This post is going to be a bit short, and it is probably not going to provoke a lot of debates compared to my other posts (unfortunately), albeit, I think it's something that should be addressed since it is often looked over.
Just the other day, I engaged myself in a deep inner monologue about Rick's portrayal of acne. As someone who constantly battles with acne, like many other teenagers I'm sure, it made me more self-conscious and insecure. Reading Lester whining over and over about how ugly he was and how everyone else was more attractive than him just because he had acne. The first joke once at the beginning made sense because he went from being a god to a normal teenager. But his acne is mentioned at least five times in each book. And there are plenty of people like me who probably are super sensitive about it. And reading Lester compare his skin to Piper's, Calypso's, and his kids and talk about how ugly it was. Yikes! It didn't bother me that much in the beginning, but as it went on and on, the constant degradation made it seem like acne made someone hideous and one would never be attractive even if they had a pimple or two. Since his demographic mostly pertains to kids and teens just hitting puberty, it's not the right message to send.
Here are some quotes:
“Horrors!” I cried. “Is that—Is that acne ?” Immortal gods do not get acne. It is one of our inalienable rights. Yet I leaned closer to the glass and saw that my skin was indeed a scarred landscape of whiteheads and pustules.
I balled my fists and wailed to the cruel sky, “Zeus, what have I done to deserve this?”
(The Hidden Oracle, ch 3)
The child seemed unfazed by the cold weather, the dangerous journey ahead, and the fact that I was suffering from acne.
(The Hidden Oracle, ch 3)
Whoever Meg McCaffrey was, however she had happened to find me, our fates were now intertwined. It was almost as embarrassing as the acne.
(The Hidden Oracle, ch 3)
“And I have acne,” I lamented. “And flab.”
Will tilted his head. “You’re mortal, and that’s what you’re worried about?”
“You’re right. I’m powerless. Weaker even than you puny demigods!”
“Gee, thanks….” I got the feeling that he almost said Dad but managed to stop himself. It was difficult to think of this young man as my son. He was so poised, so unassuming, so free of acne. He also didn’t appear to be awestruck in my presence. In fact, the corner of his mouth had started twitching.
(The Hidden Oracle, ch 10)
“Ah…” I wasn’t sure why, but it felt like my acne was turning into live insects and crawling across my face. “Well, according to my extensive research—”
(The Hidden Oracle, ch 21)
Calypso tilted her head. “Perhaps you have changed. That does not sound like the Apollo I remember. You definitely are not as handsome.” “I am still quite handsome,” I protested. “I just need to clear up this acne.”
(The Hidden Oracle, ch 39)
P.S. While I was retrieving the quotes, I noticed he mentioned "flab", I think I'll address that later.