Apollo: The Brilliant One

Apollo had a rocky beginning, and the life never really gets easier, notwithstanding his being a shining, glorious god of the sun on Mt. Olympus. Nine muses tell tales of Apollo’s birth; his revenge on the serpent that tormented his mother, Leto; his loves; his competitions; his son. Apollo is a bitter, petty, vengeful god who nevertheless is sympathetic, because it is in his flaws that he is most human after all.

This graphic novel draws out this point beautifully, presenting Apollo as a tragic hero. Using the muses to introduce his stories is a clever device that works well to present the different types of art and inspiration identified by the Greeks (history, music, epic poetry, hymns, etc.) The drawings are expressive and detailed, appropriate for all ages. The author includes a set of discussion questions that explore Apollo’s role and stories; although not essential, these lead to a much deeper understanding of the relevance of Greek mythology to our lives today. Although this is only a very short introduction to the total Apollo mythos, it is an engaging, thoughtful one that will appeal to anyone interested in the Greek myths.