The recent release of the film ‘Odyssey’ has sparked a surge in demand for books related to Greek and Roman mythology, with a particular focus on a long out-of-print comic book series. This phenomenon is driving up prices and creating scarcity in the secondhand market, as adults seek to reconnect with childhood memories.
‘Odyssey’ Film Ignites Mythology Book Craze
Following the premiere of Christopher Nolan’s film ‘Odyssey’, interest in Homer’s epic poems and other works of Greek and Roman mythology has seen a significant uptick. Among the most sought-after items is the 2000s-era comic book series, ‘Greek and Roman Mythology Explained Through Comics’ (만화로 보는 그리스 로마 신화). Originally popular among children and teenagers, this specific series is now experiencing a resurgence in demand on used book platforms, leading to its scarcity.
Data from the used marketplace Danggeun Market indicates that from the film’s release on March 5th to March 17th, searches for ‘Greek and Roman Mythology’ increased by approximately 250% compared to the period before the film’s debut. This surge in interest even surpassed searches for Homer’s ‘Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’. A similar trend is observable on e-book and digital reading platforms. On Milly’s Library, the average number of daily ‘shelf additions’ for nine related titles, including ‘Greek and Roman Mythology Explained Through Comics Vol. 15’, rose by 3.9 times compared to pre-release figures.
The Appeal of ‘Greek and Roman Mythology Explained Through Comics’
‘Greek and Roman Mythology Explained Through Comics’ was first published by Ganache Publishing in November 2000. The series achieved immense popularity, selling over 10 million copies cumulatively among young readers. The specific editions currently in high demand on the secondhand market are those illustrated by artist Hong Eun-young.
The series was originally planned to comprise 20 main volumes and 5 special editions, totaling 25 books. However, volumes 1 through 18, illustrated by Hong Eun-young, went out of print following a dispute between the artist and the publisher regarding copyright. This led to a court ruling that halted further publication of those specific volumes. Subsequently, a new series with illustrations by a different artist was released.
Many who read the series during their school days recall the distinct artistic style of the early volumes. One reader, Ms. Jang (35), noted, “I stopped reading after the artwork changed when the story depicted Odysseus’s return journey to his homeland. When I talk to other fans, many remember Odysseus’s arduous journey home but are fuzzy on the details of what happened afterward.” This sentiment highlights a desire to revisit and complete the narrative they experienced in their youth.
Out-of-Print Editions Fetch High Prices
The increased demand following the film’s release has inevitably driven up the prices of the out-of-print editions. While the current revised edition of ‘Greek and Roman Mythology Explained Through Comics’, consisting of 20 volumes, has a retail price of around 210,000 won, complete sets including Hong Eun-young’s original illustrations are being listed on secondhand platforms for anywhere between 400,000 and 1 million won. These prices are two to five times the cost of the current editions.
Finding these older volumes is also challenging in physical bookstores. An inspection of eight used bookstores in the Cheonggyecheon area of Seoul revealed that only one store possessed even a portion of the out-of-print editions illustrated by Hong. The situation has become so desperate that instances of theft have been reported.
Mr. A, who runs a used bookstore in the Nowon district of Seoul, shared his experience: “I recently had my out-of-print copies of ‘Greek and Roman Mythology Explained Through Comics’ stolen.” He added, “Finding even single volumes is difficult, let alone complete sets – it’s like reaching for the stars.” He observed that with the sudden influx of demand, both the purchase and sale prices of these books have risen concurrently.
Nostalgia Consumption: A Passing Fad?
Experts view this phenomenon as a form of “nostalgia consumption,” where adults revisit content they encountered in their youth. The individuals who read this comic series as children and teenagers in the early 2000s have now reached their 20s and 30s, possessing purchasing power. The ‘Odyssey’ film has apparently served as a catalyst, rekindling those past memories.
Similar trends have occurred previously. For instance, after the film ‘The First Slam Dunk’ was released, based on the popular manga ‘Slam Dunk’, the original manga and related merchandise experienced a revival in popularity, leading to the opening of pop-up stores in South Korea.
Choi Chul-sook, a professor of Consumer Economics at Sookmyung Women’s University, commented, “This can be seen as a phenomenon where adults repurchase related products, evoking the scent of their childhood and memories.” However, she cautioned, “The current situation, where the prices of out-of-print comic books are skyrocketing in a short period, is highly likely to be a temporary trend.”
The intense demand for these specific volumes underscores the powerful connection people have with formative cultural experiences and the lengths they will go to recapture those feelings, even if it means paying a premium for a piece of their past.
