Have you heard of The Lost City of Heracleon by Bruce Livingstone, with illustrations by Mike Willcox? It’s a graphic novel packed with a wild mash-up of time travel, Greek mythology, and World War themes — all in one crazy story. Here’s another question to ponder: what would you do to stop a World War? If that idea interests you, this graphic novel really explores it, becoming pretty deep and thought-provoking.
The story starts in a super weird way — imagine two boys getting contacted out of nowhere on a UHF Ham Radio, inviting them on an adventure. And get this: they end up diving into the ocean to begin their hero’s journey. Their initial mission? To enter a submarine. Yeah, it’s totally crazy when you think about it — and that’s just the beginning.
The two boys make their way into a shadowy, enigmatic submarine, and before long, they come face to face with the captain. Then, weird talk of a Codex and hints of other dimensions start to surface, leaving you completely in the dark about where the story might lead. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess what’s coming next.
As the story unfolds, the boys are transformed — older and stronger — and one of them even becomes a cat-man! At first, I wasn’t sure if I’d get into it — I kept flipping pages, thinking it might not be my thing. But I’m really glad I stuck with it because, overall, The Lost City of Heracleon turned out to be pretty interesting.
Sure, many parts didn’t quite click with me, but there were definitely some fascinating gems — especially when Zeus entered the story — and that made it all worthwhile. As for the cat-man idea, in my opinion, it should have been left out altogether.
Things really picked up for me once Greek mythology entered the scene — though that only happens in the second half of the book. And the story gets pretty philosophical too. Zeus, the king of the gods, drops some pretty interesting thoughts that really make you think. The second half ramps up the action and depth, especially with how they wove in the First World War — done really well.
Without giving too much away, I’ll just say you’re in for some surprises when you read The Lost City of Heracleon. It’s a wild ride that blends history, myth, and adventure in a way you’ll remember for a long time.
Even bizarre scorpion monsters make an appearance, so you never really know what surprises the creators of this strange story have in store — unless you dive into The Lost City of Heracleon yourself.
There’s also a goddess-like being in The Lost City of Heracleon. Aren’t you curious to discover her purpose?
The Lost City of Heracleon: Review of Zeus’s Role in the Story
The best part of The Lost City of Heracleon graphic novel was when Zeus entered the picture. However, that didn’t happen until page 146 of the 205-page story. Still, better late than never! Once Zeus arrived, the story really kicked into high gear. I honestly enjoyed this part. Just a heads-up: Heracles is mentioned, but he doesn’t really play a role in the story.
Zeus offers some profound insights into his way of thinking, delving into topics that get surprisingly deep.
Zeus even begins to contemplate the possibility of reconciliation with mortals. But how did it come to this?
Overall, Zeus plays a pivotal role in The Lost City of Heracleon, adding mysterious intrigue to the story. A surprising twist also awaits that will leave readers captivated. To discover what it is, you’ll need to dive into the book and experience the adventure firsthand.
The Lost City of Heracleon: An Epic Pre-World War I Adventure and Archaeological Mystery
In The Lost City of Heracleon, the daring heroes embark on a perilous journey through time to Sarajevo on June 27, 1914. Their mission: prevent the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and rewrite history itself. If they succeed, the devastating outbreak of World War I could be averted forever. But as they navigate the chaos and danger of a world on the brink of war, every second counts — because changing the past could have unpredictable consequences for the future.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist and member of the secret society known as the Black Hand. The assassination took place on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo and is widely regarded as the immediate trigger that led to the outbreak of World War I.
In the shadows of Sarajevo, a secretive figure emerges — Gavrilo Princip — carrying a plan that will ignite the flames of global conflict. But what if there’s more to the story? What if the assassination was no ordinary act, but somehow intertwined with forces beyond human understanding?
As the heroes in The Lost City of Heracleon delve into the past, they uncover a hidden conspiracy — and wait for it — Zeus himself may be pulling the strings from the divine realm. Prepare for a journey where history, myth, and mystery collide in ways you never imagined.
The Lost City of Heracleon: Graphic Novel Review
What can I say? Reading The Lost City of Heracleon was like riding a roller coaster through the underworld and climbing all the way up to Mount Olympus — sometimes at the same time. Honestly, I was close to giving up more than once, but I’m glad I stuck with it because the second half really redeemed the whole experience. Still, I can only give it a 6 out of 10.
This book from 2020 had so much potential, but it tried to cram in way too many crazy ideas. At first, it all felt a bit far-fetched, but then things got even wilder — with cat-man transformations and what seemed like the authors’ attempt to appeal to younger readers. And then, out of nowhere, it dives into full-blown philosophical territory, with Zeus dropping some heavy, mind-bending truths. I liked it, but honestly, I never would’ve guessed any of that if I hadn’t kept going.
So, it turns out Bruce Livingstone, the founder and former CEO of iStock, actually wrote the book. It’s a noble effort, but honestly, it could’ve been so much better with some editing, rewrites, and a bit more background on the boys, Shiro and Lou. And those names? Kinda random — what’s the story there? Overall, I think readers would’ve really connected more if we got to see what fuels their adventurous side a bit more.
Still, despite all the chaos, it’s a book I won’t forget anytime soon — a wild ride of extreme highs and lows that keeps you guessing. Trust me, it gets pretty interesting. And wait for it… Zeus might just have more to do with it than you think.
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You’ll find a vast selection of Greek mythology graphic novels and comics here as well, showcasing even more imaginative and compelling stories.
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