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Lore Olympus: Volume One

Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Adult | Published in 2021

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Important Quotes

“Hades, all the fine suits in the world…won’t change the fact that you stink of death.”


(Episode 1, Page 5)

After being stood up by Minthe for the Panathenaea party, Hades is left in self-doubt. This is the first indication that Hades’s reputation as the God of the Underworld impacts him socially. This quote frames two panels that indicate Hades’s depression by the reddish, sepia tone of the second (as opposed to the usual blues and black of the Underworld).

“I feel out of my depth. Everyone’s going to think I’m some stupid village girl.”


(Episode 2, Page 1)

Like Hades, Persephone also experiences doubt at the outset of the volume. This quote shows her self-awareness: She knows she is unaccustomed to Olympian society. Unfortunately, this feeling of being “out of her depth” foreshadows Apollo taking advantage of her sexually.

“Honestly, I think she puts Aphrodite to shame.”


(Episode 3, Page 7)

Hades’s flippant remark (indicated by the scoffing/smug expression he makes), directed toward his brothers, is overheard by Aphrodite across the room. Aphrodite is as jealous in Lore Olympus as her namesake is in mythology. However, in a long instance of dramatic irony, her attempt to embarrass Hades ultimately helps bring Hades and Persephone together.

“I thought meeting all these new people would make me happy. But I just feel more lonely than ever. I wish the room would stop spinning.”


(Episode 4, Page 8)

The sequence of pages after Eros takes Persephone off on her own to get her drunk is stylistically marked by blotch marks and Persephone fading against a plain white background, emphasizing her intoxication. Persephone gives into melancholic self-doubt until she passes out.

“When you’re in here…no one can hurt you. NO ONE!”


(Episode 5, Page 18)

Asleep at Hades’s house, Persephone has a dream in which Demeter locks Persephone in a greenhouse symbolizing her overprotective nature. When Demeter tells her daughter these lines, she is depicted as increasingly monstrous, leering in at her with an eye with a vertical pupil. Demeter’s way of expressing her love is misguided, even if it comes from good intentions.

“Hades [internally]: I’ve never been so jealous of a damn dog.

Hades [to Persephone]: It’s not just anyone who can reduce the gatekeeper of the Underworld to…well…this.”


(Episode 7, Page 6)

This dialogue demonstrates a common source of comedy in Lore Olympus: the contrast between a character’s internal monologue and their external appearance or actions. Hades is secretly jealous of Cerberus, whom Persephone has tamed and is petting enthusiastically. Outwardly, he acts cool. Cerberus’s grinning face in the panel with the speech bubble containing “this” is another example of a visual gag.

“I bought Hera a coat for her birthday last year, but she didn’t like it and gave it back. You’re petite like Hera, so I’m sure it will fit you.”


(Episode 7, Page 10)

The fur coat that Hades gives to Persephone becomes a key item later on in the story; it is the primary symbol of their contact in Volume One. The birthday party and the reason behind Hera’s rejection of the gift is revealed in the bonus episode at the end of the volume. Hades unknowingly understates the significance of the coat’s being destined for Persephone.

“You mean she’s your lover?! ‘Cause you and your brothers are known for…your many sordid affairs.”


(Episode 8, Page 2)

Persephone blurts this out and immediately regrets it. Aside from the humor of her internal reaction to her insensitivity, it reveals that she does at least know some rumors about Olympian society. As one of the three kings of Olympus, Hades’s reputation unfairly precedes him, and he internally laments that it might ruin his chances with Persephone.

“Persephone: So how come it’s night all the time?

Hades: Because I don’t want that shitty little Sun God in my neck of the woods. How you ladies tolerate him is beyond me.

Persephone: Apollo? I’ve never met him.

Hades: You will…You should mentally prepare yourself to be annoyed.”


(Episode 10, Page 4)

The absence of Apollo, the Sun God, explains the dark hues of the Underworld compared to the city of Olympus; it also demonstrates Hades’s power within his realm and his unpopularity with many of the other gods. This exchange foreshadows Persephone’s meeting with Apollo later that day and her immediate annoyance with his behavior.

“Artemis: I know your mother said you’re not allowed to have a phone. But if you had one then you could message me if you needed help. I thought you could have my old one… I know it’s an older model with a cracked screen--.

Persephone: You’re giving this to me?

Artemis: Y-yeah. Sorry, I know it’s not—

Persephone: IT’S ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!! THANK YOU!!!”


(Episode 11, Page 6)

Getting a cellphone is another step toward Persephone becoming a more independent person, reflected in the episode title, “Unsupervised”: She is finally escaping her mother’s smothering influence, and her overjoyed reaction shows how much Artemis’s support means to her. The gesture demonstrates Artemis’s loyalty as a friend. She wants to look out for Persephone as she navigates her new life, and she feels guilty for not staying close to Persephone at the party.

“MEN ARE FORBIDDEN IN THIS HOUSE.”


(Episode 12, Page 2)

Confronting Eros as he comes to apologize, Artemis appears as a fearsome and vengeful goddess, wearing antique robes, holding a spear, and with her hair flowing above her glowering face. Smythe uses such classical visuals, which break from the typical anachronistic/contemporary style, to indicate a god or goddess’s fury. Persephone and Artemis are in college to become sacred virgins, meaning contact with men is frowned upon.

“Psyche’s mother: You should be grateful for the opportunities your beauty affords you. You better not show your father even a hint of attitude.

Eros: Wow, your mom is a stone-cold bitch.”


(Episode 13, Page 11)

Eros gains sympathy for Psyche as he invisibly and voyeuristically follows her through her house and sees the predicament she is in. In the end, he is unable to do the job that Aphrodite sent him to do: he falls in love with Psyche. This episode is also the first glimpse into the mortal world in Lore Olympus.

“Mortal: Who are you?

 Eros: The ugliest creature you’ve ever seen.”


(Episode 14, Page 10)

When Eros comes to rescue Psyche before her unwanted marriage, he appears in a terrifying form to frighten the mortals. His apparent self-loathing is likely derived from doing his mother’s dirty work. Aphrodite sent him to make Psyche fall in love with the ugliest creature in the world; if he views himself that way, he is still technically following orders and rescuing Psyche at the same time.

“First some mystery man pays some creature to abduct you from your own wedding party. Then he teaches you to read and write which is absolutely disgraceful. And another thing, this man has convinced you to be with him? Without a marriage in place? Psyche, Psyche, Psyche. You are as stupid as you are beautiful. So gullible…You’ve let this—this STRANGER help himself to your most valuable assets!”


(Episode 16, Pages 3-4)

Eros gives into Psyche and despite his misgivings, he allows her sisters to visit her. Psyche’s sister’s rant reveals the social expectations of women in the mortal realm. Women’s value is tied to their virginity and ability to marry and thus create ties between families. However, Psyche’s sisters are demonstrably jealous and conniving; they do not have Psyche’s best interests at heart.

“I’m fated to live my life in the service of others…and that’s okay.”


(Episode 16, Page 21)

Persephone struggles with her fate as a sacred virgin after being introduced to Hades. While she claims to be at peace with this destiny, she secretly wants to circumvent fate and be her own person. This is demonstrated later on when she returns to this thought while debating whether she wants to have sex with Apollo.

“Kore…Persephone. It doesn’t even have her number on it…*Chuckle* As if she would want me to have her number. It’s time to return to reality.”


(Episode 17, Pages 16-17)

While Hades is not as much of a scoundrel as his brothers, he still gets involved with their sordid activities, evidenced by the nymph’s reaction when they show up to her strip club. This is the first concrete evidence in the volume that some of the rumors about the three kings are true.

“You know the three of you are banned from this establishment, right?”


(Episode 18, Page 2)

While Hades is not as much of a scoundrel as his brothers, he still gets involved with their sordid activities, evidenced by the nymph’s reaction when they show up to her strip club. This is the first concrete evidence in the volume that some of the rumors about the three kings are true.

“Zeus: Three courts of girls to choose from…What were you thinking?

Hades: The two of you have Queens…I just figured that she would make an okay ‘Queen of the Underworld.’

Zeus: What you want is an excellent Queen of the Underworld…not an ‘okay’ one.”


(Episode 19, Page 7)

Though Zeus and Poseidon can be pushy and crass, Hades’s brothers do care for him and do not like to see him in an abusive relationship. Their protracted groan when Hades reveals he was planning on proposing to Minthe provides not only comic relief, but also insight into their social circle’s opinion of Minthe. 

“Now you can be a Queen, too. Don’t worry, you can stay by my side all night. You don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to.”


(Episode 19, Page 16)

The flashback in Episode 19 reveals that Hera has known Persephone since Persephone was a child. Because of this, Hera feels very protective of Persephone, causing her to lash out when she hears Hades talking about her in a sexual way. This moment also foreshadows Persephone’s eventual role as Queen of the Underworld.

“I never said that I was entitled to her. I’m well aware that I’m a fool. I didn’t even want to talk about it in the first place. I’m—I’m gonna go. I think I’ve been humiliated enough for one sitting. Enjoy Olympus.”


(Episode 20, Pages 11-12)

Fed up with his brothers’ teasing insinuations and Hera’s accusations, seeing the picture Apollo posted of him and Persephone together is the last straw for Hades. Once again, rumor and his unfairly bad reputation have superseded his true, good intentions. Hades’s self-esteem reaches a low point.

“You know he was only being nice so he could get in your pants, right?”


(Episode 21, Page 3)

Apollo proves to be just as unlikeable to Persephone as Hades predicted. Apollo’s warning ironically applies more to himself than it does to Hades, proven by his actions later that night. He projects his bad intentions onto Hades.

“It’s healed…not even a mark. Apollo. I guess he’s kinda cute. (If I squint.) Cute but annoying.”


(Episode 22, Page 11)

Persephone quickly forms a better opinion of Apollo. However, her naivety about the duplicity of many of the other gods leaves her unable to recognize his bad intentions. Apollo healing Persephone’s cut, his apparently sincere apology, and Artemis vouching for him combine to influence Persephone to lower her guard around him.

All eternity. That’s the first time I’ve said it out loud. I hate the way those words sound coming out of my mouth. I feel so confused. A door!? That wasn’t here before…This choice could be my own. It feels ugly. But at least it would be mine.”


(Episode 23, Pages 14-16)

Persephone’s fate was not her choice; hearing herself explain it aloud makes her realize how little control she has had over her life. As Apollo makes his sexual advances, a door forms in the greenhouse, symbolizing that Persephone now has a possible way out of her fate—though the means of escape is also against her will.

“Is this normal? Is this what it should be like? This is nothing like what I’ve read. I don’t see what all the fuss is about…It just hurts. I’m going to stay here where it’s safe until he’s finished. Don’t let him see you cry.”


(Episode 24, Pages 6-7)

Persephone wants to withdraw her consent, but she cannot find her voice. Instead, she mentally retreats to the greenhouse as a means of coping with the trauma of being raped. In addition to the sexual violation she experiences, Apollo further violates her agency by taking pictures of her.

“Hades: “What am I supposed to do with a fur coat?

Hera: I’m sure it will come in handy one of these days.”


(Bonus Episode, Pages 14-15)

Touching the fur coat that Hades later gives to Persephone gives Hera a vision of Hades and Persephone’s wedding day, though Hera cannot see Persephone’s face. This bonus content underscores the symbolic importance of the fur coat as a connection between Hades and Persephone, and it foreshadows their future together, setting up the reader’s expectations and heightening the series’ romance.

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