George O’Connor Books In Order

Publication Order of Asgardian Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Olympians Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Anthologies

George O’Connor is an American cartoonist and illustrator that is best known for the ‘Olympians’ series of graphic novels. O’Connor’s books tell action-packed adventures filled with monsters and romance.

+Biography

Born in 1973, George O’Connor loved to tell stories as a child. He also loved to draw and he would spend many an hour producing pictures that told stories of monsters. The author’s schooling experience had a powerful impact on his decision to go into the publishing business.

As a fifth-grader, George O’Connor was fortunate to participate in an experimental program at school that saw him and other children abandon their normal classes in favor of spending their days pursuing creative activities.

Those activities included writing and journaling. The group was permitted to express themselves artistically in whatever way pleased them. During those months, O’Connor was exposed to Greek Mythology.

His immersion in that world sparked the fire that would eventually become the Olympians series. O’Connor remembers spending the next several years reading everything he could find about the Greek heroes, Gods, and Monsters.

He invested in Books like D’aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths which helped arrange the Greek Mythological landscape into a cohesive narrative.

At the time, the author had no idea how useful his stores of information would become. He certainly had no idea how famous his work with ‘First Second’ would make him. But he knew for a fact that he would become an illustrator.

He went on to create a children’s picture book called ‘Kapow’ for Simon and Schuster. The book was a big hit. Exploring the tales of a little boy and his friends who imagine their lives as superheroes, the book drew upon George O’Connor’s adoration for comic books.

Before getting lost in Greek Mythology, the author was a pretty big comic book nerd. In fact, O’Connor believes he was drawn to Greek Mythology because he came to see the stories of Hercules and Hermes and their ilk as predecessors to the contemporary tales of characters like Batman and Superman.

George O’Connor was tasked to design ‘Kapow’ with Mark Siegel. It was the sort of blessing that kept on giving because the pair proceeded to collaborate on numerous other works.

Mark Siegel had always talked about creating a comics imprint at Simon and Schuster. O’Connor was all on board with the idea but it never went beyond the planning phase.

Later on, O’Connor had a chance to work with Roaring Brook. To his shock, the author encountered Mark Siegel again. This time Siegel had succeeded in convincing the publisher to give him the comics imprint he dreamed of.

Siegel asked O’Connor to submit a few ideas. The author gave him ‘Journey into Mohawk’. The idea was sparked by a book O’Connor read about a Dutch surgeon who brokered a deal with the Mohawk people in North America.

Siegel was looking for non-fiction ideas and it wasn’t long before George O’Connor sold him a graphic novel of the story. O’Connor was ready to write and illustrate the story which eventually became the author’s first true graphic novel.

Published in 2006, the book elicited a lot of interest in George O’Connor who had based his story on a single English translation of the journal his Dutch Surgeon hero had kept.

The idea for the Olympians graphic novel series was crafted sometime after that. And it wasn’t even the author’s idea, to begin with. Though, O’Connor admits that at the time he had been toying with the idea of telling a story about the Greek gods in the modern day.

O’Connor’s goal was to take a closer look at the various facets of modern society. O’Connor mentioned the idea to Neal Porter, his editor at Roaring Brook. They were at Porter’s apartment comparing notes on a project.

O’Connor said something that manifested his extensive knowledge of Greek Mythology. Porter suggested that O’Connor retell the Greek Myths in graphic novel format. The author couldn’t believe that the idea had never crossed his mind.

Within two weeks, O’Connor had his first draft of the first book in the Olympians series ready. The story came together for him in a burst of creativity. He knew almost immediately that he would produce up to a dozen books in the series.

His understanding of the Greek myths told him there was too much story to be told in a single volume. And First Second agreed with him. They paired him with Neal Porter and the pair proceeded to create the stories for which George O’Connor is best known.

O’Connor tends to do the scripting and drawing of his stories at the same time. He also prefers using pen and paper when drawing.

The author counts artists like Mike Mignola, Walt Simonson, and Bill Watterson among his influences.

Besides Greek Mythology, George O’Connor’s other passions include Masters of the Universe, Standup and improv comedy.

+Zeus

In the beginning of all things, Kronos ruled the Cosmos. He was a frightening dictator, the most deadly of the Titans, ruling largely unchallenged.

Then Zeus, his son, stood up and made the decision to face his father in a battle that would decide the fate of the universe.

This is the first graphic novel in the Olympians series. The book tells the story upon which all of Greek Mythology is founded. It tells of how the earth was formed and where the Titans came from and the means through which the Greek Gods came to be.

It elevates Kronos to the place of the villain, a tyrant who sought to eat his children even as they were born but somehow missed his youngest. And that child grew up to become Zeus, the god who would challenge Kronos, defeat the Titans and save the earth.

+Athena

Athena is a warrior goddess and, through the three fates, five astonishing tales of her bravery will be revealed, tales of treachery, cruelty, fearsome.

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, crafts, and tactical warfare, and the second book in the Olympians series tries to lay out her biography. The book sheds light on her person using a variety of classic stories that give depth to her character.

While the book is educational in nature, it also endeavors to entertain. O’connor creates an interesting blend of well known Athena stories and some of her lesser known adventures.