You are providing a very well-deserved boost to the reputation of a graphic novel, and, concomitantly, to other graphic novels. They are not just glorified "comic books" as some would characterize them. The research Bolger has done into Irish history and myth--as you point out--deserves scholarly examination--as you have provided. Many other graphic novels deserve a like treatment. Kudos to you and to Bolger.
I appreciate how you treat Hound as an adaptation, I feel like a lot of people treat mythic narratives as a set of facts in a wiki article rather than proper narratives, so the detailed comparisons are nice to see.
The myriad and contradictory nature of real world myths is one of the more fascinating (though at times frustrating) things that prove stories are allowed to change and evolve. "Hound" is definitely a welcome addition to modern retellings of the Ulster Cycle but my hope here is just to give readers a point of reference.
Another great article! I love how much detail is given. I fully realize it's a review of a dark fantasy novel. From the perspective of a "hard" devotional polytheist, there is one line I'd like to point out - 'The Morrigan’s washer woman form at the river" refers to Badb. She is a sister to An Morrigan but from my perspective is not a "form." From a hard polytheist perspective, each deity has autonomy, agency, sovereignty and personality. An Morrigan, Macha and Badb are related "daughters of Ernmas" but are separate beings. Again this is my own UPG that I've gained by nurturing the relationships I've had with all three of them. With that being said though, you did a fantastic review of this novel!
You are providing a very well-deserved boost to the reputation of a graphic novel, and, concomitantly, to other graphic novels. They are not just glorified "comic books" as some would characterize them. The research Bolger has done into Irish history and myth--as you point out--deserves scholarly examination--as you have provided. Many other graphic novels deserve a like treatment. Kudos to you and to Bolger.
I appreciate how you treat Hound as an adaptation, I feel like a lot of people treat mythic narratives as a set of facts in a wiki article rather than proper narratives, so the detailed comparisons are nice to see.
The myriad and contradictory nature of real world myths is one of the more fascinating (though at times frustrating) things that prove stories are allowed to change and evolve. "Hound" is definitely a welcome addition to modern retellings of the Ulster Cycle but my hope here is just to give readers a point of reference.
Another great article! I love how much detail is given. I fully realize it's a review of a dark fantasy novel. From the perspective of a "hard" devotional polytheist, there is one line I'd like to point out - 'The Morrigan’s washer woman form at the river" refers to Badb. She is a sister to An Morrigan but from my perspective is not a "form." From a hard polytheist perspective, each deity has autonomy, agency, sovereignty and personality. An Morrigan, Macha and Badb are related "daughters of Ernmas" but are separate beings. Again this is my own UPG that I've gained by nurturing the relationships I've had with all three of them. With that being said though, you did a fantastic review of this novel!