Rachel Smythe, creator of the internationally profitable webtoon Lore Olympus, has made her very first look at New York Comic Con 2023. Lore Olympus is a bestselling, award-winning WEBTOON series that retells the legendary romance between Hades, the Greek god of the Underworld, and Persephone, the goddess of Spring. It boasts a staggering 1.3 billion views, 6.4 million follows, and an general web site score of 9.64 out of 10 from its readers on WEBTOON. It is printed digitally on Naver’s WEBTOON platform, and 5 volumes are at present obtainable in print by the INKLORE imprint of Penguin Random House, with over 2.1 million copies offered to this point. The series has been translated into 13 languages and is offered in 15 territories worldwide. More accolades embrace:
2x Winner of the EISNER AWARD for Best Webcomic, 2022 and 2023 2x Winner of the HARVEY AWARD for Digital Book of the Year, 2022 and 2021 Winner of the RINGO AWARD for Best Webcomic, 2022 HUGO AWARD Nominee for Best Graphic Novel, 2022 3x EISNER AWARD Nominee, 2023, 2022 and 2019 3x HARVEY AWARD Nominee, 2023, 2022, and 2021 Winner of the GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD for Best Graphic Novel, 2021 Winner of the ALA ALEX AWARD, 2021 RINGO AWARD Nominee for Best Webcomic, 2020
At this yr’s NYCC, Smythe held autograph classes, participated in two panels, and held a media roundtable that The Beat was invited to. Below is a transcript of the dialog between Smythe and different invited journalists, together with our personal Marion Pena.
SMYTHE: So I’m engaged on an thrilling new venture in Britain with Penguin Random House and Del Rey. It’s known as Rachel Smythe Presents. It’s mainly celebrating the creators who do work primarily based on mythology and assist carry these tales to life. That’s actually thrilling. I can’t wait to get began.
Q: Is it alright to have some follow-up questions on that?
SMYTHE: Yeah, you may.
Q: Okay, so to comply with up on that whereas it’s contemporary: different creators relating mythology; do you imply mythology exterior of the Greco-Roman pantheon? From wherever, mainly?
SMYTHE: Yes. At this stage, it’s very early beginnings. So you realize, we haven’t made these full choices but. But yeah, it might be Greek mythology, but additionally mythology usually. That’s what we’re going for.
Q: I really like that, I’m so excited for that. Actually, that brings me to my first query I’ve for you. When did your love for mythology begin?
SMYTHE: So I preferred it for a very, actually very long time, perhaps since childhood? I believe my introduction to it’s actually just like lots of people. So Disney’s Hercules got here out once I was perhaps a center schooler, however I don’t know for positive as a result of the schooling system is totally different right here. But it got here out, and I watched it. I used to be very keen on it, and cherished it very a lot. Of course, we then see individuals who see one thing they like, and they should analysis it lots.
Me and my sister had been very a lot into it. When we discovered that Hades had a spouse, I used to be like, “He has a wife, Why wasn’t she in that movie?” But she was really within the film—she’s like, within the background having an enormous cocktail. Yeah, should you look in the beginning little bit of it, she’s bought a drink. A cocktail. Like that’s that massive (gesturing). Like, child, look out. She’s speaking to some large inexperienced man. But yeah, I cherished it and researched it as a child, and simply consumed as a lot as humanly doable. And the remainder is historical past!
Q: What do you suppose it’s about Hades and Persephone that retains individuals coming again to this trope, to this story? I’m clearly a really massive fan of them as a pair in this type of relationship. So what do you suppose it’s about them?
SMYTHE: I believe with Hades and Persephone, significantly with the supply materials, it actually lends itself to adaptation. There’s numerous issues you can infer from studying it. So I don’t wish to do the tales a disservice by saying that they’re not detailed, due to course they’re, however they prefer to prioritize various things since they’re from a unique time. And I believe, oh, gosh, it’s very versatile when it comes to retelling. There’s numerous methods you can take it, methods to interpret it. It’s a stupendous feminist story a couple of mom dealing with forms, misogyny and patriarchy, and getting her daughter again. So that’s an important story!
But it will also be a tragic romance. It’s simply very dynamic. There’s lots you are able to do with it. I personally like going again to my childhood; I keep in mind studying about it and pondering, what was Persephone’s day like? What did they do, what did they discuss? Where’s her closet? How many outfits did she have? Did they like one another? Didn’t they like one another? Maybe they preferred one another later. There’s lots you are able to do, and it’s actually enjoyable. Even if I needed to do it over it otherwise. I’d say, sure, I can, however totally different! I may, I simply love the tales. It’s nice.
Q: Are there another myths that you considered retelling earlier than Lore Olympus?
SMYTHE: That’s a great query. Give me a sec, as a result of I do know that I’ve. It’s not a fable, a lot as a fable, or grim story. The Goose Girl, which should you’re not conversant in The Goose Girl, she’s a princess. She’s bought a handmaiden and so they must journey someplace for some specific purpose. Then on the way in which there, her handmaiden steals her id. Like she kicks her in a creek or one thing, I don’t know. She’s like, “You’re done,” (grunts) and mainly takes over and turns to her betrothed and he or she’s like, “I’m the princess!” It’s nice. I believe it’s hilarious. The little goose woman, I believe she will get known as that as a result of she takes care of geese—that’s her job she does. You’re meant to root for the Goose Girl, however I’m pondering, “She is a princess.”
To me, I’m actually compelled by the other finish of this id theft story. But the purpose of this story, the story is definitely about being excellent. Because I believe that Goose Girl says, “I’ll work hard on a farm and whisper my secrets to an oven?” And then the oven feels sorry for her. I don’t know, it’s been some time. Look out for it. It’s very humorous, I like this story. It’s nice. Gosh, I do know there’s others. But I’m having a mind meltdown in the present day. There’s so a lot of them to work with. No, I believe that’s the one which I actually like.
I’ve been studying a bit of bit extra about Norse mythology, however not the type everyone knows, like Loki and Thor—they’re very ubiquitous, and everyone is aware of them. But ones extra primarily based on Vikings. Like just a bit bit divorced from that. It’s a bit of more durable to analysis, however they’ve bought some nice type of warrior girl journey tales, which I’m having a tough time remembering; the precise names and titles. But they’re very stunning. With numerous magical jewellery, which I get pleasure from. I really feel unhealthy as a result of I can’t say something proper now. But one thing like that might be nice, yeah.
Q: Given the 5 or so years that you simply’ve been engaged on Lore Olympus, have you ever discovered something in your strategy to this type of adaptation that has modified because you first set out on it?
SMYTHE: I believe at first I used to be extra… One of the issues about mythology is it does actually lend itself to making a construction to a narrative. Because having an entire new story could be very daunting. I believe at first, I actually leaned on that. But going ahead, I believed I could be way more liberal with it. Because in spite of everything, I’ve by no means supposed Lore Olympus to be beat-for-beat, genuine retelling… you realize, honoring the spirit of issues, if you’ll. But I believe there’s issues mistaken, like Hades; when he’s within the underworld after Persephone goes there, when she eats the pomegranate seeds. Or typically, consuming the meals there [in the Underworld] causes you to remain there.
So nicely, why is Hades totally different on this case? How did he simply go there? How was he simply wonderful? So it was actually attention-grabbing to construct in some mechanics into the story that might present what would occur to him when he went there, like how come he’s tied there? So that was actually attention-grabbing to discover. Also, revisiting what would occur when consuming the seeds and the way that impacts the story particularly. So I believe, when it comes to adaptation, that’s actually enjoyable to check out one thing new, as a result of everybody is aware of the unique tales.
And for me, what’s enjoyable about it’s that I actually love the thought of individuals seeing one thing that I’ve made and studying about Greek mythology, after which going and checking it out the identical means that I did with Disney’s Hercules. Which once more, is not utterly trustworthy to the unique tales, however Disney’s not going to have a full scene of Zeus working round heaven having affairs. Like they’ll’t, there’s no family-friendly or the planets aligning and all that type of factor. But yeah, I watched it, loved it, after which discovered in regards to the supply materials, you realize, and I believe that’s like an important factor. Yeah.
Q: The artwork from Lore Olympus actually stands out for its vibrance, it’s fairly stunning. How did you resolve which colours would signify every character?
SMYTHE: So for me, I have a look at what you are able to do when it comes to storytelling. So numerous the friends have modern coloration matches. Hades is blue, Persephone is pink. So collectively, it appears to be like very good. Also, the entire of the underworld–the setting–is all blue. When Persephone goes there, she stands out and it’s very vibrant. Also when Hades goes to Olympus, with the pastel tones, he stands out. It’s like that type of mechanic for characters like Ares. He modifications his coloration when he’s offended.
This is barely primarily based on considered one of my buddies; she had a child who was a redhead. You understand how infants don’t have any eyebrows? You can inform when her child would get upset, since you may see that the eyebrows had been sitting in and so they bought all pink earlier than she would get upset. So that’s why Ares is an orangey, type of rusty coloration. But as he will get extra upset, he will get increasingly more pink. Sometimes it’s dysfunctionality, issues like that.
Q: One of the issues I really like in regards to the world is that it’s unafraid to sort out heavy subjects. So clearly, that comes with its personal problem. But had been there any arcs or beats or moments that aren’t inherently robust to sort out that you simply’ve personally discovered? Unexpectedly tough, I suppose.
SMYTHE: What is troublesome when it comes to storytelling… I don’t know if it is a direct reply. But that is one thing that I wrestle with. You must hold the story attention-grabbing and contemporary, particularly when it’s a long-format story. You must make numerous cliffhangers and issues to entice individuals to return again. One of the methods is introducing new tales and threads, after which afterward resolving them by tying them up in a means that’s elegant or satisfying to individuals, and semantically right. I believe that’s most likely one of many hardest issues I’ve ever achieved.
In phrases of the top of Lore Olympus, I’ve at all times recognized what that was going to seem like. But with a protracted format story, you type of must refine it over time. Because typically you attain some extent, and also you suppose, “This no longer makes sense to me. I don’t think it’s actually as satisfying as I thought it was going to be.” I believe with endings, you actually must strive your easiest for individuals. Because I do know this is what individuals will keep in mind lots in regards to the series. I put a lot effort into the top of mine. It’s taken lots out of me to do. But now I believe, “Yes, it’s good. I worked really hard on it.” It’s one of many largest challenges of my life.
Q: Earlier you had been mentioning the pomegranates, which is a big element of the story. And one thing very distinctive about the way in which you inform the story is that there’s a tone of company with Persephone selecting to do that. What about that theme of company was necessary to you?
SMYTHE: I believe for me I believe it’s good to honor Persephone as a personality within the story, an enormous a part of her progress as a personality is studying to have company. Based on the content material of the story of what we already know, I believe it might be doing her a disservice to have some stage of—not trickery, as a result of I don’t suppose that’s like the proper phrase—however simply her not having a alternative afterward, I really feel like it might be a little bit of a step again. Not that that’s essentially a nasty factor, as a result of I consider that not all improvement must be linear. But it was such a significant second, it needed to be, you realize, a alternative! And it needed to be progress. So that’s how I arrived there.
Q: I’m curious in regards to the inventive option to have type of the realm of the gods be type of a parallel to our current day. Because after they go to the mortal world, it’s type of the time interval we consider after we consider mythology. So I used to be simply questioning, what impressed that, that inventive alternative and that the disconnect between the 2 are usually not that separate.
SMYTHE: Worlds? That’s a great query. For me, it’s a few components. One is clearly, I really like Greek mythology. So it appears like a missed second to not have these historic world references. I’m type of having my cake and consuming it too, as a result of I get the enjoyable of the trendy world. But I additionally get to analysis all the historic trend and buildings and play with these types of issues. It can doubtlessly assist contextualize a few of these extra historic traditions of types, and see how they could translate over into the trendy setting.
But additionally, once you learn these tales, there’s a number of issues that get introduced up. If a mannequin had been to see a God, they might die, as a result of it might be so spectacular. Like her physique crumbles aside when she sees Zeus and his true type. It’s attention-grabbing, you realize, if these mortals had been to see the trendy Olympus. They’re most likely not understanding what they had been taking a look at. It could be truthful to say that the gods wouldn’t share applied sciences, however to me, it is sensible. Yeah. I really like that.
THE BEAT: Since you’ve had the ending in thoughts for some time, what would you say is without doubt one of the most satisfying detours you took alongside the story? Maybe an occasion that you simply didn’t actually suppose would occur, however it simply did due to the characters?
SMYTHE: Ooh, that’s a great one. I’m actually unhealthy at measuring, so should you had been to take me to a rustic truthful, and so they had the Jelly Bean guessing sport, and also you had been to ask, “How many jelly beans are in there?” I’d say, “Like 10.” Then they’d say strive once more. And I’d reply “a million.” I simply can’t do it! So this was deliberate, however it took means longer than I believed it was going to. There’s a bit with Persephone the place she goes to remain at Hades’ home, however that went on for a very very long time. I used to be pondering, “Yeah, she’s just gonna be there for like three episodes, tops.” But I believe it’s like at the least 15 for some time. So I loved it. It was enjoyable. It was a great, cozy time within the story earlier than it was upsetting. It’s enjoyable.
Q: Did you at all times intend for the format of Lore Olympus to be comics? And if that’s the case, what was it about comics that lent to inform your story?
SMYTHE: Writing is certainly not my first energy, it’s positively the drawing element. All the time, I ponder, “How did I do this?” I don’t know, and it’s so scary. At the time, at first, once I first began out, I believed that even the idea of constructing 20 chapters—I didn’t know if I had it in me! The artwork positively got here earlier than the story typically once I’m doing like a giant doodle. Very technical coaching, like numerous that course of, will really give me the writing concepts. It’s type of like artwork first after which writing. But now I’ll have gotten the dangle of it a bit extra. So now I can really write an overview with out doing the drawings. So it’s been a great studying expertise.
Q: So no spoilers, clearly. But are there any type of tales, myths, characters that you simply wished to the touch on that you simply haven’t but or that you simply simply received’t have time to do for the [main] story?
SMYTHE: That’s wonderful. I believe one of many issues that I attempt to take heed to is that I really like all of my supporting characters equally. And I want that everybody else cherished them, too! But not everybody desires an enormous facet quest about totally different characters. I do suppose it’s necessary to say “Here’s the supporting characters, and this is what’s happening to them,” as a result of they assist enrich the story. And additionally give a little bit of respiratory room. But it’s a troublesome steadiness of studying when to attract that line when individuals say “I don’t know who these characters are, and I don’t really want to participate with them right now.” But it’s wonderful, you want what you want!
I believe one of many issues that I might have achieved, had it made sense—there’s no simple technique to put it in at this level—was purported to be like an expedition to Poseidon and his ocean-like world. They wished me to do some stuff within the ocean world. But I’m like, “I just don’t think there’s a good place to fit it in.” But by no means say by no means, you realize. I can at all times come again and do it, afterward. It was simply one thing the place I believed, “Oh, yeah, that throws off the pacing.” Unfortunately, we by no means bought to go to the ocean kingdom and see what it’s like. It’s very chaotic. It’s very, “nobody’s doing the dishes, or doing laundry.” But everybody’s very chilled out.
THE BEAT: Were there any cultural variations you had been conscious of once you had been drafting your story? Did you’re feeling that perhaps issues might need to be touched up for contemporary tastes? As in taking Greek myths, and adapting them into a contemporary story.
SMYTHE: Yes, that’s very laborious, as a result of Greek mythology could be very common. It’s the spine of Western storytelling, and ubiquitous, however numerous it is rather darkish. Even significantly with the adoption of Persephone. If I had been to inform that story beat-for-beat, individuals could be like, “Ma’am, you need to get off the internet. Your Twitter handle and everything, you need to go.” [Laughs]. Like you gotta get out, as a result of I believe some persons are like, this isn’t correct. Like, did you need incest? You do must take some depart from others and, you realize, another person can do that. Yeah, you get my drift.
Q: Something I actually love about Lore Olympus is your trend selections for Persephone. So how do you select what outfits you’re going to place her in, and what did they signify for her journey?
SMYTHE: Thank you. I really like choosing out garments for her. And I discussed earlier than how a personality’s progress isn’t essentially linear. In the start, she’s sporting numerous white. There was type of a construction with it within the begin, within the sense that Hades is sporting a go well with on a regular basis; particularly, he’s at all times sporting white. So they might doubtlessly get married at any level. They seem like they’re coded to be a bride and groom. Because initially, I simply recalled that this story is about marriage, and it’s necessary in some areas of historic Greece. I’m informed that it’s like a wedding story in some areas. So I believed, “I’m gonna honor that part of the story.”
But when it comes to Persephone’s progress you’ll see afterward within the series, she begins to put on far more inexperienced. Then afterward within the arc that we’re at present having, she’s sporting numerous blacks and darkish blues, however often she’s going to nonetheless put on some pastel colours. For me, it’s about conserving a steadiness as a result of I don’t suppose that Persephone ought to have to surrender complete parts of her id. It’s necessary for me to combine these totally different coloration palettes in, however when it comes to silhouettes, I attempted to select issues which might be classical and have A-line cuts. This is in order that they age very nicely. So they’ll look good in 10 years’ time, and never all the trend will seem like that—a few of it can change into terribly dated—however it’s mainly me in an effort to future-proof some objects.
Q: Earlier, you talked about having the sunshine moments earlier than all of the heartbreak, which I believe exemplifies Lore Olympus; we’re laughing, after which we’re crying. What is your trick, to handle that give and take, the steadiness between the 2?
SMYTHE: I believe it’s a cultural factor to do with New Zealand. We’re very, “you’ve got to laugh in the face of evil,” like numerous our jokes are darkish. Like a, “We’ll be having a terrible day, haha!” type of factor. So I believe we actually perceive it the place I’m from. It simply appears like a really pure factor to do, the place typically one thing unhealthy will occur, and in an effort to steadiness it out, we’ll discover a technique to snigger at it. That is simply one thing that comes by means of naturally to me.
I believe there are occasions once I’m like, “Is this appropriate to put a joke in here?” Because I don’t wish to be insensitive, however for me personally; I really feel like I at all times handle every thing with humor. I believe that works for different individuals. But yeah, levity is difficult. It’s a tough steadiness for positive. Have I at all times made the correct name? I’m unsure. But I do strive, yeah.
THE BEAT: Is there a fable that you simply really feel you’ll be up for remixing or retelling?
SMYTHE: In phrases of a fable, I believe I keep in mind it now. I actually like The Odyssey, in fact. But I actually wish to do one thing from Penelope’s viewpoint. I believe somebody has already bought it, like a earlier model. I might actually like to do a comedy about Penelope. Because I really like that girl a lot. That could be enjoyable. So if I may, that’s what I’d do. Thank you. It was beautiful assembly you all and thanks a lot.
Lore Olympus Volume 6 shall be obtainable in hardcover and paperback on May 7, 2024!
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