 2021
Rating: 2.5
NetGalley ARC Review
This graphic novel was not what I was expecting when reading a story about the underworld and Hades.
I really liked the idea of the competition and the story of Hades wanting to find a worthy successor for his throne.
However, there were a lot of facts being explained about the earth, soil, and the environment in general, that made the read feel like an educational book, which in turn made me lose interest in several parts of the story.
Nevertheless, there were some facts that were interesting and the idea of the story was very original.
Overall, I really liked the art and imagery and I believe anyone who is interested in the environment and how things work with soil and its importance to humanity's survival, will be very satisfied with this graphic novel.
NetGalley ARC Review
This graphic novel was not what I was expecting when reading a story about the underworld and Hades.
I really liked the idea of the competition and the story of Hades wanting to find a worthy successor for his throne.
However, there were a lot of facts being explained about the earth, soil, and the environment in general, that made the read feel like an educational book, which in turn made me lose interest in several parts of the story.
Nevertheless, there were some facts that were interesting and the idea of the story was very original.
Overall, I really liked the art and imagery and I believe anyone who is interested in the environment and how things work with soil and its importance to humanity's survival, will be very satisfied with this graphic novel.
December 16, 2021
4.5 ⭐️une belle trouvaille qui m’a fait penser à la série jeunesse il était une fois l’homme avec ses capsules informatives. j’ai appris pleins de trucs sur la science, botanique, l’agriculture et l’histoire naturelle. un excellent travail de vulgarisation avec une trame narrative sympathique. pour le nerd en vous qui s’ennuie de ses cours d’écologie de secondaire 1. 🪨🤓
October 21, 2021
3.5 stars.
Hades puts on a competition, saying anyone who makes it through can get at his horn of plenty. People from all over participate, and it very quickly becomes obvious Hades isn’t doing this for fun; he’s pretty pissed off at how humans are destroying the planet and everything that sustains us through pollution, inappropriate use of technology and poor practices.
There is a lot of interesting information conveyed about the components and role of the soil as the contestants go through one difficult and sometimes terrifying challenge after another, exploring the complex world beneath our feet. I learned some stuff, and enjoyed this, though I could have totally done without the kiss near the end— it was unnecessary, and came out of nowhere for the characters Suzanne and Tom.
Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Hades puts on a competition, saying anyone who makes it through can get at his horn of plenty. People from all over participate, and it very quickly becomes obvious Hades isn’t doing this for fun; he’s pretty pissed off at how humans are destroying the planet and everything that sustains us through pollution, inappropriate use of technology and poor practices.
There is a lot of interesting information conveyed about the components and role of the soil as the contestants go through one difficult and sometimes terrifying challenge after another, exploring the complex world beneath our feet. I learned some stuff, and enjoyed this, though I could have totally done without the kiss near the end— it was unnecessary, and came out of nowhere for the characters Suzanne and Tom.
Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for this ARC in exchange for my review.
October 14, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this comic/graphic novel.
Wow, this was a wild ride! I expected a dark mythological story, and instead got a fun biology lecture. I have to say that this is a genius idea that Burniat had; he's tricking people into learning things about the importance of soil, and how we as humans are endangering it every day with our agricultural methods.
I was surprised, but I really enjoyed this short read. Underworld is an educational, funny adventure into the many layers of our soil, and the life that's hidden there.
Wow, this was a wild ride! I expected a dark mythological story, and instead got a fun biology lecture. I have to say that this is a genius idea that Burniat had; he's tricking people into learning things about the importance of soil, and how we as humans are endangering it every day with our agricultural methods.
I was surprised, but I really enjoyed this short read. Underworld is an educational, funny adventure into the many layers of our soil, and the life that's hidden there.
June 11, 2022
WTF I'VE JUST READ?
Was it a sick joke? A twisted battle royale? A toxic ecologic fairytale with some random elements from ancient Greece? A unique masterpiece?
Whatever the heck this THING was, I do NOT RECOMMENDED IT FOR ANYONE!
Was it a sick joke? A twisted battle royale? A toxic ecologic fairytale with some random elements from ancient Greece? A unique masterpiece?
Whatever the heck this THING was, I do NOT RECOMMENDED IT FOR ANYONE!
April 24, 2022
C'était merveilleux. Rien envie de dire d'autre car je ne m'attendais à rien en la commençant et ça m'a beaucoup plu de ne rien savoir, alors lisez-la sans rien savoir et vous serez charmé.e.s, c'est certains !
October 24, 2021
Well, this was thoroughly unique – just not in the best way. There's a whole horde of humans that think they're applying for the job that Hades is giving up. Yup, the happiest and richest god of the underworld (because, you know, job satisfaction and all those mines, and perhaps Cerberus too) wants someone to replace him. But our young heroine is wanting a one-to-one to him to have a go-around with someone she's lost. So what happens with the story, but to turn the whole drama into a Reithian Maze Runner, where education about our world's soils is just as important as making it a survival adventure.
Go figure.
Now, I might have appreciated this a bit better if there was more of a clue to be had from the start that this was done with edutainment as intent. It was certainly a shock when the contest begins and some robot thing keeps BAMFing in and out of existence to chunter on about soil contents and the critters in our fields and gardens. As it is, it is clearly not a major failure – just such an unexpected read. But the washed-out palette, that makes this all look like a fifth generation colour photocopy of some Fantastic Voyage knock-off, doesn't help, and neither does the hair-over-the-face, couldn't-care-less mien of the lead girl. Rife with poor decisions, this is a rum one, the likes of which you probably have to experience to believe.
Go figure.
Now, I might have appreciated this a bit better if there was more of a clue to be had from the start that this was done with edutainment as intent. It was certainly a shock when the contest begins and some robot thing keeps BAMFing in and out of existence to chunter on about soil contents and the critters in our fields and gardens. As it is, it is clearly not a major failure – just such an unexpected read. But the washed-out palette, that makes this all look like a fifth generation colour photocopy of some Fantastic Voyage knock-off, doesn't help, and neither does the hair-over-the-face, couldn't-care-less mien of the lead girl. Rife with poor decisions, this is a rum one, the likes of which you probably have to experience to believe.
March 16, 2022
This is a science class disguised as a Mythology comic book. Want to learn about the soil? Want your kids to learn about soil? This is the book for you! There's also a decent explanation of climate change, as well, so you'll be learning about a LOT of things from soil to fungi to the nitrogen cycle, how modern farming techniques are only good in the short run and very harmful in the long run, and more! And just so you aren't completely bored, there are some nice elements of friendship and romance to keep you interested.
*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley
*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley
April 1, 2022
"Hades, God of the Underworld, is seeking a successor. The prize? His fabled horn of plenty, source of boundless wealth. But to winnow down the applicant pool, Hades has devised a series of challenges as deadly to hopefuls..."
Lets be real, like me, most people won't finish reading, or at least won't really process the rest of this synopsis. Meaning that when the twist happens you are just as startled as our protagonist. Which honestly adds to the comedy.
This is both incredibly informative and incredibly hilarious read. That I would definitely recommend.
Lets be real, like me, most people won't finish reading, or at least won't really process the rest of this synopsis. Meaning that when the twist happens you are just as startled as our protagonist. Which honestly adds to the comedy.
This is both incredibly informative and incredibly hilarious read. That I would definitely recommend.
March 23, 2021
À la fois très drôle et intelligent ! Une aventure pour devenir le nouveau maître des enfers, sous forme de jeu de questions/réponses dans les profondeurs de la terre. Surtout, une mise en garde contre l'utilisation de l'agriculture intensive par les hommes...
October 12, 2021
I had some mixed feelings about this book, and I think that overall my feelings evened out towards me just feeling very neutral about this book.
First, the positive aspects. The artwork was really pretty. In fact the artwork was what drew me to the story in the first place. I saw the gorgeous cover, took a peek at the sample few pages on the publisher's website, and downloaded a copy to read the full thing. On top of that, I also thought the concept sounded really cool. A competition to become the new Hades, god of the Underworld? Sign me up! However, the concept and execution is where I was most let down.
The marketing really made me think that this would be a take on mythology. And yes, there's Hades, Cerberus, and some riddle asking sphinxes, but those are really just names. The personalities and overall Greek mythology wasn't incorporated whatsoever. This was in actuality an educational story about the importance of soil in our environment, and the negative impact that current farming practices are having on the environment. So if that interests you, pick this book up. If you're thinking there will be interesting mythological elements, this isn't the book for you.
My last qualm with this book is that I want to mention that I'm not really sure who the target audience is. It certainly isn't meant for kids, since there's gore, death, and on page nudity. I guess it was marketed to young adults, but I don't think that many teens are interested in such a thorough and detailed breakdown of every aspect of the soil. I think that there could have been a better balance with how the information was presented, since at times there were a lot of facts and details thrown at you in a very short period of time.
All in all this was not a bad book. I just wish that the marketing had been a little more pointed, so that this book would reach its actual target audience, instead of luring in random readers interested in mythology.
First, the positive aspects. The artwork was really pretty. In fact the artwork was what drew me to the story in the first place. I saw the gorgeous cover, took a peek at the sample few pages on the publisher's website, and downloaded a copy to read the full thing. On top of that, I also thought the concept sounded really cool. A competition to become the new Hades, god of the Underworld? Sign me up! However, the concept and execution is where I was most let down.
The marketing really made me think that this would be a take on mythology. And yes, there's Hades, Cerberus, and some riddle asking sphinxes, but those are really just names. The personalities and overall Greek mythology wasn't incorporated whatsoever. This was in actuality an educational story about the importance of soil in our environment, and the negative impact that current farming practices are having on the environment. So if that interests you, pick this book up. If you're thinking there will be interesting mythological elements, this isn't the book for you.
My last qualm with this book is that I want to mention that I'm not really sure who the target audience is. It certainly isn't meant for kids, since there's gore, death, and on page nudity. I guess it was marketed to young adults, but I don't think that many teens are interested in such a thorough and detailed breakdown of every aspect of the soil. I think that there could have been a better balance with how the information was presented, since at times there were a lot of facts and details thrown at you in a very short period of time.
All in all this was not a bad book. I just wish that the marketing had been a little more pointed, so that this book would reach its actual target audience, instead of luring in random readers interested in mythology.
October 17, 2021
I received a copy of this graphic book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I remember that learning about soil was one of the most boring parts of lessons in Geography and Biology. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been that bad when I’d had something like this graphic novel to help pick my interest in the magic of soil.😆
The art was a bit iffy and the characters looked just creepy but it was good enough to build an interest in the conclusion of the story. The story itself wasn’t exactly what you would expect when referencing to Hades and Greek mythology but it made some weird way a lot of sense….😃
As to the main point of this graphic novel…Humans suck and destroy everything they get in contact with, in this case soil and natural ecosystems…This sad and infuriating truth made reading this story very bittersweet. It was on point but made me despise humans as a whole even more than I already do…🙄
I remember that learning about soil was one of the most boring parts of lessons in Geography and Biology. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been that bad when I’d had something like this graphic novel to help pick my interest in the magic of soil.😆
The art was a bit iffy and the characters looked just creepy but it was good enough to build an interest in the conclusion of the story. The story itself wasn’t exactly what you would expect when referencing to Hades and Greek mythology but it made some weird way a lot of sense….😃
As to the main point of this graphic novel…Humans suck and destroy everything they get in contact with, in this case soil and natural ecosystems…This sad and infuriating truth made reading this story very bittersweet. It was on point but made me despise humans as a whole even more than I already do…🙄
October 11, 2021
thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
i like the premise of this, and am a huge fan of anything based around greek mythology. however, this was much more of a biology lesson than an insight into greek lore. this delved into the gritty side of the environment, its layers and what makes up below the earth's surface.
despite this feeling more like a comic from a biology textbook, the illustrations were great and it was a fun short read (plus the two main characters were enjoyable too)!
i like the premise of this, and am a huge fan of anything based around greek mythology. however, this was much more of a biology lesson than an insight into greek lore. this delved into the gritty side of the environment, its layers and what makes up below the earth's surface.
despite this feeling more like a comic from a biology textbook, the illustrations were great and it was a fun short read (plus the two main characters were enjoyable too)!
December 14, 2021
This is quite an unusual concept for a story. It's quite light on the story element and mainly just a series of lessons on the importance of organic matter and looking after the ground and soil. I would have liked a bit more to the narrative to keep my interest.
March 3, 2022
Très bonne lecture qui nous apprend le fonctionnement et la richesse du sol. C’est très intéressant, parfois bien technique, mais les dessins et le cadre permettent que tout ça passe plutôt bien. On apprend plein de choses tout en rigolant et en voulant découvrir la suite de l’histoire.
October 31, 2021
Hades, malevolent ruler of the underworld, or perhaps something more? That’s exactly what is on the table in the newest book from Europe Comics, Underworld by Mathieu Burniat. When one thinks “underworld”, they only assume that means that Hades is a deity that controls death and the afterlife right? This book asks, what if he’s literally in charge of the very land beneath our own feet? What if he’s salty with humans because we are taking care of his empire in any way, and wants to take a break – get a successor in there that can figure out a way to change things? Assistant by his noble companion Cerberus the three-headed dog, he sets out to do that very thing, albeit in a weird competitive way.
“Hades, God of the Underworld, is seeking a successor. The prize? His fabled horn of plenty, source of boundless wealth. But to winnow down the applicant pool, Hades has devised a series of challenges as deadly to hopefuls as they are enlightening to readers, taking us all on a tour of the soil: its uses and abuses, riches and resources. Beneath our feet lies a world teeming with life, whose fate is intimately tied with our own. In this fantasy adventure Mathieu Burniat deftly blends pop science and mythology to educate and enthrall on a topic vital to our troubled times.”
Despite what I assumed this book was going to be about, this is truly a unique book – one part Battle Royale, one Part Willy Wonka, and One part Lorax, it’s one of the strangest ideas I’ve seen in a while. In a weird way this is an educational book, but not in the way that I expected. Hades puts everyone through a grueling series of trials to search for cards that unlock their ability to gain access to his “horn of plenty”. In doing so, he traps everyone in various stages of the earth’s soil and subsequent layers. When this happens he usually tells little facts about the Earth in a similar way to the series Cells at Work and how it teaches you facts about the human body. I went in expecting a book on Hellenistic gods, and had no idea I was in for an Earth Science comic. Now, saying it’s vaguely educational and similar to a book meant for kids isn’t to say that this is in any way meant for children, its full of blood, death, even mild nudity. But, my friends, learning doesn’t stop at adulthood!
I will say this book has a rather bizarre ending, but for all it’s grizzly deaths and other horrors, its surprisingly light-hearted and it ended how I somewhat figured it would, I suppose. All-in-all it’s a fun comic that tackles a bit of environmentalism that you don’t hear about to often – the fact that factory farming and industrial agriculture does far more damage to The Earth, and its ecosystems than anyone running a TV for too long could ever do. As a tool to spread this education of these issues to people that perhaps were unaware is somewhat unorthodox, but my hat’s off to the author for doing it in such an interesting way. This was a fun comic, and stays away from being too preachy while keeping you interested in what’s happening.
“Hades, God of the Underworld, is seeking a successor. The prize? His fabled horn of plenty, source of boundless wealth. But to winnow down the applicant pool, Hades has devised a series of challenges as deadly to hopefuls as they are enlightening to readers, taking us all on a tour of the soil: its uses and abuses, riches and resources. Beneath our feet lies a world teeming with life, whose fate is intimately tied with our own. In this fantasy adventure Mathieu Burniat deftly blends pop science and mythology to educate and enthrall on a topic vital to our troubled times.”
Despite what I assumed this book was going to be about, this is truly a unique book – one part Battle Royale, one Part Willy Wonka, and One part Lorax, it’s one of the strangest ideas I’ve seen in a while. In a weird way this is an educational book, but not in the way that I expected. Hades puts everyone through a grueling series of trials to search for cards that unlock their ability to gain access to his “horn of plenty”. In doing so, he traps everyone in various stages of the earth’s soil and subsequent layers. When this happens he usually tells little facts about the Earth in a similar way to the series Cells at Work and how it teaches you facts about the human body. I went in expecting a book on Hellenistic gods, and had no idea I was in for an Earth Science comic. Now, saying it’s vaguely educational and similar to a book meant for kids isn’t to say that this is in any way meant for children, its full of blood, death, even mild nudity. But, my friends, learning doesn’t stop at adulthood!
I will say this book has a rather bizarre ending, but for all it’s grizzly deaths and other horrors, its surprisingly light-hearted and it ended how I somewhat figured it would, I suppose. All-in-all it’s a fun comic that tackles a bit of environmentalism that you don’t hear about to often – the fact that factory farming and industrial agriculture does far more damage to The Earth, and its ecosystems than anyone running a TV for too long could ever do. As a tool to spread this education of these issues to people that perhaps were unaware is somewhat unorthodox, but my hat’s off to the author for doing it in such an interesting way. This was a fun comic, and stays away from being too preachy while keeping you interested in what’s happening.
October 20, 2021
First of all, thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this. Here is my honest review:
So first if all, the true rating is like 3.75 stars, but I rounded it up to 4.
"'Why're you trying out?'
'Well... it's not every day you find a position that requires no formal training.'"
"Underworld" was definitely a different sort of graphic novel. And maybe it's my fault for skimming the blurb/description (I always do -- it allows me to be surprised by what's coming), but this was not at all what I was expecting. But basically you have Hades who has sent out a request for people to compete to become the new lord of the underworld in his place, though you find out it's so, so much more than that.
This ended up being a read about the dangers humanity faces if we continue to destroy the planet the way we have. It was educational, it was informative, it was something I wish we read in high school biology because man did I learn a few things.
I think my issue with this came down to a character who I thought was going to be an adversary after the main character and him get into an altercation, but then he just... disappears? I have no idea what happened to him. He literally was on the page and gone from the story right after. But really, other than that, I guess I felt like it ended pretty abruptly. I wanted a happier ending, or at least an ending that tied everything up, but maybe that's the point since we're fighting every single day to better this world and, without change, it will never get better, making this more of a wake-up call to the reader.
It was funny, it was entertaining, it hurt my heart to see the truth about what's going on in this world, it made me feel powerless to change it and powerful to help bring about that change. I definitely recommend everyone read this at least once -- and I still think it could be used to teach children about what's going on with our planet... if one scene was just edited, that is.
So first if all, the true rating is like 3.75 stars, but I rounded it up to 4.
"'Why're you trying out?'
'Well... it's not every day you find a position that requires no formal training.'"
"Underworld" was definitely a different sort of graphic novel. And maybe it's my fault for skimming the blurb/description (I always do -- it allows me to be surprised by what's coming), but this was not at all what I was expecting. But basically you have Hades who has sent out a request for people to compete to become the new lord of the underworld in his place, though you find out it's so, so much more than that.
This ended up being a read about the dangers humanity faces if we continue to destroy the planet the way we have. It was educational, it was informative, it was something I wish we read in high school biology because man did I learn a few things.
I think my issue with this came down to a character who I thought was going to be an adversary after the main character and him get into an altercation, but then he just... disappears? I have no idea what happened to him. He literally was on the page and gone from the story right after. But really, other than that, I guess I felt like it ended pretty abruptly. I wanted a happier ending, or at least an ending that tied everything up, but maybe that's the point since we're fighting every single day to better this world and, without change, it will never get better, making this more of a wake-up call to the reader.
It was funny, it was entertaining, it hurt my heart to see the truth about what's going on in this world, it made me feel powerless to change it and powerful to help bring about that change. I definitely recommend everyone read this at least once -- and I still think it could be used to teach children about what's going on with our planet... if one scene was just edited, that is.
October 23, 2021
After loving media like Squid Game and The Hunger Games, this sounded right up my alley. However, it fell a little short.
This was by no means a bad book, it was very middle of the road for me. My biggest issue was the sheer amount of information about soil life. It was too dense and took away from the action, in my opinion. It wasn’t produced in a context I feel was actually digestible a lot of the time. There were a few things I did learn, like a worm’s role which was cool and how humans beginning agriculture affected climate overall. Another reason this element was an issue for me is because I didn’t feel properly prepared for it. In rereading the synopsis it doesn’t accurately indicate that the competition aspect takes a back seat to the educational aspect, which I’d like to have known. For me, the facts were too convoluted and numbered too many.
I also found Thomas annoying. When our MC latched onto him in the beginning, I don’t understand why. She just picked anyone and was like, I’ll stick with you. There’s nothing particularly interesting or special about him nor is he enthusiastic about partnering up. Worse, he’s a hinderance almost the entire time. He does have a fee redeeming moments and I did like his arc, but his presence was forced and the romance I didn’t but at all.
The lens we see Hades through is interesting. Its certainly unique to emphasize the soil and it’s inhabitants as an important part of his Underworld rule. I did have a hard time seeing the relevance of the challenges though, and how the winning of those could illustrate a strong candidate for Hades’ successor. I’m not sure I got an answer on that in the end, especially when we have someone strong and kind and worthy like Ulysses dying in a random way and the ones everyone else saved the entire making it to the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
This was by no means a bad book, it was very middle of the road for me. My biggest issue was the sheer amount of information about soil life. It was too dense and took away from the action, in my opinion. It wasn’t produced in a context I feel was actually digestible a lot of the time. There were a few things I did learn, like a worm’s role which was cool and how humans beginning agriculture affected climate overall. Another reason this element was an issue for me is because I didn’t feel properly prepared for it. In rereading the synopsis it doesn’t accurately indicate that the competition aspect takes a back seat to the educational aspect, which I’d like to have known. For me, the facts were too convoluted and numbered too many.
I also found Thomas annoying. When our MC latched onto him in the beginning, I don’t understand why. She just picked anyone and was like, I’ll stick with you. There’s nothing particularly interesting or special about him nor is he enthusiastic about partnering up. Worse, he’s a hinderance almost the entire time. He does have a fee redeeming moments and I did like his arc, but his presence was forced and the romance I didn’t but at all.
The lens we see Hades through is interesting. Its certainly unique to emphasize the soil and it’s inhabitants as an important part of his Underworld rule. I did have a hard time seeing the relevance of the challenges though, and how the winning of those could illustrate a strong candidate for Hades’ successor. I’m not sure I got an answer on that in the end, especially when we have someone strong and kind and worthy like Ulysses dying in a random way and the ones everyone else saved the entire making it to the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Underworld by Mathieu Burniat is a humorous, cartoonish graphic novel about a 16 year-old's journey to the Underworld. Based on the cover, I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but I thought it would be darker. Instead, this book has a fairly light-hearted, comic look. The story revolves around Suzanne, a 16 year-old who enters the Underworld, and a companion who joins her on her quest. Hades is seeking a successor and has created a series of challenges a la Netflix's Squid Games to find him or her. Will Suzanne and her companion succeed in becoming the next god of the Underworld?
Overall, Underworld by Mathieu Burniat is a graphic novel that will take readers on a fantasy adventure. I think it will appeal to fans of Netflix's Squid Games, because it has a very similar concept. I took off 2 stars, because of the yuckiness factor. The book itself isn't that violent or gory, but the creatures depicted, such as giant insects and worm-like creatures really grossed me out. I can imagine that plenty of readers would be just find with those images though. If you're intrigued by the description or if you're a fan of fantasy adventure graphic novels, you can check out this book, which is available now.
Underworld by Mathieu Burniat is a humorous, cartoonish graphic novel about a 16 year-old's journey to the Underworld. Based on the cover, I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but I thought it would be darker. Instead, this book has a fairly light-hearted, comic look. The story revolves around Suzanne, a 16 year-old who enters the Underworld, and a companion who joins her on her quest. Hades is seeking a successor and has created a series of challenges a la Netflix's Squid Games to find him or her. Will Suzanne and her companion succeed in becoming the next god of the Underworld?
Overall, Underworld by Mathieu Burniat is a graphic novel that will take readers on a fantasy adventure. I think it will appeal to fans of Netflix's Squid Games, because it has a very similar concept. I took off 2 stars, because of the yuckiness factor. The book itself isn't that violent or gory, but the creatures depicted, such as giant insects and worm-like creatures really grossed me out. I can imagine that plenty of readers would be just find with those images though. If you're intrigued by the description or if you're a fan of fantasy adventure graphic novels, you can check out this book, which is available now.
October 17, 2021
Graphic novels are really tricky unless you’re the sort of person who, at the book store, has no shame in reading a reasonable amount of it before you commit to buying it. Your enjoyment is of course super dependent on your taste, particularly when it comes to illustrations, and I really didn’t like the style of this one.
I could overlook that though for a cool story. In this one, Hades is looking for a replacement and says as much in an advertisement sent out to the general public. Flocks of people queue to join the list of people applying for the job, so Hades devises a competition to seek out which one of the applicants is really the one for the job.
It’s boring. That’s the bottom line. This isn’t the fantastical mythological adventure you’re expecting, but instead is a lesson on the damage to soil caused by humans through agriculture and ignorance. If you fancy a biology lesson, you may like it, but the cringe-worthy and stilted narrative and weird approach just missed the mark entirely for me. I think it’s very on the money - particularly with the influx of climate change novels at present - but it didn’t work at all for me.
ARC provided from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I could overlook that though for a cool story. In this one, Hades is looking for a replacement and says as much in an advertisement sent out to the general public. Flocks of people queue to join the list of people applying for the job, so Hades devises a competition to seek out which one of the applicants is really the one for the job.
It’s boring. That’s the bottom line. This isn’t the fantastical mythological adventure you’re expecting, but instead is a lesson on the damage to soil caused by humans through agriculture and ignorance. If you fancy a biology lesson, you may like it, but the cringe-worthy and stilted narrative and weird approach just missed the mark entirely for me. I think it’s very on the money - particularly with the influx of climate change novels at present - but it didn’t work at all for me.
ARC provided from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2021
Underworld by Mathieu Burniat somehow manages to make dirt interesting.
This work does a wonderful job weaving a meaningful message about sustainability into an interesting story about a competition to become the next god of the Underworld. This work stands out among other graphic novels about Greek mythology as it explores a unique version of the Underworld, one that goes against popular imaginings and adaptations.
I was pleasantly surprised at how scientific this graphic novel is. I was not expecting such rich detail and so many facts about soil and minerals. I actually learned some things! I feel like this would be a great addition to a classroom or school library as it is not only informative, but entertaining enough to captivate students.
The illustrations are beautiful and I particularly loved the way Cerberus was portrayed.
Don't want to spoil, but the ending is great!
If you are looking for a book centered solely on the traditional imagery of Greek mythology, this might not be the work for you. However, if you are interested in looking at the well-known characters of mythology and the god of the Underworld through a new lens, definitely try this out.
This work does a wonderful job weaving a meaningful message about sustainability into an interesting story about a competition to become the next god of the Underworld. This work stands out among other graphic novels about Greek mythology as it explores a unique version of the Underworld, one that goes against popular imaginings and adaptations.
I was pleasantly surprised at how scientific this graphic novel is. I was not expecting such rich detail and so many facts about soil and minerals. I actually learned some things! I feel like this would be a great addition to a classroom or school library as it is not only informative, but entertaining enough to captivate students.
The illustrations are beautiful and I particularly loved the way Cerberus was portrayed.
Don't want to spoil, but the ending is great!
If you are looking for a book centered solely on the traditional imagery of Greek mythology, this might not be the work for you. However, if you are interested in looking at the well-known characters of mythology and the god of the Underworld through a new lens, definitely try this out.
October 16, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
To be completely honest, I feel like the description of this book is misleading. The point might be to trick children and teenagers into caring about the issues discussed in the book by luring them in with the popular premise of Greek mythology. If that’s the case, then it did its job. However, it can also leave the reader (like me) disappointed, since the content doesn’t deliver what was promised. This book is 95% biology/environmental science and maybe 5% Greek mythology. I might have been happier with this book if I had gone into it knowing what it was actually about.
This could have been way better if there had been a better balance of the two subjects and a little less preaching.
I also couldn’t really connect with the main characters. They were really bland and uninteresting. The romance also came out of no where and was them promptly forgotten.
I did really enjoy the art as it was the thing that kept me going when I started to get bored.
To be completely honest, I feel like the description of this book is misleading. The point might be to trick children and teenagers into caring about the issues discussed in the book by luring them in with the popular premise of Greek mythology. If that’s the case, then it did its job. However, it can also leave the reader (like me) disappointed, since the content doesn’t deliver what was promised. This book is 95% biology/environmental science and maybe 5% Greek mythology. I might have been happier with this book if I had gone into it knowing what it was actually about.
This could have been way better if there had been a better balance of the two subjects and a little less preaching.
I also couldn’t really connect with the main characters. They were really bland and uninteresting. The romance also came out of no where and was them promptly forgotten.
I did really enjoy the art as it was the thing that kept me going when I started to get bored.
November 6, 2021
Hades, God of the Underworld, is seeking a successor. The prize? His fabled horn of plenty, source of boundless wealth. But to winnow down the applicant pool, Hades has devised a series of challenges as deadly to hopefuls as they are enlightening to readers, taking us all on a tour of the soil: its uses and abuses, riches and resources. Beneath our feet lies a world teeming with life, whose fate is intimately tied with our own. In this fantasy adventure, Mathieu Burniat deftly blends pop science and mythology to educate and enthrall on a topic vital to our troubled times.
Review
Have you ever wondered how the application process would be like if you applied for the post of God of the underworld? Underworld is a combination of Squid Game, National Geographic, and Cat in the Hat because it places the characters in the comic in a survival game but a subtle sense of humor is evident throughout the comic. Readers are also given an educational session where they learn how human actions can affect the environment. It is also unique because the end of the book is concluded with a call to action on what humans can do to save the environment,
Despite its unique approach, I wasn't a fan. There were times when I was confused if I should be amused or not. I also ended up skipping the educational portions because I was more interested in how the characters would fare in the game. In addition, I also found the font hard to read and I had to zoom it for it to be legible.
However, though the book is unique, it is not something that I would read again. I may not have enjoyed it as much but I feel that it is best suited for individuals who want to combine leisure with learning and for those who are interested in mythology.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and I confirm that this is an honest review that I am writing voluntarily.
Review
Have you ever wondered how the application process would be like if you applied for the post of God of the underworld? Underworld is a combination of Squid Game, National Geographic, and Cat in the Hat because it places the characters in the comic in a survival game but a subtle sense of humor is evident throughout the comic. Readers are also given an educational session where they learn how human actions can affect the environment. It is also unique because the end of the book is concluded with a call to action on what humans can do to save the environment,
Despite its unique approach, I wasn't a fan. There were times when I was confused if I should be amused or not. I also ended up skipping the educational portions because I was more interested in how the characters would fare in the game. In addition, I also found the font hard to read and I had to zoom it for it to be legible.
However, though the book is unique, it is not something that I would read again. I may not have enjoyed it as much but I feel that it is best suited for individuals who want to combine leisure with learning and for those who are interested in mythology.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and I confirm that this is an honest review that I am writing voluntarily.
October 29, 2021
So I don't really know where to start with this one. It started of as a bit of a Greek mythology, with Hades offering the underworld to a mortal if they collect all 5 cards during the challenge. Then we get squid games-esque rounds of elimination hosted by the equivalent of Miss Frizzle from the magic school bus. While ordinarily the Underworld is a fictional land of the dead, in this version it literally means Under the world. Like in the dirt. There are hundreds of facts about plant life, what makes up the dirt, farming practices and elements. All the while our group keeps getting whittles down. Then we find out out the main character misses her dog and that's her drive all along. Oh and then zombies. This was WILD 🤯 like did not know what was going to happen next. I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more if there was slightly less factual info dumping and more humour. The illustrations are great and it does a good job but it was very full of facts and less about the characters. Don't even know who I'd recommend this one too because it's like a genre of it's very own.
November 8, 2021
Not what I expected but still an enjoyable read.
Hades, god of the underworld, is fed up and looking for a successor. We follow 2 of the wannabee gods as they work through Hades' challenges.
What I didn't expect was the underworld literally being the soil and rock beneath our feet. The different challenges educate the competitors (and the reader) about soil and the damage humans are doing to it. As a no-dig gardener, I know quite a bit about why tilling the soil is a bad thing, but it was great to read a bit more detail in a fun way. I definitely found myself wanting to read more each time I set the book aside.
I do recommend this book to anyone wanting an engaging story and a way to learn a little more about the ground beneath our feet. I enjoyed the illustrations and I think they explained the story and it's detail well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.
Hades, god of the underworld, is fed up and looking for a successor. We follow 2 of the wannabee gods as they work through Hades' challenges.
What I didn't expect was the underworld literally being the soil and rock beneath our feet. The different challenges educate the competitors (and the reader) about soil and the damage humans are doing to it. As a no-dig gardener, I know quite a bit about why tilling the soil is a bad thing, but it was great to read a bit more detail in a fun way. I definitely found myself wanting to read more each time I set the book aside.
I do recommend this book to anyone wanting an engaging story and a way to learn a little more about the ground beneath our feet. I enjoyed the illustrations and I think they explained the story and it's detail well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.
November 17, 2021
A wonderfully educative comic. It follows the ever so popular battle royal narrative while digging through the ground and teaching us why modern agriculture is a problem for earth, and in the long term, for us too. I had no idea that modern Egypt was the way it currently is because of intensive agriculture. It isn't always subtle in the message, it is a little too heavy winded sometimes, this really is an educative book (admittedly with a fantasy plot and death and carnage) but I found the topic fascinating, it made me want to dig some more - the fiction format surrounding the serious topic makes it accessible to a lot of people who wouldn't normally care and that's to be commanded. Story wise, I really liked the main character and I must admit that I wish she had been given a companion with a little more charisma, she deserved better, but that is my only criticism.
This is a unique take on educating people and I love the idea.
This is a unique take on educating people and I love the idea.
October 16, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
…not at all what I thought this would be: Hades, underworld trials to determine a new successor? Sign me the fuck up. Turns out it’s a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-esque storyline (well, probably more Squid Game tbh, some contestants do die!) which focuses on teaching the reader about soil, and the damage we’re doing with our agricultural methods. And, surprisingly, I wasn’t annoyed about the biology lecture. I learned a hell of a lot in a really short space of time with very little effort on my part. It was fun.
The art was lovely and the script was easy to follow and understand, whilst still being very educational.
Would recommend.
…not at all what I thought this would be: Hades, underworld trials to determine a new successor? Sign me the fuck up. Turns out it’s a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-esque storyline (well, probably more Squid Game tbh, some contestants do die!) which focuses on teaching the reader about soil, and the damage we’re doing with our agricultural methods. And, surprisingly, I wasn’t annoyed about the biology lecture. I learned a hell of a lot in a really short space of time with very little effort on my part. It was fun.
The art was lovely and the script was easy to follow and understand, whilst still being very educational.
Would recommend.
November 2, 2021
Netgalley ARC Review
The Graphic Novel was a quick read with excellent drawings. The main Topics is to solve riddles and quests to became the new ruler of the underworld and because the main theme is the underworld, the contestants that fail die. Even though it might sounds seriously, the author added humour aspects to loose up the story.
It was also positive, that many facts were told through the story about agriculture and information's about the environment. So you also learn new facts about important topics. But sometimes there were to many informations gathered in, so it felt a little bit forced.
I can recommend this graphic novel to all people that like storys with a good twist and people that like to learn new informations through storys.
The Graphic Novel was a quick read with excellent drawings. The main Topics is to solve riddles and quests to became the new ruler of the underworld and because the main theme is the underworld, the contestants that fail die. Even though it might sounds seriously, the author added humour aspects to loose up the story.
It was also positive, that many facts were told through the story about agriculture and information's about the environment. So you also learn new facts about important topics. But sometimes there were to many informations gathered in, so it felt a little bit forced.
I can recommend this graphic novel to all people that like storys with a good twist and people that like to learn new informations through storys.
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