166. PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY: Ozymandias
MORE POETRY COMICS: Ithaka. Invictus. Phenomenal Woman. The Road Not Taken.
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) was an English poet. Ozymandias is Shelley’s most famous poem and was the result of a friendly competition between him and fellow poet Horace Smith. They often would have a poetry battle where a topic was chosen and they would only have 15 minutes to finish a sonnet. You can compare Shelley’s and Smith’s poems on Wikipedia and read an extensive history of the poem in this article by The Economist.
Ozymandias enjoyed a boost in popularity last year after it was used as the title for one of the final episodes of Breaking Bad. In this promo, Bryan Cranston ominously recites the poem in character as Walter White, king of meth dealers.
UPDATE (March 2017): Looks like the remains of the real Ozymandias statue was just discovered in Egypt.
Thanks to Aaron, Marcos, Moor, Frédy, Stephen, Adrian and Aldrin for submitting this poem.
Discussion (61) ¬
This is beautiful. It is my favorite poem, I just got goosebumps.
Request to make this a poster? I would buy this as a poster.
I second that! Poster, please!
You have so majestically captured the essence of the poem Gav!
So beautiful!so heart-touching!
This is great! I really like the central vignette, a lot of work on that one.
You mentioned Breaking Bad, but what about The Watchmen?
There’s no “The” in the title, but I’m glad you pointed this out. I was actually really surprised he didn’t mention this comic (or even the movie) which even has a main character with the name Ozymandias. After all, he makes comics!
Yes, when I think of Ozymandias it is because of Watchmen movie and later the comic book who introduced me to the character.
It is also quoted in the strategy game Civilization 4:
http://civilization.wikia.com/wiki/Construction_(Civ4)
Time is more powerful than any ruler.
or creator.
This is one of my favourite poems, since I first read it in elementary school (I think?). And I LOVED this comic! I think i might have to get a line of this as a tattoo now… thanks for doing this and reminding me how much I love this poem!
Lovely portrayal of the poem . Brings back memories of doing this poem with students. This would have been such a meaningful aid.
Count me in as another one for whom this is my favorite poem. And Gavin’s rendition–just fabulous!
It’s one of my favorite poems, and frankly, I feel you could have done a better job. This is one of the blandest interpretations I have seen
That said, your graphics are beautiful as always, and the detail is amazing!
one of the blandest interpretations really??
dude seriously learn to appreciate and you have awful taste in art,i must add.
This was one hell of a remarkable way of capturing the essence of this beautiful poem-how a ruler so boastful of himself ends up in earth eventually,like everyone else.
This is an illustration of how terribly mortal we humans are!
OOOH! A very poiniant one, hard hitting, nice one Gav.
One of my favorite poems of all time! Oh, beautifully realized! Please turn this into a print soon! I would LOVE to have this on my future classroom wall!!!
How’s this for an excellent interpretation of the poem?
https://theshellcorporation.bandcamp.com/track/ozymandias
Great! I always wanted someone to illustrate this poem, zooming in while zooming back in time. One thing though… you’ve put a period after “lifeless things” which changes the meaning of that difficult sentence. The original punctuation shows that “the hand” is the object of “survive”: “…its sculptor well those passions read which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, the hand that mocked them and the heart that fed”. This means: the features outlast (survive) the sculptor’s hand, which imitated (and mocked) them, and also outlast the pharaoh’s heart. So maybe you should have shown the sculptor’s hand (not the pharaoh’s), and the pharaoh in the next panel!
This is great work…but the Giza Pyramids are safe and sound to this day. So, I thought it a bit odd that you demolished them. ha-ha Other than the pyramids or lack thereof, I loved this.
Who says that the pyramids in the “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair” panel are the GIZA pyramids? There have been many pyramids built through the ages. Not all of them permanent.
First post of mine I think. I read your comics all the time (my favorite is your Sylvia Plath comic), and I didn’t want to remain one of the anonymous many who read and are touched by your work but fail to say so. Thank you for creating the things you do.
This is excellent! Ozymandias is one of my favourite poems, and you captured it extremely well. Thankyou for creating these masterpieces!
So monuments eventually fade away – but for centuries they will have remained.
.|.
“King of Kings am I, Osymandias. If anyone would know how great I am and where I lie, let him surpass one of my works.” – actual inscription
Ozymandias!
I first encountered the poem as the epilogue of an Avengers comic some decades ago. They were battling Ulton, and this page, a young boy found Ultron’s head and kicked it around the street and some vacant lots. It very much made the point that the great and mighty have their day and are gone.
Art by John Buscema and Marie Severin (1968)
I am a huge fan of these cartoons and of George Mallory, but questions – why does no one mention that a) Mallory may have actually beat Hillary to the top
I am a huge fan of these cartoons and of George Mallory, but questions – why does no one mention that a) Mallory may have actually beat Hillary to the top . He he
Any chance of this becoming a poster?
Thank you. Sometimes the word of critiques cripples me for days. The thought that it should not be perfect at all times like this helps me to build myself better.
This is by far the most beautiful strip I’ve seen on Zen Pencils, and I’ve seen quite a few. I Can’t congratulate you enough!
good poster. Well done human Rights.
Hi gav, I would suggest to make this poster printed on T.shirt, I would be the first buyer!!
Any thoughts on making this a poster?
Well done. Thank you for this interpretation of a great poem.
Thank You FOR this
You Rock..!!
In high school English lit, our lesson on Ozymandias was illustrated too. From my class I was tapped to draw the stone feet and regal profile. Once I had finished, our teacher’s favorite part of this lesson was to sprint, chalk in outstretched hand, from one end of the blackboard to the other drawing the “lone and level sands”. Thanks for stirring up this pleasant childhood memory.
You’d be surprised at checking this up! – http://btb-net.com/2-ozymandias-shelli-misteriya-chi-mistifikatsiya
Great comic!
Thanks for sharing, nice work!
Thanks for comic.
nice article.
Wonderful! one of my favorites!
Now do Ulysses by Tennyson!
nice comic ozmandias
Thank you Gavin for your “PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY: Ozymandias” comic post
http://vuelosdelalma.blogspot.com/2013/11/kampung-inggris-pare-kediri.html
I think his name should be Uvuvwevwevwe Onyetenyevwe Ugwemubwem Ossas
Nice post
All the pictures are very beautiful and fun.
Great comic!
Thanks for sharing, nice work!
nice comic
Wonderful! one of my favorites!
Nice comic ozmandias!
This is excellent! Ozymandias is one of my favourite poems, and you captured it extremely well. Thankyou for creating these masterpieces!
Lovely portrayal of the poem . Brings back memories of doing this poem with students. This would have been such a meaningful aid.
Pandora will certainly pick tunes and musicians that connect to that artist as well as the rankings you give different tracks.
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