Persephone: Hades’ Torment

Shaw reimagines the Greek myth of Persephone and her fateful trip to the Underworld as a feminist romance that endows the classic story both with a great deal more female agency and plenty of steamy embraces. Persephone, goddess of vegetation, is stifled and restless under her mother Demeter’s overprotective thumb, and unlike in typical portrayals of kidnappings, she is the one who first becomes enamored with Hades after a chance meeting. Hades, brooding and lonely, gets unexpectedly struck by Eros’s errant arrow while gazing at her. As Persephone deals with unwanted advances and mischief from amorous Apollo (giving Shaw room to play around with other myths, such as those of Daphne and Psyche), Hades attempts to rid himself of his unwanted infatuation, only to find falling out of love is easier said than done. Shaw’s artwork is wonderfully expressive, and her updated characterization of the Greek pantheon is both creative and faithful to the original stories, including the more risqué aspects. It’s a story that’s been retold many, many times—indeed, this project began as a web serial—and while the sexy-sweet art, upbeat tone, and women-first perspective keep it relatively fresh, it will likely appeal most as a runner-up for Lore Olympus fans thirsting for more. (Nov.)