Lore Olympus: Volume One

Hades rushed to Persephone’s aid, only to find her unafraid as the menacing Cerberus sniffs her. Persephone tells him not to worry. She charms Cerberus, calling him a good boy. Hades is impressed (and secretly jealous of Cerberus) as he watches Persephone scratch the gatekeeper of the Underworld’s belly. He sends Cerberus outside and helps Persephone to her feet. When their hands touch, a crown of flowers appears on Persephone’s head, flustering her.

Because it is colder than Persephone is used to in the Underworld, Hades gives her a fur coat that he had intended to give to Hera, but which Hera returned to him. Persephone shyly accepts. Persephone sees Minthe calling Hades’s phone and asks who she is; Hades lies that she is an associate.

Persephone asks if Minthe is Hades’s lover; he and his brothers are known for their affairs. She immediately regrets asking. Both internally scream, Persephone over her lack of a filter, and Hades over his brothers’ reputations potentially ruining his chances with Persephone. Hades flirtatiously asks if he looks like a scoundrel, and Persephone mischievously replies 30%.

Persephone asks what happened last night, and Hades explains. Persephone apologizes, thinking she is interrupting Hades’s busy schedule. Hades, however, secretly wishes she was always there. She asks Hades to help her put on the jacket over her now extremely long hair; he initially mistakes it as a sexual advance. Persephone explains that her hair is so long because she has been having difficulty controlling her powers lately.

Realizing that Hades hasn’t introduced himself, she tells him he’s 31% scoundrel now. When he insists she must know who he is, she bumps it up to 32%. Hades introduces himself and hands her his business card, which contains all of his epithets as well as how to reach him. Persephone gives him a childish, hand-made business card, which introduces her as Kore, Goddess of Spring. Hades teases her about it.

Persephone is concerned why Eros would put her in this position. She blames it on her ignorance of life in the city. Hades reluctantly fesses up that it happened because he said Persephone was more beautiful than Aphrodite. Persephone bursts out laughing, thinking he must be joking. She thinks he is trying to make her feel better.

Still thinking Hades was joking, Persephone says only someone who was thinking irrationally would compare two goddesses. Laughing nervously, Hades agrees. They are distracted by the arrival of another of Hades’s dogs, a vicious Pomeranian named Cordon Bleu. Hades lifts Persephone away from the little dog’s yapping and jumping. Hades makes a nervous joke about him holding her again. Persephone asks about his dogs. He has seven: Cerberus; Cordon Bleu; Mushroom, a husky; Russell, a Shiba Inu, JP, a golden retriever; Fudge, a small orange dog; and Big John, a large white dog.

Persephone starts to ask a question but is interrupted when Zeus calls Hades. Zeus insists that Hades attend family brunch; when Hades refuses, Zeus gets angry, flaring up his lightning. Hades gives in and reluctantly takes Persephone home. As they leave, a green Satyr hidden in the bushes takes photographs of them with a telescopic camera. Hades reluctantly agrees to let Persephone drive.

Hades worries over Persephone’s driving. Persephone comments on the neon darkness of the Underworld. Hades cannot stand Apollo; he does not let the sun god into his realm. They pass a checkpoint and enter out into the light of Olympus, its pastel sunrise colors contrasting with the dark panels of scenes in the Underworld.

They reach Persephone’s place and are immediately accosted by an irate Artemis who calls Hades a pervert. Hades protests his innocence. He is distraught that Persephone is leaving. He jokingly calls her Kore, which embarrasses her. She tells him he’s now 20% a scoundrel before Artemis drags her inside and slams the door. Hades wistfully says goodbye, looking up at the pink sky.

Artemis is extremely apologetic for ditching Persephone at the party. She asks if she is all right, and if Hades touched her. Persephone mentally tabulates the seven times they touched in a series of small panels circling each time in red. She lies that he did not touch her.

Artemis is relieved that Persephone is fine. She helps Persephone cut her hair back into a pixie cut. Artemis gives Persephone her old, cracked cellphone—Demeter never let Persephone have a phone. Persephone is overjoyed.

Eros arrives. In the name of self-improvement, he wants to make amends for what he did to Persephone. Artemis and Persephone are not pleased to see him.