POLIS: The Trial of Socrates, Part II

POLIS: The Trial of Socrates is a three-part historical graphic novel that takes place in ancient Athens. It's the story of how one of the greatest free thinkers in the ancient world was executed by the era's most democratic city. It also tells the story of how his student Plato transformed from an aristocratic politician into the founder of Western philosophy.

Chapter 2, The Gadfly: Four years have passed since the democratic exiles took the city back from Critias and the Thirty Tyrants, and Athens is at peace for the first time in a generation. Aristocles (Plato) has made a name for himself in the city, and he is set to run for political office. And Socrates continues to question his fellow citizens in the agora about their ideas an assumptions. But anger about the past and ambition for the future will soon overturn the lives of both men.

Demetrius, the young man Socrates rescued in the battle at Piraeus, has become a homeless wastrel. His father Anytus has never forgiven him for being part of the Thirty's army. When Socrates attempts to mend the relationship between father and son, this further angers Anytus - a man of considerable power in the city.

At the same time, a young upstart - Meletus - is running against Aristocles for strategos. When he finds he has no way to embarrass Aristocles with a frontal assault, he sets his sights on Socrates. He knows that since Aristocles is close to the older man, a fall for one will be a fall for the other.

Though Anytus despises Meletus, their common ends eventually lead them to join forces and bring suit against Socrates for impiety and corruption of the city's youth.

comes to a climax when Socrates goes before the magistrate to show the ridiculousness of the charges against him.