This is a beautifully illustrated and engrossing recreation of Homer’s Odyssey that will both delight those who already love this story and spark the interest of those new to it. The graphic novel follows Homer’s own structure, covering each book of the epic. Hinds does an excellent job of conveying both the familiarity and the strangeness of this mythical world.  

As in his version of the Iliad, Hinds invites us to ponder hard questions as we think through the thornier aspects of this world. He brings out the complexity of the main hero nicely, taking care not to present him in a straightforwardly heroic light. In this regard, he does not shy away at all from the violence of the retribution Odysseus enacts against the suitors upon his return home, which is rightly presented as a gruesome bloodbath. Hinds’ violent depiction of the Cyclops episode equals the horror of Homer’s own description. There is some moderate nudity, which may not be appropriate for younger readers. I do think Hinds could have given the female characters a richer treatment—Arete’s role feels a bit diminished and the terrible might of Calypso and Circe is subdued. I also wish Hinds had used clearer language to designate enslaved people, whom he frequently describes as “servants.” This was the norm, however, prior to Emily Wilson’s 2017 Odyssey translation.

Hinds’ Odyssey is probably not appropriate for under-10’s to dive into solo. I read it with my 8-year-old, and he definitely needed parental supervision and guidance. All in all, we loved reading this together, and it prompted us to several rewarding conversations about this marvelous tale. - Stephanie McCarter