Warning: Spoilers for Lore Olympus ahead, mentions of sexual assault

Lore Olympus is undoubtedly one of the breakout stars in the webcomic industry, captivating audiences with its tale of overcoming abuse and epic romance set in a world where classical Greek mythology meets modern-day conventions. The series has reached completion as of June 2024, bringing the breathtaking tale to a close after six years of acclaim.

Lore Olympus #280 concludes Rachel Smythe’s retelling of The Abduction of Persephone. While the series begins as a meet-cute between the sheltered spring goddess Persephone, and Hades, the mysterious King of the Underworld, the stakes ramp up throughout the series as the pair must navigate their relationship through bickering gods, divine politics, sinister conspiracies, and the machinations of the primordial Titans themselves.

The series concludes with a profound epilogue in which Hades and Persephone are gathered with their children, reflecting on how much has changed since they first met.

Webcomic “Lore Olympus” Finishes Its Retelling Of A Classic Greek Myth

Rache Smythe’s Award-Winning Series Concludes

Lore Olympus is a must-read series, standing out from its contemporaries for its heartfelt characters, clever reimagining of classical Greek mythology, and honest discussion of sexual assault. While the pantheon of Greek gods is familiar, their divine realm is portrayed as outside of time, with modern-day technology and conventions; for example, Persephone is hounded by paparazzi, while the Underworld is run like a corporation. Though the original myth has Hades abducting Persephone to be his queen, Lore Olympus portrays their relationship much more romantically; instead, the god Apollo takes up the role of Persephone’s tormentor.

Over the course of its run, Lore Olympus has won multiple Eisner awards for its breathtaking storytelling and has resonated with audiences with its uncompromising, though ultimately triumphant, tale of recovering from sexual assault. The series has had a major influence on popularizing Korean-style webtoons for a general Western audience, with over one billion views and 6.5 million subscribers. The series’ explosive popularity has transcended its digital origins, with the first 152 episodes collected across six print volumes and an animated series in development.

Lore Olympus Changed The Webcomic Landscape During Its Run

A Medium-Defining Series

Rachel Smythe’s tale of Hades and Persephone has stood at the forefront of a webtoon boom, paving the way for the medium to expand like never before. It has allowed 6.5 million subscribers to engage with a tale that wrestles with a vital cultural topic, one that is all too often silenced or overlooked, without doing so at the expense of Persephone’s agency or her eventual triumphant romance with Hades. There has never been a webtoon quite like Lore Olympus; its conclusion marks the end of an era.