Lore Olympus is a romance webcomic created by Rachel Smythe and published by the webcomic platform Line WEBTOON. The story is a modern retelling of the Greek myth concerning the relationship between the God of the Underworld, Hades, and the Goddess of Spring, Persephone. It can be read here.
The pilot version of the comic was originally published in the "Discover" category of the platform (now known as Webtoon Canvas) in 2017. Nine episodes were released before the comic was moved to the "Featured" category. The old episodes were subsequently deleted from the platform and have not been officially released.
The story was relaunched on March 4th, 2018. It is currently the most popular webcomic on the platform, with over 300 million views and 3.9 million subscribers as of May 2020.
On June 13th, 2020, the Season 1 finale, "The Bringer of Death" was released, concluding the first season with 115 episodes. The second season of Lore Olympus began on August 2nd, 2020.
In October 2019, the Jim Henson Company announced a partnership with Line WEBTOON to create an animated Lore Olympus series.
Synopsis[]
Witness what the gods do…after dark. The friendships and the lies, the gossip and the wild parties, and of course, forbidden love. Because it turns out, the gods aren’t so different from us after all, especially when it comes to their problems. Stylish and immersive, this is one of mythology’s greatest stories -- The Taking of Persephone -- as it’s never been told before.
Plot[]
Lore Olympus is a modern retelling of the myths of the Greek pantheon, majorly focusing on the growing relationship between the deities Hades and Persephone. The comic makes several major deviations from the original myths, most notably in how the Gods and their realms are depicted- for example, Olympus and the Underworld are shown as modern metropolises, while the realm of mortals is set in the time of ancient Greece. The story follows Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, who has been raised in the mortal realm by her overprotective mother, Demeter. Feeling stifled by Demeter's strict routines, Persephone is eventually allowed to move to Olympus to live with Artemis and attend college. The story is set into motion when Hades catches sight of Persephone at a party and comments that her beauty rivals Aphrodite's. Overhearing this, Aphrodite plots to get the two to dislike each other by sneaking an intoxicated Persephone into the backseat of Hades' car. Contrary to this, however, the two instantly click after their encounter and begin a flirtatious friendship that promises to bloom into something more.
Season 1 deals with Persephone navigating both the freedom and danger that Olympus presents, as well as her growing feelings for Hades, and her conflicted feelings regarding her TGOEM scholarship, which requires her to remain abstinent. Minor stories within Persephone's story are also featured, including that of Eros and Psyche.
Season 2 explores the unpermitted and covered up act of wrath committed by Persephone before the series began, and the repercussions of said act when it comes to light.
Content Warning[]
Lore Olympus regularly deals with themes of physical and mental abuse, sexual trauma, and toxic relationships.
Episodes[]
Trailers[]
