By Svetlana Fedotov
Classic works get revived all the time; smarter, sassier, and sexier with each version. Look at Sherlock Holmes, with its Robert Downey Jr.s and Benedict Cumberbatchs sexying the classic detective up, or the new Exodus movie, which frankly just seems unnecessary. A tried and true story is always solid for adaption and ODY-C is no expectation. A re-telling of the Homer epic The Odyssey, ODY-C brings a new spin to the epic, swapping genders and species while attempting to keep the core journey of the war-weary soldiers on their way home. While heavy on the art and colors, the story itself gets a bit lost in the delivery creating more of a visual trip than anything else. But, if anything, it’s pretty.
The comic opens up with warrior Odyssia praying for a safe journey home from her recent battle in depths of the cosmos. A leader of an all-female and alien army, we are introduced to their world that consists of mind-powered spaceships, multi-colored women, and the Greek gods themselves who ultimately guide the journey among petty jealousies and backhanded bets (and yes, the gods are also gender swapped). As Odyssia attempts to adjust to a life of peace, she gets flashbacks of her warlord days and quickly learns they are far from over when the ship is suddenly attacked. Among the flash attacks and hot action, uncertainties brew in her crew, leading her warriors to question her abilities as leader.
ODY-C is like the space opera of Classic Lit 101; interesting, yet probably in need of a bit of context. The comic seems to come from the idea that everyone has read The Odyssey and jumps right into the pretty words and visuals without any background story. While it’s natural for works to open up on a random scene and then explain it later, ODY-C never offers much of an explanation; just a “roll-with-it” kind of attitude. Frankly, I’m not 100% about what happened in it. There are aliens, sexual undertones, some kind of war, and a lot of colors? Honestly, it felt like coming in in the middle of a Heavy Metal comic that left the station three issues ago. But, speaking of Heavy Metal, the art is very reminiscent (if not a little cheap) of early Heavy Metal magazine. The actual technical aspects, such as figures and faces, are hard on the eyes, but the colors and visualization of outer space is pretty top notch. The panel layouts are very organic as well, adding very well to the overall flow of the work.
As much as this works attempts to bring new readers to old classics, it feels like it felt short of grabbing my attention. Unless it really picks up in issue two, you’re better off reading the writer Matt Fraction’s superhero work. I suggest Hawkeye.