William Messner-Loebs has fashioned a highly entertaining comic from some very unlikely material. Mixing up Greek myths and philosophers seems like the worst sort of high concept, snoot and exclusive at the same time. Happily William Messner-Loebs has two extra ingredients that give the whole book a fantastic boost,his script is very funny and Sam Kieth provides the art. Both of these mean that the book is treat to read. laugh out loud funny and the art is striking.
Epicurus is one of the lesser known Greek philosophers, he has been overshadowed by Plato, Socrates and Aristotle just as he is in the stories in the book. His humane rationalism is constantly mocked and he is beset by gods whom he does not believe in. The myths of Persephone, the many loves of Zeus and the Trojan war, among others, are all cunningly retold with Epicurus finding himself, along with Aristotle and a very young Alexander the Great, trying to resolves problems involving vengeful or lustful gods.
Sam Keith’s art is thoroughly cartoony and appropriate to the stories, the colours are bright and vivid and they add great context to the words. The combination is a great comic that is great fun to read.
