Medusa & Perseus - by Andre Breinbauer (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Was Medusa a monster? Was Perseus a hero? Andre Breinbauer explores the famous mythological tale in his debut graphic novel, telling the story from two differing perspectives. Abused by a god and cursed by a goddess for her indiscretion, Medusa is subject to cruel circumstances. Perseus, still a child, is a plaything of the powerful. Featuring a unique storytelling device, Medusa + Perseus is read from both sides, offering parallel points-of-view before the characters' legendary clash when they meet in the middle.

About the Author

Andre Breinbauer's comic debut is an unusual reinterpretation of the Greek myth of Medusa. Unusual not least because of the format: the reversible comic can be started from either the front or the back, from the respective perspective of each of the two protagonists. In the middle, their fates meet in a dramatic climax. Medusa's tale is at times oppressively wordless and kept in sombre shades of black and grey, while Perseus' story is colourful and chatty. Breinbauer explores the question of who is actually the monster and who the heroic figure. He deconstructs the clichÃ(c) of the man-killing Gorgon and the famous Greek hero by reversing the roles of perpetrator and victim and adding a feminist perspective to the narrative.