Editorial Review

The Roman Mythology series uses graphic-novel-style art and stories to introduce the individual gods and goddesses, along with other deities in the pantheon. Each book begins with a description of Rome and the relationship between the Roman and Greek gods, and is followed by a visual of the characters and places discussed in each volume. Apollo introduces the sun god with the tale of his birth and the anger it evoked from his father’s wife, Juno. It also includes the stories of his tragic love for Daphne and his chariot race across the sun. Juno discusses the queen of the goddesses as both wife to Jupiter and the protector of women. Though the text describes her as ‘the graceful mother of Rome,’ in contrast to her jealous Greek counterpart, Hera, much of Juno’s story is still about exacting revenge on Jupiter’s lovers. Neptune examines the sea god’s original myths and includes stories about his lovers and children. In Venus, this loveliest of goddesses is shown ruling over love and beauty. All the books have short sidebars that expand the text outside the realm of myth, for instance, a box about the life of women in Roman times. The text itself can be repetitive and sometimes carelessly written, but readers will get the gist, and the superhero-style artwork should draw them in.