Graphic Novel Reviews: Punderworld Vol. 1 OGN

Punderworld, written and illustrated by Linda Sejic is a delightful tale featuring the romantic adventure of two notable characters from Greek mythology. The story features a Greek pantheon infused with more modern sensibilities making the title accessible for young, modern readers. Sejic, also known by the username sigeel, first brought their tale to life via Webtoon where it amassed enough interest and popularity to be brought to print.

The crux of the tale, illustrated beautifully by Sejic, is that Hades and Persephone are interested in each other but their paths rarely cross do to their obligations. Hades, described as a shy, accountant type, explains to Zeus that it has been a century or two since he first became smitten. Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, is portrayed as a strong-willed young woman who is growing weary of the amount of work she does to make her mother and her worshipers happy. Zeus, in a bid to play matchmaker, puts Hades and Persephone on a collision course that results in misadventure and hijinks.

This is a fun read for middle-school readers and up. The romance is sweet, the gods and goddesses read like they could spring from a modern sitcom, and the adventure is fun. Additionally, the art is stunning and is likely to inspire young creators to experiment with their style.