Writer: Blandine Le Callet Artist: Nancy Peña Translator: Montana Kane

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Blandine Le Callet is a French writer, novelist, short story author, essayist, and comic book scriptwriter. Her novels have earned her several literary awards.

Publisher: Dark Horse Books (May 21, 2024) Length: 320 pages 

What’s the truth about Medea? Monster, victim, or something in between? In Medea, Blandine Le Callet and Nancy Peña give the infamous sorceress the mic to tell her side of the story, and trust me, it’s awesome.

We start in Colchis, where a young Medea grows up in the shadow of her terrifying father, King Aeëtes, and his obsession with saving her sickly little brother at any cost. Her childhood is relatively carefree except for men not allowing her to do archery instead of embroidery. There’s also a family drama and priestesses interested in her. As she learns the arts of healing and magic at the temple of Hecate, it’s clear her father sees her as less of a daughter and more of a tool. A mistake that leads straight to tragedy.

Le Callet’s take on Medea is bold - the story frames her as a strong, clever, and fiercely independent woman in a world hell-bent on controlling her. The book challenges the narrative of Medea as a bloodthirsty villain, instead showing her as a victim of circumstance who occasionally makes, well, very questionable choices. The writing is sharp, and the feminist undertones are unmistakable (and satisfying).

Nancy Peña’s artwork is stunning. I love how she uses color and light to shift between Medea’s bright beginnings and her darker adulthood. The pacing stumbles at times, but Medea’s journey is so gripping it’s easy to forgive a few slow moments.

If you’ve ever wondered why mythology painted Medea as a monster while her male peers got off scot-free, this retelling is for you. It’s bold, tragic, and, most importantly, finally Medea’s story.