Lord Hades’s Ruthless Marriage Volume 1 Review

“Whosoever removes the arrow of Eros that has pierced my forehead… shall be granted whatever they wish for.” Lord Hades

King of the Underworld, Lord Hades, has never married – unlike his brothers Zeus and Poseidon. So when Eros, the god of love, shoots him with one of his infamous arrows, there seems to be no way to remove the pesky arrow from his forehead, except to fall in love with and marry the first person he sees! But who would want to become Queen of the Underworld? It’s a dreary and dark place and everything Hades touches tends to crumble to dust…

Nevertheless, a mysterious interloper has crept into Hades’s palace, accompanied by the sweet, fresh scent of flowers. Leaning a little too far over a high balcony to see what Hades is doing, she topples over, falling on top of him and dislodging the arrow which then disappears. Could it be that she’s the one for him? As Hypnos and Thanatos, Hades’s twin retainers, rush to the rescue (followed, of course, by Kerberos, the three-headed guard-dog) the young woman reveals that she is Kore, the goddess of spring, and her wish (which Hades must now grant to keep his word) is that he should choose a consort. “But not me, ‘kay?” she adds, smiling winningly. No sooner is the news announced than Lord Zeus and his wife Hera, the goddess of marriage, arrive to bless Hades’s upcoming union. Their marital problems soon dominate everything, not helped by the revelation that Kore is one of Zeus’s many illegitimate offspring. Hades protects Kore when Hera throws a goddess-sized hissy fit – but she and Zeus are soon reconciled and depart. A letter then arrives in which Hera declares she will send Hades her most powerful divine blessing and plenty of bride candidates.

First to arrive is Athena, warrior maiden, and, rather awkwardly, a virgin goddess, sworn to eternal chastity. She insists on a pre-nuptial contract so as the parties sit down to discuss the terms, Kore arrives with some considerable objections to what’s being proposed.

But why is it that the next to arrive (sending Kore into a complete panic) is none other than Kore’s over-protective mother, Lady Demeter, goddess of fertility? Surely this mature, maternal figure can’t be a prospective bride as well? And why is Kore hiding in the Underworld?

The myths and legends of Ancient Greece have been undergoing something of a renaissance in the last decade, from novels such as Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles and Circe to ongoing graphic novel/webtoon Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe, which also tells the story of Hades and Persephone (Kore) but in a contemporary context. Ueki Yuho gives us a wonderful reimagining of the original story with full Ancient Greek trappings, many witty touches, and some truly dazzling drawings. This really is a pleasure to read and will appeal not just to all who have a fondness for Ancient Greek legends. It’s also very accessible even if you’re unfamiliar with the mythology, because it’s all explained as you read – yet never in a boring or didactic way. The artwork is superb with fitting nods to manga traditions, as in three-headed Kerberos, the fearsome hound guardian of the Underworld who transforms into an (almost) cute chibi version around Hades’s palace. Inside the covers are two very striking images in stark black and white, bordered by friezes, based on the artwork we associate with vases from Ancient Greece and yet ever-so-slightly disrespectful in that Lord Hades is seen in profile with the arrow in his forehead; the other shows his winged twin retainers Hypnos and Thanatos.

The translation for Yen Press is by Tomo Kimura and adopts just the right tone, moving effortlessly between the speech of the immortals in formal situations to their realistic everyday exchanges, some of which are genuinely funny. The variety of differing lettering styles employed by Adnazeer Macalangcom help to bring the pantheon of mythological characters and their reactions and overreactions to vivid life. It’s a shame, given the striking cover art, that Yen Press don’t include any colour pages but the only extra is the ‘Mythological Gallery’ at the end, comprising two double-page spreads depicting the main characters. The series is only three volumes long and the next volume is due out in April 2024.

This madcap gallop through a well-known Ancient Greek legend brings a refreshing new slant to the timeless tale of the changing seasons on earth, while introducing many characters from mythology and showing them in a ‘new’ light. With such accomplished art and delightful storytelling, the first volume of Ueji Yuho’s re-working of the legend of Hades and Persephone comes highly recommended.

Our review copy from Yen Press was supplied by Diamond Book Distributors UK.