Yakin,
Boaz, and Joe Infurnari. Marathon. Macmillan/First
Second 180p $16.99 978-1-59643-680-0 hs VG-BN Graphic nonfiction
“The month: August, 490 BC. Temperature:
108 degrees, Fahrenheit. Distance from Athens
to Sparta: 153 Miles.”
Eucles, a former Persian slave, has survived to become an Athenian messenger. During the Battle of Marathon, he runs from Athens to Sparta (approximately 150 miles) to plea for Spartan assistance in the battle. Eucles then immediately runs from Sparta to Marathon to deliver the Spartans’ reply. Eucles and a small band of soldiers then run the remaining 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver news from the battlefront and warn the citizens of Athens of the Persians’ impending attack from sea.
Eucles’ actions were so heroic, particularly in the final leg of his run to Athens, that runners at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 were inspired to recreate the Marathon-to-Athens race.
Readers do not have to be history buffs to appreciate the drama of this thrilling graphic novel. The tone and cartoons are reminiscent of Miller’s “300.” Infurnari’s artwork is compelling. But the plotting is a bit disjointed and readers need to stay focused to follow the story line as it threads back and forth in time.
Eucles, a former Persian slave, has survived to become an Athenian messenger. During the Battle of Marathon, he runs from Athens to Sparta (approximately 150 miles) to plea for Spartan assistance in the battle. Eucles then immediately runs from Sparta to Marathon to deliver the Spartans’ reply. Eucles and a small band of soldiers then run the remaining 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver news from the battlefront and warn the citizens of Athens of the Persians’ impending attack from sea.
Eucles’ actions were so heroic, particularly in the final leg of his run to Athens, that runners at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 were inspired to recreate the Marathon-to-Athens race.
Readers do not have to be history buffs to appreciate the drama of this thrilling graphic novel. The tone and cartoons are reminiscent of Miller’s “300.” Infurnari’s artwork is compelling. But the plotting is a bit disjointed and readers need to stay focused to follow the story line as it threads back and forth in time.
Graphic novels,
Battle of Marathon -- Hilary Welliver
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