Jr. Graphic Myths: Greek Heroes

Greek myths are filled with stories of reward and punishment. Those who dishonored the gods could be sure of divine retribution. When King Minos of Crete broke a promise to Poseidon, god of the sea, Minos's punishment came swiftly. He was required to send seven boys and seven girls to Crete every nine years to be sacrificed to a monstrous half-human, half-bull named the Minotaur. Theseus comes to save the day using cleverness, bravery, and the help of friends.

In ancient times, the Greeks believed that the gods came to Earth disguised as animals and people. The ancient Greeks made up stories about these gods and the humans that surrounded them. We call these stories myths. Myths often tell us about the adventures of heroes. The story of Jason and the Golden Fleece is one of these stories. It tells of a young man, Jason, and his comrades who embark on a great quest. Jason sets out to undo a wrong done to him and his family. His uncle had stolen his father's throne, and Jason's goal is to take it back. In order to do so, he must go on a long journey and perform many difficult feats. Along the way, he travels to new lands, conquers monsters, obtains help from the gods, and overcomes great hardships. The graphic retelling of this Greek myth will capture readers' imaginations.

Achilles was a legendary warrior of ancient Greece. When Paris, the Trojan prince, kidnapped the beautiful Helen, the Greek armies joined together under the great king Agamemnon to bring her back. The Achaean Greeks would fight the Trojans for 10 years. Agamemnon's pride, however, would threaten to destroy the Achaeans' chances of victory. When he took Achilles' battle prize, Achilles refused to fight. Of all the Achaeans, though, only Achilles could stand against the fearsome Trojan warrior Hector. This is a classic Greek myth with all the fixin's-bravery, adventure, and amazing feats of strength, cleverness, and courage.

Greek mythology is filled with stories of epic battles, heroes, monsters, and hardships endured by mortals. In this myth, Odysseus, the hero of the Trojan War, sails toward home with his crew of 500 men when the war is over. The voyage is filled with danger. Will the men who survived the long, hard Trojan War survive the terrible journey home? Readers will want to keep reading to find out.