Rachel Smythe

Rachel Smythe is a New Zealand-born artist and writer best known as the creator of *Lore Olympus*, a modern romance webcomic that reimagines the myth of Persephone and Hades. She was born in New Zealand and began her career in comics by posting early *Lore Olympus* pages to her Tumblr in 2017. The series quickly gained traction, leading her to publish it weekly on Webtoon Discover in April 2017, before relaunching it on Webtoon Canvas in March 2018. The story concluded in June 2024 after three seasons and 280 episodes.

Smythe serves as the sole writer, artist, colorist, inker, and letterer for the series, a role she has maintained across 14 credited issues from 2021 to 2025. Her signature style blends lush, painterly digital art with expressive character designs and a vibrant, pastel-heavy palette that contrasts with the darker themes of the original myths. *Lore Olympus* has earned her two Eisner Awards, two Harvey Awards, and two Ringo Awards. In 2019, a television adaptation was announced for Amazon Prime Video. Smythe’s work has helped popularize webcomics as a legitimate storytelling medium, and she remains a prominent figure in the digital comics landscape.