He’s a trickster, a swindler, and a master manipulator skilled in the art of subterfuge and deception. At times insidious and other times resourceful, he straddles along the crossroads between good and evil, bending his will to orchestrate deeds that serve his intentions. He is none other than Loki, notorious Jotunn turned Aesir, adopted into the kinship of the Asgardians via his blood-brother Odin. In his third installment of Norse mythology, George O’Connor (Olympians series) reimagines one of the most manipulative and adroit characters that has evolved into a colorful icon in comics, movies, television shows, and videogames.
In this Asgardian series, Loki is pitted against a multitude of tasks that challenge his indefatigable problem-solving prowess and ingenuity. The first story introduces a master builder who proposes a wager to construct a fortifying wall around Asgard by winter’s end, and in exchange, win the fair Vanir goddess Freyja as his prize. Can Loki prevent her from being gifted to a stranger? In another tale of wit and strength, he challenges the ferocious wolf Fenrir to break free from a series of binds, each one stronger than the next. Will he outsmart the monstrous canine in a cunning battle of strength and tenacity? Then on his way to pay off a debt, he sets his eyes upon the golden apples from the tree of Idunn, Aesir goddess of youth, that grant Asgardians longevity.
Each tale highlights Loki’s ingenuity and resourcefulness, offering a glimpse into his manipulative mind—whether for good or evil, self-preservation or self-aggrandizement—always in devotion to a predicated cause engineered by deliberate scheming. Interludes break up the stories, detouring into the lives of other characters within the Norse mythos, some of whom indirectly or inevitably intersect with Loki’s exploits. Origin stories revolve around side characters like Hodr, blind brother of Baldr and Hel, dark queen who rules over the realm of the dead. Well-crafted dialogue infuse each character with a unique persona as they cross paths with each other. Foreboding moments unfold through strategically paced panels, some consisting of individual shots that build mounting tension, increasing a threatening sense of dread.
The final tale concludes with ominous overtones, centered on a challenge of chance—triggered in part by Loki—between Hodr and Baldr. Haunting repercussions reverberate, suggesting that something far worst is yet to come, presumably in a future volume. Once again, O’Connor revivifies a most conniving and mercurial deity from Norse mythology, supplementing middle graphic novel collections with vibrant adaptations of world myths.
Asgardians: Loki By George O’Connor Macmillan Roaring Brook, 2025 ISBN: 9781250760814
While the gallant, golden-haired warrior of the Avengers steals the screen with lightning force in Marvel blockbuster movies as sworn protector of Asgard, the Asgardians series by George O’Connor (Olympians series) sheds a slightly different light on this iconic hammer-wielding thunder god of Norse mythology. His version presents a cruder depiction of the god of thunder imbued with a healthy dose of swaggering charm and bravado.
The frame story begins with a gruff, primitively dressed Thor wandering about on a desolate island toward the edge of a river. He seeks passage from a lone ferryman to transport him across to Midgard so he can return to his celestial home in Asgard. The ferryman agrees to grant his request only if Thor can prove his identity as the mighty warrior of myth and legend. From there, a series of extraordinary tales of his adventurous exploits unfold: The anecdotes run the gamut of origin stories ranging from how he procured a pair of goat steads to drive his chariot throughout the nine realms to the forging of his powerful hammer Mjollnir. Then there’s the day his iconic hammer was stolen by Thrymr, king of the Jotnar, and how he ransomed it in exchange for Freyja’s (Vanir goddess of beauty) hand in marriage—and the cunning scheme concocted by the mischievous trickster Loki to retrieve it. Packed with mythic tales like nested Russian matryoshka dolls, one story leads right into the next in Arabian Nights fashion, stringing together various stories that paint a panoramic mosaic of Norse mythic lore.
Interwoven into these stories are themes of cultivating perseverance, building strength of character, and discerning truth from deception. Character designs capture the essence of their distinct roles and personas. The Herculean-like brute strength of Thor, the wily craftiness of Loki, the riotous and sinister nature of Thymr, and a host of other characters occupy dynamically charged scenes with narrative and character interplay. As in his other series, O’Connor provides a glossary of Norse deities, places, and magical weapons accompanied by content endnotes that went into adapting and shaping these stories, thus making this a fun and insightful supplement to youth-based mythology collections.
Asgardians: Thor By George O’Connor Macmillan First Second, 2024 ISBN: 9781250760791
He is known by many names, including Grimnir, the Gallows God, the All-Father, and Chooser of the Slain. His thirst for knowledge led him through the mystic realms of Norse cosmology. Donning his signature cloak, hat, and walking staff, he is the Traveler. He is regarded as the one-eyed god of Asgard, chief ruler of the Aesir. As a companion to the Olympians series, New York Times bestselling graphic novelist and mythology enthusiast George O’Connor turns the spotlight onto the Norse pantheon beginning with Odin, highest and eldest of them all.
The opening scene launches on a war-torn battlefield where skies have darkened with ashen smoke rising to the heavens as corpses lay strewn on the ground, stray crows feeding on them. Within moments, the rapid galloping of hooves thunder through the air as armed battle maidens mounted on horses retrieve departed souls, spiriting them skyward to a grand celestial palace whose doors open into a majestic hall packed with fellow warriors feasting together. Thus begins the introduction to this inaugural volume of the Norse gods, an epic mythic world brimming with ill-fated destinies, cryptic prophesies, self-sacrifice, and persistent quests for knowledge.
O’Connor employs a second-person narrative voice that speaks directly to readers, conjuring forth an enchanting storytelling style that permeates a series of fragmented stories and lore, immersing readers in a world of myth, magic, and mystery. Tales of creation and war abound from the early ages of Ginnungagap—a vast primordial void floating between the fiery land of Muspell and the misty world of Niflheim—to a feudal war between the bloodthirsty tribes of the Aesir and mysterious seers of Vanir. The ice giant Ymir awakens and gives life to humans, monsters, gods, and every creature in between. This world-building premise transports readers into a world where everyone and practically every sacred object has a name and origin, setting up details that will presumably resurface in future volumes. This debut volume highlights the chief leader Odin himself: how he hung himself on a tree for nine days and nine nights to gain secret knowledge of runes, struck a blood pact with the insidious trickster Loki to become his blood brother, and traded his eye in exchange for wisdom.
Meticulously rendered dialogue characterizes each significant character, capturing a unique persona all of their own. Full page panels and double spreads highlight the imperial palace of Valhalla, home of slain noble warriors, and Yggdrasil, the colossal world tree around which the nine realms of Norse cosmology revolve. Back matter content features an extensive glossary, key character portraits and spotlights, and “Norse Code” notes revealing O’Connor’s enriching insights to corresponding panels in the book. Although the stories may seem scattered and fragmented, this is indicative of the lack of primary source material now lost, forgotten, or buried. Anticipated volumes will most likely fill in gaps with other characters and mystifying adventures as the series unfolds. Asgardians: Odin will complement graphic novel collections for young readers eager for mythic sagas, supporting the trending appeal of works of fantasy inspired by the folklore of world mythologies.
Asgardians: Odin By George O’Connor Macmillan First Second, 2024 ISBN: 9781250760777
Publisher Age Rating: 9-14 NFNT Age Recommendation: Tween (10-13)
resourceful, he straddles along the crossroads between good and evil, bending his will to orchestrate deeds that serve his intentions. He is none other than Loki, notorious Jotunn turned Aesir, adopted into the kinship of the Asgardians via his blood-brother Odin. In his third installment of Norse mythology, George O’Connor (Olympians series) reimagines one of the most manipulative and adroit characters that has evolved into a colorful icon in comics, movies, television shows, and videogames.
While the gallant, golden-haired warrior of the Avengers steals the screen with lightning force in Marvel blockbuster movies as sworn protector of Asgard, the Asgardians series by George O’Connor (Olympians series) sheds a slightly different light on this iconic hammer-wielding thunder god of Norse mythology. His version presents a cruder depiction of the god of thunder imbued with a healthy dose of swaggering charm and bravado.
He is known by many names, including Grimnir, the Gallows God, the All-Father, and Chooser of the Slain. His thirst for knowledge led him through the mystic realms of Norse cosmology. Donning his signature cloak, hat, and walking staff, he is the Traveler. He is regarded as the one-eyed god of Asgard, chief ruler of the Aesir. As a companion to the Olympians series, New York Times bestselling graphic novelist and mythology enthusiast George O’Connor turns the spotlight onto the Norse pantheon beginning with Odin, highest and eldest of them all.
