The hit webcomic, Lore Olympus, has become the first series on Webtoon’s platform to win an Eisner award, cementing its place in the comic industry.
This year, the hit WEBTOON series Lore Olympus is winning an Eisner Award—a massive milestone. The mythology-inspired romance has charmed readers since its debut in 2018. As the most popular series on the platform, this WEBTOON comic is making huge strides in the comic industry.
Lore Olympus is a romance webcomic that retells the story of Persephone and Hades. Created by Rachel Smythe, it has garnered over one billion views and boasts 5.9 million subscribers as of July 2022. The series was previously nominated for an Eisner in the Best Webcomic category in 2020, though the crown was taken by Sophie Yanow’s The Contradictions. Now, Lore Olympus is taking the title for itself.
Lore Olympus has been awarded this year’s Eisner Award for Best Webcomic at San Diego Comic Con. This is Rachel Smythe’s first Eisner, though it isn’t her first award for Lore Olympus. This series won a Harvey award in 2021, as well as France’s 2022 Prix Babelio – Bande Dessinée award. Its first volume topped The New York Times Best Seller list in 2021 and its fan base has only grown since. Lore Olympus is paving the way for WEBTOON’s future as the first series on the platform to win an Eisner award.
Considering Lore Olympus’ rich and vibrant illustrations and captivating storyline, it’s easy to see why this webcomic received such an iconic award. Smythe also isn’t afraid to, unapologetically, explore the nuances of sensitive subjects such as toxicity in relationships and the complex emotions that frequently follow sexual trauma. Additonally, the situations the characters find themselves in humanizes them in a way that provides an avenue for to connect to readers around the globe. Regarding the announcement, Smythe says, “I couldn’t be more excited to receive this incredible award, and am honored to be the first WEBTOON creator to accomplish this achievement. Lore Olympus has been life-changing for me, and I am so proud to share this story with WEBTOON’s global community.’
Ken Kim, the CEO of WEBTOON Americas, adds:
Rachel Smythe is a singular storyteller and creative talent who we are proud to work with every day. Lore Olympus has captivated readers and built a massive global fanbase with its incredible art and storytelling. As one of Rachel’s biggest fans, I am thrilled to see her work and vision be recognized with this award, which is the latest example of what we already know at WEBTOON: that WEBTOON creators are the most exciting and innovative comic creators in the world.
In 2004, WEBTOON was initially launched in Korea and has grown exponentially. It then launched in the U.S. in 2014. It has since had numerous collaborations and partnerships with Marvel (Eternals: The 500 Year War), DC Comics (Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, Vixen: NYC, Red Hood: Outlaws, and Zatanna & The Ripper), Archie Comics (Big Ethel Energy), and HYBE (7Fates: Chakho which is inspired by BTS). Additionally, there have been Netflix adaptations of Hellbound, All of Us are Dead, and Sweet Home, bringing digital comics to a broader audience. Lore Olympus is the next of many major successes. With this Eisner award to add to the platform’s growing accomplishments, the future for WEBTOON, Lore Olympus, and digital comics as a whole appears to be very bright.
About The Author
