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Olympians #3
Hera: The Goddess and Her Glory
There's Only One Thing Zeus, the King of the Gods, is afraid of. It isn't the many-headed Hydra, o the towering Gigantes. It isn't his powerful, jealous brother Poseidon, the god of the seas. Monster, gods, Titans - none of them make the mighty Zeus blink an eye.
The only thing Zeus fears is his wife; Hera. Goddess of the air, the sky, and the heavens, patroness of the cunning Jason, and scourge of the might Heracles, Hera rivals Zeus in power - and surpasses him in wrath.
77 pages, Hardcover
First published July 19, 2011
140 people are currently reading
1850 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 298 reviews
July 2, 2018
Wow! This was great. I admit to not being a fan of Hera's. I have always seen her as cruel and I didn't understand why she was so popular. George gives a new little take on Hera and he softened her for me. The book actually ended up being more about the 12 labors of Heracles than Hera, but there is enough Hera in here to really give a picture of her. There are still stories I didn't know.
The courtship of Hera and Zeus is told. I love that Hera is really the only person that Zeus is afraid of in the world. I liked the wedding of the two gods. It was a great love story, and sadly Zeus is a cad, an unfaithful lover. Hera and Heracles have quite a story together. She puts people through the ringer. Still, in the end she ended up giving her daughter Hebe to Heracles to wed, so she could not have hated him even if she put him through hell.
We learn how the milky way was formed, all thanks to Hera. That is some star system out there. It's really milky, like breastmilk milky.
I love the ending where he talks about a story that only women know. The men did not think to ask the women and write down their stories. How interesting. Once a year Hera leaves Olympus and Zeus and goes to the river in moonlight to reclaim her maiden hood for one night.
I would love to read more stories of these women's stories. I bet they are fantastic and she a lot more light on the gods. This was excellent and I learned so much and even changed my opinion about Hera from this work. Pretty good.
The courtship of Hera and Zeus is told. I love that Hera is really the only person that Zeus is afraid of in the world. I liked the wedding of the two gods. It was a great love story, and sadly Zeus is a cad, an unfaithful lover. Hera and Heracles have quite a story together. She puts people through the ringer. Still, in the end she ended up giving her daughter Hebe to Heracles to wed, so she could not have hated him even if she put him through hell.
We learn how the milky way was formed, all thanks to Hera. That is some star system out there. It's really milky, like breastmilk milky.
I love the ending where he talks about a story that only women know. The men did not think to ask the women and write down their stories. How interesting. Once a year Hera leaves Olympus and Zeus and goes to the river in moonlight to reclaim her maiden hood for one night.
I would love to read more stories of these women's stories. I bet they are fantastic and she a lot more light on the gods. This was excellent and I learned so much and even changed my opinion about Hera from this work. Pretty good.
August 12, 2011
Aw, phooey. Phooey and also consarn it. George O'Connor is making me break my usual rules about reviewing. Generally speaking, when I review the first book in a series I see no need to go about reviewing the rest of the books. I mean, once you've covered the first, you can kick back and assume the rest, right? Plus with all the great new books coming out every single day there's hardly any reason to go about wasting time on a sequel. That's where O'Connor throws me for a loop. I reviewed the first book in his Olympians graphic novel series Zeus: King of the Gods last year. That should have been enough, and certainly while I enjoyed the second book in the series (Athena) I didn't feel it was quite as strong as the first. Slap your hands together you're done . . . then I had to go and read "Hera". Aw, man. Not only is it great, I'd argue that it's the strongest book in the series so far. And considering how fond I was of Zeus, that's saying something. So now I'm stuck reviewing Hera as well. O'Connor says that Hera is his favorite Olympian. The crazy thing is, by the time you're done reading this book, she's kind of your favorite too.
We all know she's the wife of Zeus, but there are things about the goddess Hera you might not expect. Sure she's inclined to destroy the lovers and children of her husband's philandering, but she's just as likely to turn around again and feed his starving son by another woman. She'll send a guy like Heracles on twelve impossible missions without cease, yet in doing so she'll be responsible for his fame and glory. This is the story of Heracles and Hera, his namesake, and the strange relationship the two were drawn into. Our muses aren't always the people who do us good. Sometimes they're the people who challenge us.
The thing about Hera is that she has personality. A personality that, when displayed in any other work, can be summed up in one word: shrew. O'Connor says in his Author's Note that amongst his friends he would jokingly refer to this book as "the Hera Reclamation Project". Jealous wives make for ideal two-dimensional villains. To give a character like Hera any depth at all, O'Connor has the unenviable job of making his muse savvy from the get go. So he does. This Hera's no fool and walks into her marriage with Zeus with her eyes wide open. She's not the only character here granted a little personality, mind you. Heracles too becomes more than just a good looking bodybuilder. The first myth we encounter him in, he must choose between an easy path and a hard one. Kids who reread this passage will later come to understand that it is Hera who gives him this choice, ultimately granting him immortality in the end.
O'Connor's real strength isn't necessarily his art (which, don't get me wrong, is perfectly nice) but rather his ability to take a variety of seemingly disparate myths and weave them together into a cohesive whole. With Hera O'Connor goes even farther than that. To make the book work he becomes an editor of sorts. He finds the Hera myths, weighs them, and determines which ones will support his theme. Ultimately O'Connor decided to examine the relationship between Hera and Heracles to find out the nature of their relationship. In doing so he rescues obscure myths, like the fact that Hera breastfed Heracles as an infant, thereby leading to the creation of the Milky Way. He excises the story of Heracles murdering his own family (a story which, strangely enough, shows up in the far more cartoonish Green myth graphic novel Amazing Greek Myths of Wonders and Blunders) because it doesn't fit with the book's storyline. He even locates lesser known myths told by the women of Greece rather than the men, and in doing so gives Hera her place in the world.
You don't have to have read the other books in the Olympians series to understand what is going on here. Sure, scenes from previous books do appear in the background, but if you know your myths they'll be evident to you. And if you don't know your myths the book still reads as smooth as silk. I got through the whole thing before I remembered that O'Connor likes to include a collection of footnotes at the end of each book explaining the many tiny details. So it is that you can learn that the statue of Hera on the mast of the Argonauts' ship is a nod to the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts. Or that the reason Hera laughs inexplicably in one panel is because she knows something that will occur at the end of the book. These notes are a lot of fun, far more so than the usual footnote affairs found in most books for kids.
People have always been fascinated with the Greek gods, in part because they're just as human as we are. They have their faults, their lusts, their mistakes, and their gross failings. Hera is interesting because her fault is finding fault in the wrong people. Rather than punish Zeus for his philandering, she punishes the innocent victims of his attention. Yet under O'Connor's hand she also has an undeniable charisma. You suddenly understand what Zeus saw in her, because you see it too. It's one thing to write a myth book about a character and humanize them. It's another thing entirely to redeem them.
For ages 9-12.
We all know she's the wife of Zeus, but there are things about the goddess Hera you might not expect. Sure she's inclined to destroy the lovers and children of her husband's philandering, but she's just as likely to turn around again and feed his starving son by another woman. She'll send a guy like Heracles on twelve impossible missions without cease, yet in doing so she'll be responsible for his fame and glory. This is the story of Heracles and Hera, his namesake, and the strange relationship the two were drawn into. Our muses aren't always the people who do us good. Sometimes they're the people who challenge us.
The thing about Hera is that she has personality. A personality that, when displayed in any other work, can be summed up in one word: shrew. O'Connor says in his Author's Note that amongst his friends he would jokingly refer to this book as "the Hera Reclamation Project". Jealous wives make for ideal two-dimensional villains. To give a character like Hera any depth at all, O'Connor has the unenviable job of making his muse savvy from the get go. So he does. This Hera's no fool and walks into her marriage with Zeus with her eyes wide open. She's not the only character here granted a little personality, mind you. Heracles too becomes more than just a good looking bodybuilder. The first myth we encounter him in, he must choose between an easy path and a hard one. Kids who reread this passage will later come to understand that it is Hera who gives him this choice, ultimately granting him immortality in the end.
O'Connor's real strength isn't necessarily his art (which, don't get me wrong, is perfectly nice) but rather his ability to take a variety of seemingly disparate myths and weave them together into a cohesive whole. With Hera O'Connor goes even farther than that. To make the book work he becomes an editor of sorts. He finds the Hera myths, weighs them, and determines which ones will support his theme. Ultimately O'Connor decided to examine the relationship between Hera and Heracles to find out the nature of their relationship. In doing so he rescues obscure myths, like the fact that Hera breastfed Heracles as an infant, thereby leading to the creation of the Milky Way. He excises the story of Heracles murdering his own family (a story which, strangely enough, shows up in the far more cartoonish Green myth graphic novel Amazing Greek Myths of Wonders and Blunders) because it doesn't fit with the book's storyline. He even locates lesser known myths told by the women of Greece rather than the men, and in doing so gives Hera her place in the world.
You don't have to have read the other books in the Olympians series to understand what is going on here. Sure, scenes from previous books do appear in the background, but if you know your myths they'll be evident to you. And if you don't know your myths the book still reads as smooth as silk. I got through the whole thing before I remembered that O'Connor likes to include a collection of footnotes at the end of each book explaining the many tiny details. So it is that you can learn that the statue of Hera on the mast of the Argonauts' ship is a nod to the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts. Or that the reason Hera laughs inexplicably in one panel is because she knows something that will occur at the end of the book. These notes are a lot of fun, far more so than the usual footnote affairs found in most books for kids.
People have always been fascinated with the Greek gods, in part because they're just as human as we are. They have their faults, their lusts, their mistakes, and their gross failings. Hera is interesting because her fault is finding fault in the wrong people. Rather than punish Zeus for his philandering, she punishes the innocent victims of his attention. Yet under O'Connor's hand she also has an undeniable charisma. You suddenly understand what Zeus saw in her, because you see it too. It's one thing to write a myth book about a character and humanize them. It's another thing entirely to redeem them.
For ages 9-12.
September 4, 2011
I got really excited about this book when I read Elizabeth Bird's glowing review. After reading it, I'm reserving high praise because although this book is a respectful and enlightening look at Hera, it's not quite what I thought it would be.
Hera is often portrayed as a real witch because she is frequently persecuting her husband's lovers and illegitimate children. There's some of that happening in this book, but Zeus totally earns her wrath through his immature and irritating behavior. We also get to see a side of Hera that shows her cunning, her strength, and her subtle manipulation of the resources available to her to get what she wants. It's an updated look at the goddess that casts a feminist light on Greek mythology. I especially appreciated that O'Connor acknowledges in the text that women's stories were not recorded or honored as much as the stories of men.
However, there is a huge flaw. This is supposed to be the story of Hera, right? So...why is the majority of the book about Heracles and his labors? Yes, I understand that Hera was a key player in Heracles's story, but I wanted to read the story of a powerful woman and instead I was reading the story of the powerful woman behind the powerful man. I found this deeply unsatisfying, especially since O'Connor called this book his "Hera Reclamation Project."
This is not a bad book by any means. It probably deserves more stars than I am giving it. It would be a great choice for a young reader who wants an updated take on the Greek pantheon. But through my feminist lens, this book didn't live up to its promises.
Hera is often portrayed as a real witch because she is frequently persecuting her husband's lovers and illegitimate children. There's some of that happening in this book, but Zeus totally earns her wrath through his immature and irritating behavior. We also get to see a side of Hera that shows her cunning, her strength, and her subtle manipulation of the resources available to her to get what she wants. It's an updated look at the goddess that casts a feminist light on Greek mythology. I especially appreciated that O'Connor acknowledges in the text that women's stories were not recorded or honored as much as the stories of men.
However, there is a huge flaw. This is supposed to be the story of Hera, right? So...why is the majority of the book about Heracles and his labors? Yes, I understand that Hera was a key player in Heracles's story, but I wanted to read the story of a powerful woman and instead I was reading the story of the powerful woman behind the powerful man. I found this deeply unsatisfying, especially since O'Connor called this book his "Hera Reclamation Project."
This is not a bad book by any means. It probably deserves more stars than I am giving it. It would be a great choice for a young reader who wants an updated take on the Greek pantheon. But through my feminist lens, this book didn't live up to its promises.
February 2, 2018
Even though this is a graphic novel, you still need a deep thinking and a background knowledge of Mythology. Before, I only read the Athena but not the other Gods and Goddesses. I like how George O'Connor has a series so the books connect to each other. For example, in every book there are other Gods and Goddesses, so George O'Connor made other books about those Gods and Goddesses too, for people to have some knowledge about those Gods and Goddesses. I really enjoy the Olympians series. I am looking forward to reading other George O'Connor books this year.
April 9, 2018
The third book in George O'Connor's excellent series of graphic novels retelling the Greek myths. Definitely aimed at younger readers, much of the sex and violence of the original stories is watered down, but since the story of Hera and her never-faithful husband Zeus is pretty much an endless series of adulterous affairs and Hera smiting the poor women Zeus seduced, I expect even younger readers will read between the lines. Yes, Zeus was totally banging a cow. Okay, he wasn't banging a cow. He was banging a nymph who he turned into a cow to hide her from Hera. Poor Io. Not that Zeus wouldn't bang a cow.
The artwork here is delightful, and so is O'Connor's storytelling. He stays faithful to the original myths and has really done his research, even including very obscure details known only to serious students of mythology, but he writes modern dialog for the gods and goddesses, making this a fun read even for those who are thoroughly familiar with the stories.
Hera always gets a bit of a bad rap in the Greek myths. She's usually portrayed as jealous, shrill, petty, and vengeful, relentlessly persecuting all the mortals, nymphs, and goddesses Zeus seduced. Obviously a lot of this is misplaced fury since she can't actually do anything to Zeus himself except yell at him. Zeus, in the manner of cheating husbands since time immemorial, loves his wife just enough that he does fear her rage so he keeps doing stupid things to hide his affairs from her (like turning his lover into a cow), but never enough to keep it in his toga. In this version, Hera is definitely the jealous, vengeful, often cruel goddess of the myths, and yet O'Connor also makes her sympathetic, as her interactions with Zeus really bring out the fact that she loves her husband no matter how faithless he is, and while she might be a bit vain and self-centered, she's earned her respect. She is a woman of integrity who knows her self-worth: the one thing she won't ever do, no matter how justified she might be, is cheat herself. She is the Goddess of Marriage.
About half the book is actually about Heracles, and his Twelve Labors. The reason for this is that of course Heracles was the child of Zeus whom Hera most hated, so we see Hera's meddling in all his adventures. But O'Connor hints at some subtler motivations (Heracles, after all, means "Glory of Hera") that makes Hera much less of a villainess who's just persecuting a child for being unfortunate enough to be her husband's bastard.
I liked it, though it seems unfair to Hera that half her book is really about Heracles. I would have liked to see more stories of Hera herself. But this remains a highly recommended series for young and old alike.
The artwork here is delightful, and so is O'Connor's storytelling. He stays faithful to the original myths and has really done his research, even including very obscure details known only to serious students of mythology, but he writes modern dialog for the gods and goddesses, making this a fun read even for those who are thoroughly familiar with the stories.
Hera always gets a bit of a bad rap in the Greek myths. She's usually portrayed as jealous, shrill, petty, and vengeful, relentlessly persecuting all the mortals, nymphs, and goddesses Zeus seduced. Obviously a lot of this is misplaced fury since she can't actually do anything to Zeus himself except yell at him. Zeus, in the manner of cheating husbands since time immemorial, loves his wife just enough that he does fear her rage so he keeps doing stupid things to hide his affairs from her (like turning his lover into a cow), but never enough to keep it in his toga. In this version, Hera is definitely the jealous, vengeful, often cruel goddess of the myths, and yet O'Connor also makes her sympathetic, as her interactions with Zeus really bring out the fact that she loves her husband no matter how faithless he is, and while she might be a bit vain and self-centered, she's earned her respect. She is a woman of integrity who knows her self-worth: the one thing she won't ever do, no matter how justified she might be, is cheat herself. She is the Goddess of Marriage.
About half the book is actually about Heracles, and his Twelve Labors. The reason for this is that of course Heracles was the child of Zeus whom Hera most hated, so we see Hera's meddling in all his adventures. But O'Connor hints at some subtler motivations (Heracles, after all, means "Glory of Hera") that makes Hera much less of a villainess who's just persecuting a child for being unfortunate enough to be her husband's bastard.
I liked it, though it seems unfair to Hera that half her book is really about Heracles. I would have liked to see more stories of Hera herself. But this remains a highly recommended series for young and old alike.
August 4, 2011
(Originally posted @ CSI:Librarian.)
Wow. I am just blown away by this graphic novel! It is definitely one of my favorite books of 2011.
Everything was perfection from the writing, the art, the flow of events, and the insight into Hera, Zeus, and Hercules. It would be impossible not to notice how much George O'Connor cares about these myths and these gods, especially Hera. The love all but oozes off of every page, and his storytelling is just as skillful as it was in the first two books of his Olympian series if not more so. There is so much humor, heart, and emotion in this graphic novel that I will be buying myself a copy of it as soon as possible.
In conclusion, decidedly glorious. This graphic novel is a beautiful, well-crafted, and moving homage to a goddess that I've honestly never been all that crazy about. Now that I've spent more time with Hera, I think it is safe to say that I love her and feel bad that I've judged her so harshly over the years. So really if you want something truly awesome to read, pick this up! And needless to say I await the release of Hades: Lord of the Dead in January with baited breath.
PS - I would strongly urge other readers to take a look at the Author's Notes as well as the little notes O'Connor gives on certain panels at the end of the book. They're a lot of fun to read over, and I love that he took the time to explain why he altered certain details for the sake of telling a great story.
Wow. I am just blown away by this graphic novel! It is definitely one of my favorite books of 2011.
Everything was perfection from the writing, the art, the flow of events, and the insight into Hera, Zeus, and Hercules. It would be impossible not to notice how much George O'Connor cares about these myths and these gods, especially Hera. The love all but oozes off of every page, and his storytelling is just as skillful as it was in the first two books of his Olympian series if not more so. There is so much humor, heart, and emotion in this graphic novel that I will be buying myself a copy of it as soon as possible.
In conclusion, decidedly glorious. This graphic novel is a beautiful, well-crafted, and moving homage to a goddess that I've honestly never been all that crazy about. Now that I've spent more time with Hera, I think it is safe to say that I love her and feel bad that I've judged her so harshly over the years. So really if you want something truly awesome to read, pick this up! And needless to say I await the release of Hades: Lord of the Dead in January with baited breath.
PS - I would strongly urge other readers to take a look at the Author's Notes as well as the little notes O'Connor gives on certain panels at the end of the book. They're a lot of fun to read over, and I love that he took the time to explain why he altered certain details for the sake of telling a great story.
November 16, 2017
Again, these books are well-done, but I feel like my adult sensibilities are interfering with my ability to enjoy these stories. It's a lot easier to see heroes and gods in a positive light when your views are more black and white. But these are some despicable and petty gods.
At least the retelling of Heracle's story was good (I like spelling Greek words with a k myself).
The author notes and commentary in the back are good stuff. I appreciate the extra insight and extra effort the author puts into these books.
At least the retelling of Heracle's story was good (I like spelling Greek words with a k myself).
The author notes and commentary in the back are good stuff. I appreciate the extra insight and extra effort the author puts into these books.
February 17, 2016
Hera is a goddess that wants all her promises kept. I felt bad for her when Zeus didn't keep his promise. I loved how she keep her promise. But, she does have a way of doing things to Zeus' other wives!!
January 1, 2019
listen, everything Hera does is Iconic.
July 17, 2025
Poor Hera. You really feel for her. If you’ve read anything about the Greek gods, you know the stories about Zeus and his wandering eye and the fury of his long-suffering queen, Hera. While it is unfair that she always punishes her husband’s lovers rather than Zeus himself, you understand why. She is queen and a goddess yet he’s always leaving her to muck about with lowly humans. He’s immortal and invulnerable so she can’t hurt or kill him. So what can she do but lash out at his partners? It never stops him; it never keeps his eye and penis from straying. But it’s all she can do. Being immortal means you really can’t change your nature.
(Incidentally, Mr. O’Connor posits Zeus’s adulterous affairs as his many effects to sire children as beautiful and gifted as he. That’s an interesting interpretation but it’s not one I’ve found elsewhere.)
However, this novel starts before all that. Hera shows herself from the very start to be a strong-willed, formidable creation (she is a daughter of Kronos and Zeus’s elder sister, after all), demanding and forthright. Whether she rejects Zeus in order to make him want her more (ooh, cunning on her part?) or because she genuinely doesn’t trust his word, she gets her way. She’s not just Zeus’s queen but his wife.
Zeus gets what he wants too—and considerably more than that. Hera is not a goddess to be trifled with and even her husband learns to fear her slyness and lethal temper. Time and again, they clash only to have Hera come out the victor. Zeus has numerous affairs but Hera is always fast on his heels with some punishment or other for his hapless lovers.
But Hera’s greatest triumph comes at the hands of one of Zeus’s by-blows. Alcides is strong, handsome, persistent and shrewd; of all of Zeus’s children, he’s the one that came closest to the Olympian ideal, embodying many of the traits of his tricky father.
Here again, Mr. O’Connor plays with the familiar background of an Olympian. Hera seems to be pushed from center stage as we see Alcides suffer through each of his ten labors (augmented by two). But Hera and Zeus watch his struggles, in comic byplays that look almost like those of audience members at a wrestling match. And Hera is occasionally seen in the background of his labors (look for her among the Amazons). Zeus lays his plans but Hera has her plots, too. Because of them, her name lives on forever, stamped upon the brow of Alcides.
That’s right. Hera finally found a fitting revenge for her husband’s philandering—to have one of his greatest children bear her name: Heracles, which means “the glory of Hera”.
Mr. O’Connor gives Hera her due and a great deal more. In his capable hands, she’s shown to be a most formidable goddess indeed: beautiful, powerful, demanding, tricky and wise. She’s more than a match for her philandering husband and truly deserves to be queen of the Olympian gods.
That Hera. You really feel for her.
(Incidentally, Mr. O’Connor posits Zeus’s adulterous affairs as his many effects to sire children as beautiful and gifted as he. That’s an interesting interpretation but it’s not one I’ve found elsewhere.)
However, this novel starts before all that. Hera shows herself from the very start to be a strong-willed, formidable creation (she is a daughter of Kronos and Zeus’s elder sister, after all), demanding and forthright. Whether she rejects Zeus in order to make him want her more (ooh, cunning on her part?) or because she genuinely doesn’t trust his word, she gets her way. She’s not just Zeus’s queen but his wife.
Zeus gets what he wants too—and considerably more than that. Hera is not a goddess to be trifled with and even her husband learns to fear her slyness and lethal temper. Time and again, they clash only to have Hera come out the victor. Zeus has numerous affairs but Hera is always fast on his heels with some punishment or other for his hapless lovers.
But Hera’s greatest triumph comes at the hands of one of Zeus’s by-blows. Alcides is strong, handsome, persistent and shrewd; of all of Zeus’s children, he’s the one that came closest to the Olympian ideal, embodying many of the traits of his tricky father.
Here again, Mr. O’Connor plays with the familiar background of an Olympian. Hera seems to be pushed from center stage as we see Alcides suffer through each of his ten labors (augmented by two). But Hera and Zeus watch his struggles, in comic byplays that look almost like those of audience members at a wrestling match. And Hera is occasionally seen in the background of his labors (look for her among the Amazons). Zeus lays his plans but Hera has her plots, too. Because of them, her name lives on forever, stamped upon the brow of Alcides.
That’s right. Hera finally found a fitting revenge for her husband’s philandering—to have one of his greatest children bear her name: Heracles, which means “the glory of Hera”.
Mr. O’Connor gives Hera her due and a great deal more. In his capable hands, she’s shown to be a most formidable goddess indeed: beautiful, powerful, demanding, tricky and wise. She’s more than a match for her philandering husband and truly deserves to be queen of the Olympian gods.
That Hera. You really feel for her.
August 31, 2018
This book may be titled "Hera", but the good majority of it is actually about Hercules. At the very beginning you get two more Hera-centric episodes. First comes Zeus' courtship of Hera and their wedding, and second is the story of Io being turned into a cow (we never see what becomes of Io past her transformation). I found it interesting that in the story of their wedding, it seems very emphasized that Metis has only been Zeus' queen and not his wife, unlike Hera. It felt like a strange justification for Metis being essentially betrayed by Zeus in the previous book. I was kind of disappointed that more of Io's story wasn't given, but I'll assume it got left for a possible future book on Hermes. After Io's story come four panels where Zeus' other indiscretions and Hera's anger are shown. Despite being short, it does a fairly good job of setting up their relationship. Zeus is unfaithful and his objects of desire and their children are the ones who suffer for it.
The story of Hercules is really the main focus. Hera only makes small appearances in it. She tries to kill baby Heracles, gives him nourishment to survive in exchange for the labours, and watches his labours from Olympus with the other gods. She also plays a minor role in the side story of Jason and the Argonauts. At one point Jason gives a speech to Hercules about how Hera is actually good for them, despite using and abusing them, because her antagonism is what makes them rise up and be great. I found that an interesting way to but a positive spin on her.
In the end, my dislike for Hera still stands. She marries Zeus knowing full well that he's a bit of a player and takes out her anger on essentially innocent people. Not that she's entirely to blame. I can't say I'm a big fan of Zeus either, he continues sleeping around with mortals despite knowing that it pisses off his wife and that she'll take it out on them.
The story of Hercules is really the main focus. Hera only makes small appearances in it. She tries to kill baby Heracles, gives him nourishment to survive in exchange for the labours, and watches his labours from Olympus with the other gods. She also plays a minor role in the side story of Jason and the Argonauts. At one point Jason gives a speech to Hercules about how Hera is actually good for them, despite using and abusing them, because her antagonism is what makes them rise up and be great. I found that an interesting way to but a positive spin on her.
In the end, my dislike for Hera still stands. She marries Zeus knowing full well that he's a bit of a player and takes out her anger on essentially innocent people. Not that she's entirely to blame. I can't say I'm a big fan of Zeus either, he continues sleeping around with mortals despite knowing that it pisses off his wife and that she'll take it out on them.
July 16, 2014
You wouldn't think that there would be a fresh way to tell the Greek myths, but you'd be wrong. O'Connor is brilliant. He's managed to drag stale old stories into the 21st century, and he's managed to make them better. Here Hera isn't just a stereotype of a jealous wife, she's a clever, clever woman, with plans of her own and a much longer view than the others gods, who are an impulsive, impetuous lot.
Most of the story here is about Heracles and his ten twelve great tasks. And let me just point out that I love a hero who isn't only strong or well-trained in fighting, but is also clever. Action, adventure, and a mind at work behind the scenes. Great stuff.
And unlike many books for kids that just throw a bunch of stuff in at the end without much thought, all of the after-matter here is equally excellent. There's a note from the author, explaining how and why he chose these stories; further reading suggestions grouped by level for younger and older readers; end notes elaborating on the content of specific frames, drawing the reader's attention to other characters, and scenes from the other Olympians volumes; discussion questions that are actually interesting; a one-page cheat sheet of info on both Hera and Heracles. Really, it's all great. Entertaining as hell but educational in a way beyond simple facts: O'Connor really wants the reader to think about which stories get told, and by whom.
Library copy.
Most of the story here is about Heracles and his ten twelve great tasks. And let me just point out that I love a hero who isn't only strong or well-trained in fighting, but is also clever. Action, adventure, and a mind at work behind the scenes. Great stuff.
And unlike many books for kids that just throw a bunch of stuff in at the end without much thought, all of the after-matter here is equally excellent. There's a note from the author, explaining how and why he chose these stories; further reading suggestions grouped by level for younger and older readers; end notes elaborating on the content of specific frames, drawing the reader's attention to other characters, and scenes from the other Olympians volumes; discussion questions that are actually interesting; a one-page cheat sheet of info on both Hera and Heracles. Really, it's all great. Entertaining as hell but educational in a way beyond simple facts: O'Connor really wants the reader to think about which stories get told, and by whom.
Library copy.
April 18, 2015
The third volume is on Hera 3.6/5
Plot- I enjoyed the plot for Hera but it wasn't the best thing ever, I was learning mostly about Hercules and Athena ect , I did really like the parts about Hera and Zeus getting married.The plot is a solid 3/5.
Character- I think Hera was captured well , I mean a lot of people hate Hera but she was basically forced to marry Zeus out of shame and he proceeded to cheat on her regularly. So over all O'Connor created his version of Hera in away where she is seen as both kind of mean but you understand why she is the way she is. The character is a solid 3.5/5
Art- this volume used a lot of paler colour and we got to see a lot of cool tones which was beautiful, as always amazing line work great shapes. The art O'Connor creates is truly beautiful. The art is an amazing 4.5/5.
Plot- I enjoyed the plot for Hera but it wasn't the best thing ever, I was learning mostly about Hercules and Athena ect , I did really like the parts about Hera and Zeus getting married.The plot is a solid 3/5.
Character- I think Hera was captured well , I mean a lot of people hate Hera but she was basically forced to marry Zeus out of shame and he proceeded to cheat on her regularly. So over all O'Connor created his version of Hera in away where she is seen as both kind of mean but you understand why she is the way she is. The character is a solid 3.5/5
Art- this volume used a lot of paler colour and we got to see a lot of cool tones which was beautiful, as always amazing line work great shapes. The art O'Connor creates is truly beautiful. The art is an amazing 4.5/5.
July 2, 2018
After Athena my love for this series lowered, but Hera restored it completely. I enjoyed this volume most of all so far and I cannot imagine that the upcoming volumes will surpass it. O'Connor mentions somewhere within the novel that Hera is his favorite goddess and it is very clear to me on every page, as I had never cared about Hera before, but walked away from this book adoring her. This is the kind of character appreciation piece that I adore. And I have to mention that I love the small ways in which O'Connor criticizes history (or legend in this case) for focusing on men, and how he uses that as a way to mock men and promote women, where he could have easily fallen into the same mistakes others make by continue to glorify men just because that was how the original story was written. Anyway, favorite in the series! Strongly recommend!
November 29, 2015
I actually quite liked Hera in this!
I also appreciated the author's highlighting the labors of Heracles as a way to earn his godhood rather than as a means of redemption for murdering his children due to a Hera-induced craze. As George said in the afterword: "The added bonus (of taking that direction) was that it rescued both characters - the murdering of innocent children is a heavy deed, one that weighs down both Heracles and Hera in unrelenting tragedy and contemptibility."
I liked the image of Hera leaping through the sky to earth to confront Zeus and the final page. Great imagery.
So, generally Hera gets a bad rap. She is the shrew: nagging, jealous, petty and vindictive. But Zeus is the worst husband ever. So, yeah, she can be. Does anyone blame her?
I also appreciated the author's highlighting the labors of Heracles as a way to earn his godhood rather than as a means of redemption for murdering his children due to a Hera-induced craze. As George said in the afterword: "The added bonus (of taking that direction) was that it rescued both characters - the murdering of innocent children is a heavy deed, one that weighs down both Heracles and Hera in unrelenting tragedy and contemptibility."
I liked the image of Hera leaping through the sky to earth to confront Zeus and the final page. Great imagery.
So, generally Hera gets a bad rap. She is the shrew: nagging, jealous, petty and vindictive. But Zeus is the worst husband ever. So, yeah, she can be. Does anyone blame her?
August 5, 2015
I was expecting a totally different book with Hera as the title character. She's always depicted as a raging bitch. But with Zeus as her husband, who can blame her? I get that she can't directly retaliate against him but I always felt bad about the women and children who were on the wrong side of Hera's wrath. She's a bit of a doozy and scary as hell. But O'Connor showed her in a different light. She's just a wife who's tired of her cheating husband. She's gotta do something to take the edge off. And she's not all bad. I just wish the book had focused more on her and not Heracles. I get that he's a big part of her myth but he could have gotten his own book for all that.
June 17, 2016
Most movies and books call him Hercules, although it's his Roman name. I guess Hercules sounds more heroic that Heracles. When I think off Heracles, I don't think of a black bottom guy who is sweaty and has killed many beasts. I think of a person who uses magic or is a deity. (Although the guy did become a god after he died, but you know what I mean, do you?)
August 30, 2017
4.0. It was fun reading about Hera even if she was slightly vindictive. Of course she was married to a real loser of a husband so I guess it is easy to be sympathetic to her. This was another solid addition to the series...on to the next one :)
February 6, 2017
Hera really doesn't come off the best in this, but she rarely does. She's not my favorite, but it was still a good read.
November 15, 2019
It did not talk about Hera at all. It only talked about Hercules. Also not that much excitement. All around the thought "was fine" for me.
March 27, 2021
Good
Seems like they talk more about Hercules in this one than they do Hera, so it wasn't quite what I expected
Seems like they talk more about Hercules in this one than they do Hera, so it wasn't quite what I expected
January 2, 2020
Oh well, I suppose it was to be expected. As I grew up reading comic books and enjoying the antics of Hercules in the pages of The Avengers and The Mighty Thor (I always like Hercules more than Thor for some reason), I would watch (and re-watch) films about Hercules, the quest of Jason and the Argonauts (and the Sinbad films for that matter) and pretty much anything I could find on the Trojan War (read Age of Bronze, Volume 1: A Thousand Ships if you haven’t yet), that it was inevitable that a volume with so much of Hercules would end up being near and dear to my heart. And it is. Yeah, the book is title Hera, but it’s her adopted step-son that is the real star here, and thus makes her the very reason that he’s the star. It not about who his dad is, it’s about who was the driving force behind his education and development, and that, of course, is Hera.
May 14, 2019
Maybe she should... I don't know, divorce him?
Zeus should not be married.
Zeus should not be married.
October 8, 2022
I love all the art in this book. Hera is so funny sometimes
February 2, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up
January 31, 2024
Hera (and a lot about the adventures of Hercules, "Heracles," which I never knew meant "Glory of Hera.").
February 18, 2024
An imaginative & exciting retelling of the labours of Heracles & an attempt to revision Hera as more than just the wronged and jealous wife. Will definitely check out the other books in this series.
January 9, 2016
Hera is a comic book written by George O’Connor. This story is mainly about the goddess Hera and the highlights of her life. This comic book had numerous settings but it mainly takes place on Earth and Mount Olympus. Hera is the goddess of childbirth, marriage, family, and women. She is the wife of Zeus and queen of the gods. Hera has many enemies; she was a very jealous and vengeful goddess. The story first begins when Hera watches how Zeus treats all of his queens and she was really disgusted. Zeus was very attracted by Hera especially because she didn’t want to be his queen. Zeus loves having what he can’t get. Zeus trying having Hera and he flirts with her for a very long time and she finally agrees to be his queen but under one condition. Hear tells Zeus that he will have to make her his wife and not only his queen because she saw how he treated his queens and she didn’t want to be treated like that. They had a beautiful wedding and they had a honeymoon that lasted for three hundred years, Hera really hoped that Zeus wouldn’t go back to his old habits. As soon as they came back Zeus started cheating on Hera with everyone, mortals, goddesses, nymphs... Hear was very jealous and she tortured and killed the majority of these woman and their children. Hera always tortured these innocent women instead of Zeus because Zeus was too powerful for her. Zeus had a child named Hercules with a mortal and he wanted Hera to breastfeed him. Hera agreed but she said that when Hercules would become a man he would have to perform ten difficult tasks that the king would give him. When Hercules became a man he preformed all the tasks and the king was amazed, Hercules was a hero. Hera married Hercules to her beautiful daughter, Hebe. Hera had many children and they were all very beautiful besides Hephaestus, he was a very ugly god. As one can see, Hera is a very interesting and powerful goddess.
Before reading Hera by George O’Connor I had many questions about Hera. I was very curious to know if she punished the women Zeus had affairs with and if she ever dared to punish Zeus. I was also very curious to know if Zeus was only attracted to Hera because he couldn’t have her or because he really loved her. I wanted to know why did Hera hate Hercules so much and did she make him do the ten tasks to make him stronger? I was very curious about how Hera looked and if she was beautiful from the inside as well. Hera is a biography because it’s a book specifically written to explain the life of Hera. This book only talks about Hera and it shows the majority of her accomplishments and failures. Hera changed many people’s lives because she gave people her blessing for before childbirth and weddings. Hera sometimes assisted some childbirths to help the mother feel better and to comfort her. Hera is a very vengeful woman because she always punishes the people that hurt her or attempt to hurt her. She also always killed or tortured all of Zeus’ lovers and their child. Hera was a very jealous wife. Whenever Zeus had an affair or lover she always managed to find a way to stop Zeus from seeing the woman. The majority of the time she would get rid of the woman. Hera is a very beautiful and attractive woman. She is also very hard to get. Zeus had to offer her many gifts and he asked her many time before Hera finally agreed to marry him. Hera became famous because she is goddess and she is the queen of the gods. She is one of the main goddesses and she is very important in Greek mythology. Hera doesn’t treat her son, Hephaestus very well because he is very ugly. When she just received him she threw him out of Olympus and into the sea. She didn’t accept him at the beginning, until she found out that he was very talented. In conclusion, Hera is a biography of the beautiful goddess, Hera.
The most interesting part of the book Hera is when Zeus tries everything to get Hera to marry him but she disagrees, until the end. This part shows how Hera is a very strong woman that she is very hard to get. When she agreed to marry Zeus he had to name her his wife and not only his queen. Hera wanted to be special and she wanted everyone to know that Zeus was her husband. The most disappointing part of the book is when Hera does revenge on Zeus’ lovers instead of Zeus. Hera really disappointed me because she was too scared to punish Zeus so she decided to punish the innocent women instead. Hera really tortured these women and their children when it wasn’t their fault. I also didn’t really like how jealous Hera was when Zeus had an affair with another woman. She always spoke with Zeus and he always went back to his old habits. I recommend this book to everyone who loves to learn about mythology. I also recommend it to women because Hera is a very powerful woman and she kind of a role model. Thus, Hera is an adventurous book that guides the reader through the life of Hera in a fun way.
Before reading Hera by George O’Connor I had many questions about Hera. I was very curious to know if she punished the women Zeus had affairs with and if she ever dared to punish Zeus. I was also very curious to know if Zeus was only attracted to Hera because he couldn’t have her or because he really loved her. I wanted to know why did Hera hate Hercules so much and did she make him do the ten tasks to make him stronger? I was very curious about how Hera looked and if she was beautiful from the inside as well. Hera is a biography because it’s a book specifically written to explain the life of Hera. This book only talks about Hera and it shows the majority of her accomplishments and failures. Hera changed many people’s lives because she gave people her blessing for before childbirth and weddings. Hera sometimes assisted some childbirths to help the mother feel better and to comfort her. Hera is a very vengeful woman because she always punishes the people that hurt her or attempt to hurt her. She also always killed or tortured all of Zeus’ lovers and their child. Hera was a very jealous wife. Whenever Zeus had an affair or lover she always managed to find a way to stop Zeus from seeing the woman. The majority of the time she would get rid of the woman. Hera is a very beautiful and attractive woman. She is also very hard to get. Zeus had to offer her many gifts and he asked her many time before Hera finally agreed to marry him. Hera became famous because she is goddess and she is the queen of the gods. She is one of the main goddesses and she is very important in Greek mythology. Hera doesn’t treat her son, Hephaestus very well because he is very ugly. When she just received him she threw him out of Olympus and into the sea. She didn’t accept him at the beginning, until she found out that he was very talented. In conclusion, Hera is a biography of the beautiful goddess, Hera.
The most interesting part of the book Hera is when Zeus tries everything to get Hera to marry him but she disagrees, until the end. This part shows how Hera is a very strong woman that she is very hard to get. When she agreed to marry Zeus he had to name her his wife and not only his queen. Hera wanted to be special and she wanted everyone to know that Zeus was her husband. The most disappointing part of the book is when Hera does revenge on Zeus’ lovers instead of Zeus. Hera really disappointed me because she was too scared to punish Zeus so she decided to punish the innocent women instead. Hera really tortured these women and their children when it wasn’t their fault. I also didn’t really like how jealous Hera was when Zeus had an affair with another woman. She always spoke with Zeus and he always went back to his old habits. I recommend this book to everyone who loves to learn about mythology. I also recommend it to women because Hera is a very powerful woman and she kind of a role model. Thus, Hera is an adventurous book that guides the reader through the life of Hera in a fun way.
November 21, 2021
Geçen sene okudum
August 20, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/he...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar
“In all the cosmos, there is only one being that Zeus, the king of the gods is afraid of… his queen, Hera”
The comic of Hera: The Goddess and her Glory begins after Zeus eats Metis on the previous volume. On the first volume of the series, we saw that Zeus already had an interest for Hera. He rescued her when their father Kronos threw them up, not letting her touch the ground like their other siblings.
Zeus starts to court Hera, but she stops all of his attempts; she doesn’t want to be his queen nor another one of his conquests in his long list. Finally, one day, she gives in, but she tells him to make her his wife and to promise not to be unfaithful to her or she will make the women and children pay.
Gods, goddess, naiads, nymphs, centaurs, satyrs, giants, titans (those not imprisoned in the Tartarus,) and even humans assist the wedding. Rhea, the Titaness, gave to her favorite daughter the most exquisite gift – a tree that was guarded by the serpent Ladon. This tree produced apples of a perfect golden luster that shimmered and shined in the beaming sun.
Their wedding night lasted three hundred years and during these years Earth was peaceful. With time, Hera and Zeus had children. Ares, who was beautiful, but was bloodthirsty and cruel. Hephaistos, who was kind and an excellent craftsman, but was ugly and brutish.
Eventually, Zeus’ eyes started to wander, and when that happens someone else pays for Hera’s wrath. From here on; I recommend you read the comic to see the glory and wrath of Hera.
Hera’s comic tells more of the story of Alcides, which you may know him by the names of Heracles or Hercules. The Olympian series is a good way to learn via illustrations. One good example is Alcides, whom most of the time we know as Heracles, which means, “Glory of Hera”. Even though they are half-siblings, Athena and Hermes save their brother Alcides when his mother abandoned him fearing the goddess Hera. I like to think of it as those who weren’t children of Hera needed to help each other.
The reader can also learn that king Eurystheus was Heracles cousin. As some may remember, Heracles had to do twelve tasks. On the contrary to the comic, it seems that he had to clean the gods’ mistakes. In addition, we see how Hera was testing Heracles to see how worthy he was of being one of the gods because not all of Zeus’ children could become one.
If you think for a moment, Athena was inside Zeus’ head for more than three hundred years because we see that Ares and Hephaistos were all grown up and helped their father.
The old stories say that Zeus not only chased girls around, but that sometimes he had male lovers. We briefly see in the comic that Heracles inherited some of this trait. In the Argonaut’s trip, we see that he makes a particular friendship with Hylas, and when he is lost, Heracles goes into a rampage which takes him time to return to his senses and almost destroys a country. This shows how the illustrator manages to insert different themes into the comic.
The comic is very realistic and well-drawn, especially when we can see the detail of the weight of time on Heracles; his head starts to bald and some hair turns white, but he always is strong to keep on with his father’s heritage. After winning his freedom and having great adventures he marries, but at the end he dies because there was not enough trust and love from his wife.
The comic was very interesting and entertaining, I recommend you to read Hera: The Goddess and Her Glory, there is always something new to learn from the Olympian Series. And remember, Hera has eyes everywhere – her wrath is legendary.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar
“In all the cosmos, there is only one being that Zeus, the king of the gods is afraid of… his queen, Hera”
The comic of Hera: The Goddess and her Glory begins after Zeus eats Metis on the previous volume. On the first volume of the series, we saw that Zeus already had an interest for Hera. He rescued her when their father Kronos threw them up, not letting her touch the ground like their other siblings.
Zeus starts to court Hera, but she stops all of his attempts; she doesn’t want to be his queen nor another one of his conquests in his long list. Finally, one day, she gives in, but she tells him to make her his wife and to promise not to be unfaithful to her or she will make the women and children pay.
Gods, goddess, naiads, nymphs, centaurs, satyrs, giants, titans (those not imprisoned in the Tartarus,) and even humans assist the wedding. Rhea, the Titaness, gave to her favorite daughter the most exquisite gift – a tree that was guarded by the serpent Ladon. This tree produced apples of a perfect golden luster that shimmered and shined in the beaming sun.
Their wedding night lasted three hundred years and during these years Earth was peaceful. With time, Hera and Zeus had children. Ares, who was beautiful, but was bloodthirsty and cruel. Hephaistos, who was kind and an excellent craftsman, but was ugly and brutish.
Eventually, Zeus’ eyes started to wander, and when that happens someone else pays for Hera’s wrath. From here on; I recommend you read the comic to see the glory and wrath of Hera.
Hera’s comic tells more of the story of Alcides, which you may know him by the names of Heracles or Hercules. The Olympian series is a good way to learn via illustrations. One good example is Alcides, whom most of the time we know as Heracles, which means, “Glory of Hera”. Even though they are half-siblings, Athena and Hermes save their brother Alcides when his mother abandoned him fearing the goddess Hera. I like to think of it as those who weren’t children of Hera needed to help each other.
The reader can also learn that king Eurystheus was Heracles cousin. As some may remember, Heracles had to do twelve tasks. On the contrary to the comic, it seems that he had to clean the gods’ mistakes. In addition, we see how Hera was testing Heracles to see how worthy he was of being one of the gods because not all of Zeus’ children could become one.
If you think for a moment, Athena was inside Zeus’ head for more than three hundred years because we see that Ares and Hephaistos were all grown up and helped their father.
The old stories say that Zeus not only chased girls around, but that sometimes he had male lovers. We briefly see in the comic that Heracles inherited some of this trait. In the Argonaut’s trip, we see that he makes a particular friendship with Hylas, and when he is lost, Heracles goes into a rampage which takes him time to return to his senses and almost destroys a country. This shows how the illustrator manages to insert different themes into the comic.
The comic is very realistic and well-drawn, especially when we can see the detail of the weight of time on Heracles; his head starts to bald and some hair turns white, but he always is strong to keep on with his father’s heritage. After winning his freedom and having great adventures he marries, but at the end he dies because there was not enough trust and love from his wife.
The comic was very interesting and entertaining, I recommend you to read Hera: The Goddess and Her Glory, there is always something new to learn from the Olympian Series. And remember, Hera has eyes everywhere – her wrath is legendary.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
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