Lore Olympus Wins Second Consecutive Eisner Award

WEBTOON, the world’s largest digital comics platform, is celebrating Rachel Smythe’s second consecutive Best Webcomic Eisner Award for Lore Olympus. The win was revealed during the 2023 Eisner Awards ceremony at Comic-Con International: San Diego on Friday night.

Lore Olympus 101

Lore Olympus is a modern retelling of one of mythology’s greatest stories that has amassed more than 1.5 billion global views on WEBTOON. After launching on WEBTOON in 2018, the webcomic has since burgeoned into a two-time Eisner Award-winning global phenomenon. The series has multiple #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novel adaptations published by Del Rey Books, a merchandise deal, and an animated series in development from Wattpad WEBTOON Studios and The Jim Henson Company.

Witness what the gods do…after dark. The friendships and lies, the gossip and the wild parties, and of course, forbidden love. Because it turns out, the gods aren’t so different from us after all, especially when it comes to their problems. Stylish and immersive, this is one of mythology’s greatest stories–The Taking of Persephone–as it’s never been told before.

Created by Rachel Smythe, Lore Olympus follows the complicated and slow burn relationship between Persephone, goddess of Spring, and Hades, King of the Underworld. The entire pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses fill Smythe’s colorful world with their drama, intrigue, and chaos one would expect from mythology.

Hades and Persephone share a private moment in court — Hades and Persephone

Critical Acclaim

This is the second consecutive Eisner win for both Smythe and WEBTOON, following a growing global fandom and accolades for Lore Olympus. The webcomic has also won prestigious Harvey Awards in 2021 2022 for Best Digital Book, the Prix Babelio – Bande Dessinéea in 2021, and a 2021 Good Reads Choice Award. “Lore Olympus” also won its first Ringo Award in 2022 for Best Webcomic, following a 2021 nomination. The series is again nominated for the 2023 Ringo Award for Best Webcomic.

“I love being an artist and a storyteller, and sharing Lore Olympus with the world has been incredibly fulfilling, both personally and professionally,” saidRachel Smythe. “WEBTOON has been an amazing, collaborative partner throughout this journey, and to “Seeing Lore Olympus celebrated by fans around the world and my industry peers is beyond what I could have ever dreamed.”

Author

Jenna Wrenn

Host and executive producer of the Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast, Jenna Wrenn, is also an entertainment correspondent for Temple of Geek. Jenna has conducted interviews with talent such as Max Brooks, Christopher Paolini, Rachel Smythe, and Ashley Eckstein and has written several articles for Temple of Geek covering conventions, anime, pop culture, and much more. A historian by trade, a writer by passion, and a cat mom by birthright. Jenna loves to travel, forge new connections, and cosplay. Jenna is excited to bring more fascinating interviews to viewers/listeners of the Portrait of a Fangirl podcast.
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Jenna Wrenn

Host and executive producer of the Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast, Jenna Wrenn, is also an entertainment correspondent for Temple of Geek. Jenna has conducted interviews with talent such as Max Brooks, Christopher Paolini, Rachel Smythe, and Ashley Eckstein and has written several articles for Temple of Geek covering conventions, anime, pop culture, and much more.

A historian by trade, a writer by passion, and a cat mom by birthright. Jenna loves to travel, forge new connections, and cosplay. Jenna is excited to bring more fascinating interviews to viewers/listeners of the Portrait of a Fangirl podcast.