Road to Perdition

Road to Perdition #1

by Max Allan Collins, Richard Piers Rayner (Illustrator)

Rock Island, Illinois -- 1929. Michael O'Sullivan is a good father and a family man -- and also the chief enforcer for John Looney, the town's Irish Godfather of crime. As Looney's Angel of Death, O'Sullivan has done the bidding of Chicago gangsters Al Capone and Frank Nitti as well -- but when a gangland execution spells tragedy for the O'Sullivan family, a grieving father and his adolescent son find themselves on a winding road fo treachery, revenge, and revelation.Writer Max Allan Collins is a two-time winner of the Private Eye Writers of America's Shamus Award for his Nathan Keller historical thrillers True Detective and Stolen Away. Award-winning artist Richard Piers Raynner spent four years working on the artwork for Road to Perdition, a labor of love that has resulted in some of the most stunningly realistic drawings of 1930s Chicago ever seen on printed page.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Crime, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Noir

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a Max Collins graphic novel about the mob.
I saw Tom Hanks in the movie trailer and thought it was some depression-era story about a father and son's sappy road trip. To be fair, I see Tom Hanks and tune out, so I never really paid attention to what this was.



Max Collins has the distinction of being the guy who wrote Jason Todd in his Batman run to be SO ANNOYING that fans voted to kill the young sidekick off.
It is fair to say he does a much better job with these hardboiled crime stories.



This was awesome.
It's got elements of true crime written into a fictionalized story of a mob hitman, Michael O'Sullivan (think: John Wick), who sees himself as a s soldier. He's a true family man. He's as gentle and loving a father and husband on one hand as he is a stone-cold killer on the other.



But when his young sons devise a plan to allow one of them to sneak into the backseat and ride along with their much-beloved father, the oldest son witnesses a mob hit that results in his whole world being tilted on its axis. The son and heir of the Looney crime family takes it upon himself to kill their enforcer's wife and (what he thinks is) the child who witnessed the hit.



Mike Jr. and his father then embark on the Road to Perdition. <--a farm where his mother's sister and husband live, who have agreed to take the young boy in.
The road is paved with revenge as Michael unleashes his wrath on the men who were complicit and still harbor the man who killed his family.



The ending was a bit abrupt for me.
Don't get me wrong, I liked it and thought it was a very full circle sort of thing, but I wish the last few pages had been extended out somewhat.
Minor complaint!
On the whole, this was AMAZING, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Or even anyone who loves a good graphic novel. This somehow manages to be violent and tender in the same breath and that's no easy feat.



10/10 Go get it.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"See you in hell, 'Angel'!" -- shotgun-wielding mook, trying to send the protagonist to his grave

"Save a place for me, friend." -- Michael O'Sullivan, a.k.a. 'The Angel of Death,' administering two fatal gunshots to said mook

Although likely better remembered these days for the acclaimed 2002 film version - featuring Tom Hanks playing against type as an organized crime gunman, a scuzzy Jude Law, a pre-007 Daniel Craig, and the final silver-screen role for Paul Newman - Road to Perdition first arrived in this world as a graphic novel that was appropriately illustrated in a desolate black & white format. I state that opinion because of its time period setting (the bleak, crime-soaked era where Prohibition overlapped with the Great Depression, circa 1929) AND with the non-stop scenes of brutal violence that would otherwise have many pages dripping in red. It's a style-over-substance type of book - the plot is admittedly sort of thin, yet the pure suspense of the father and his young son on the run throughout the wintry Midwestern U.S. keeps things moving along. Author Collins also skillfully but believably mixes a handful of 'in real life' personalities - crime boss Al Capone, his right-hand man Frank Nitti, and upstanding federal agent Eliot Ness - into the tragic storyline, and illustrator Rayner slyly inserts a number of panels which intentionally echo movie scenes (I specifically recall The Left-Handed Gun, in which a young Paul Newman portrayed Billy the Kid, and - believe it or not - a signature moment from the 70's blockbuster Jaws). Also, if you're only familiar with the film adaptation you may be pleasantly surprised that the book plot is somewhat different, but still no less effective.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, Road to Perdition checks all the boxes. It has a spectacular story, phenomenal artwork, and badass, depression-era gangsters. We all know the phrase “I could not put this book down” has become a worn out cliché, but it literally took me less than 20 consecutive hours to finish this—and that’s with stops for physical therapy, meals, a sponge bath, naps, and about 15 rounds with a notoriously unreliable ileostomy bag. So yeah, I could not put this book down. Easily 5 stars.

[Arun Divakar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Random browsing among a rack of comics brought me to this book. The first thought that popped up in my mind was a long list of names : Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law and Daniel Craig ! And then like an obedient reader, I found myself a chair and sat down to read.

The contents and the story line are not novel. Told from the point of view of a child, the story revolves around his father,a resourceful assassin who faces off against his former mentor in the 1930's America. The art work captures the feel of the era and is very good at what it does. I preferred the movie version to the book. The cinematography by Conrad Hall was something to behold.

A good read nonetheless.

[Sud666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Road to Perdition is the original story off of which the Tom Hanks movie was made. As with most things, the book is far, far superior.

Michael O'Sullivan is a good family man. He served during World War 1 and was a good and decorated soldier. Mike O'Sullivan also happens to be a top level assassin for a mob boss named Looney. O'Sullivan keeps his work and family strictly apart. One day his young son sneaks into the back of a car to see what his father does and witness a mob execution- Mike O'Sullivan is aka the Angel of Death. Unfortunately, Looney's half-wit son notices O'Sullivan's son. This puts into motion a violent chain of events.

Mike O'Sullivan in this story is a force of nature. Starting with the Looney crime family and its business connections, which reach all the way into Al Capone's mob in Chicago. This is at once a story of violent retribution, a father-son bonding story and a great inside look at the Prohibition Era criminal gangs. While the artwork is, at best, decent-this is a powerful work of prose with the art there to add depth to the story.Some great conversations include-
Mike O'Sullivan: "I'm like a soldier. And a soldier does his duty."
Son: "Even....killing?"
Mike: "That's what soldier's do."
Son: "It seems....wrong..the church teaches us thou shall not kill..."
Mike: "The church is right. But, I have a duty to my family, as well. That means I have to work. And being a soldier son--that's the only work I know."
Son: "I..I don't want to be a soldier"
Mike: "Good"

The entire story is told from the son's recollections and from crime historians, since the son wasn't inside during the shoot outs but rather was able to read the history books about what happened. The son's line of work at the end was superbly done. I enjoyed this on every level. While the art is never top notch the story IS. Read it for the moral story, read it for action, for violence and for a great revenge story. But also pay attention the the lessons passing between son and father. Mike O'Sullivan, the Angel of Death is a great character. Well done! Highly recommended to anyone who likes a great story.

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

#ThrowbackThursday - Back in the '90s, I used to write comic book reviews for the website of a now-defunct comic book retailer called Rockem Sockem Comics. (Collect them all!)

From the June 1998 edition with a theme of "Crime Comics II":

INTRODUCTION

It's time to return to the mean streets.

Yes, let's get down into the gutter with the gray- and black-hearted souls that inhabit the world of crime comics. These are stories told from the criminal's point of view, be he a petty thief or a cold-blooded killer. "Crime doesn't pay," goes the old saying, but it sure can entertain.

In case the tough guys of ROAD TO PERDITION, STRAY BULLETS, and SIN CITY glorify crime a little too much and give some of my readers inappropriate ideas, I'm throwing in CUCKOO to give everyone a reminder that crime has consequences that echo through society long after the clank of the cell door and the final sizzle of the electric chair have faded away.

HIGHWAY TO HELL

ROAD TO PERDITION (DC Comics/Paradox Press)

"I shall escape to wreak vengeance against those who have slandered our family name! I will cast aside the office of executioner and become a lost soul travelling among demons! Listen well, Daigoro! From now on your father follows the road of blood and death, of slaughter without mercy, the assassin's road! Becoming an assassin will enable me to avenge the Ogami clan and crush the traitorous Yagyu clan!" (LONE WOLF AND CUB DELUXE EDITION VOLUME ONE, First Publishing, November,1988, page 5.)

These words, spoken by Itto Ogami to his son Daigoro, launch the famous manga LONE WOLF AND CUB, also known by the movie title, "The Baby Cart Assassin." Debuting in 1970, the Japanese comic book by writer Kazuo Koike and artist Goseki Kojima has already garnered great acclaim worldwide, telling the tale of a betrayed executioner who takes his son with him as he becomes an assassin and walks the tortured road to meifumado: the Japanese hell. LONE WOLF AND CUB's legend is now broadened as it inspires one of the best American graphic novels of the year: ROAD TO PERDITION.

Writer Max Allan Collins Americanizes the Japanese classic by moving it from feudal Japan to Rock Island, Illinois, in 1930. The clans have been replaced with mobs headed up by legendary gangsters such as Al Capone. The Shogun's executioner is transformed into an infamous hitman named Michael O'Sullivan, known as the "Archangel of Death." After a betrayal destroys his family, O'Sullivan renounces his allegiances and sets out on the vengeance trail and the road to hell . . . to perdition . . . or rather, Perdition, Kansas, where O'Sullivan hopes to find sanctuary for his son.

I'm torn between thinking the title of ROAD TO PERDITION is incredibly clever or unnecessarily labored, but the travels of O'Sullivan and his son are so gripping that this little quibble is about the only criticism I can really muster about the book. In every other aspect of the story, Collins' wordsmithing creates magic. He expertly takes the best elements of LONE WOLF AND CUB's concept, melds them with actual historical events and people of 1930s America, and adds his own spectacular imagination to produce an outstandingly rich drama. ROAD TO PERDITION is the pinnacle of Collins' career, which includes BATMAN, MS. TREE, WILD DOG, and the DICK TRACY comic strip, as well as several mystery novels; and it is the second creative success of the Paradox Graphic Mystery line, following the amazing A History of Violence. (See the May 1997 LWYBM for a full review.)

Told from the point of view of the son, ROAD TO PERDITION is a well-rounded novel. Thrill junkies will rave about the gun battles and the cold efficiency of the Archangel. Those interested in family drama will find their hearts torn by the tragedies which are inflicted upon the O'Sullivans and warmed by the constantly growing but complex relationship between father and son. History buffs will glory in all the historical detail while history haters will be thankful for Collins' ability to make the factual matters a seamless and unobtrusive part of the tale. Art lovers will rejoice at the exquisite linework of artist Richard Piers Rayner, whose creator profile lists credits in the comics HELLBLAZER, SWAMP THING, L.E.G.I.O.N., DOCTOR FATE, and DOCTOR WHO.

One third of the way through ROAD TO PERDITION I knew a review of the graphic novel would lead off this, my next column. Whatever it took, I would find a few other crime books to create an appropriate theme, because I needed to share this book immediately with any unfortunate souls who may have overlooked it. I desperately and sincerely hope my words have won you over, and you'll give ROAD TO PERDITION a try. 'Cause once you've read it, I bet you'll start spreading the word yourself.

Grade: A

[Ill D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh boy. Definitely gonna be spoilers in this one.

Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers!
With that caveat (x3) out of the way we can dive into the analysis.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about this so, I was generally excited to dive into Collins’ work (later made into a Dumb Hanks movie). There’s definitely a lot of good here. But, there’s also a lot that falls more into the underwhelming category. The art alone (which is particularly gorgeous in its minimalist vision) pushes it toward the realm of a 4 star but, the typical comic book hi-jinks prevent it from going anywhere beyond that.

In a nutshell, we get a tale of revenge that happens for no other reason than to just to fulfill its telos. Blanched in the criminal underworld of the 1930’s, Mr. O’Sullivan, our protagonist is employed in a local crime outfit as their heaviest hitter. This soldier who shares the Biblically derived moniker of Angel of Death, finds himself betrayed by his erstwhile employer. While he survives the initial shoot-out, matricide and filicide leaves him alone in this world. Save only his first-born son (the second protagonist and narrator), vengeance becomes the predictable theme du jour.

Branching all across the States, propelled by a jet-black Model T, innumerable tire treads and the bullets that follow riddle across each and every page. Featuring phenomenally intricate pencilwork, this tale becomes bathed in an artistic style that clearly has aged extraordinarily well. Your eyes will find themselves at a visual feast of sorts with beautiful landscapes and well modded depictions of historical figures, such as Capone and Looney.

The same cannot be said of the story itself, nor how it unfolds however. Featuring the typical good guy lands all his bullets, and the bad guys’ never find their marks shenanigans (almost matching a Star Wars level of silliness), the level of tension never builds up to a point of solid interest. Moreover, with a strict regimen of repetition applied to these gun-duels, the action actually gets quite stale as the story continues. Add this to the fact that our main conflict never has a rationale developed, overall it ultimately feels far more deus ex machina than a properly thought out narrative.

Whether or not the god came out of the machine, the lack of themes (nor central rationale) leave us with an uncomfortably uniform vision that could have tied so much more into it. More presentation than body, style once again trumps the substance. This is particularly damning considering the rich imagery utilized to merely cosmetic effect. Our protagonist (despite his murderous job description) is shown to devoutly worship at his historically accurate place of worship befitting of a stereotypical Irishman of his time, The Roman Catholic Church. Yet, never is the theology tied into the tale, nor the traditions of the church. It’s merely there to fulfill a historical effect that is far more cosmetic than the rich body it deserves.

The very same criticisms can be leveled at other aspects of the historical milieu, that appear well mined and (on prima facie at least) portray a strong accuracy, are woefully undeveloped. Further examples include that of the G-Men whose characters are never developed nor the political goings-ons behind the scenes. Equally lame are portrayals of the bad guys who are villainous in nature for no other reason than to perform their role in the story. Themes of poverty, corruption, and the ever changing culture of the States are absent of their furiously powerful historical dynamism. Plagued by artistic blinders, all focus is placed (for the most part) upon our (admittedly) uneven duo of protagonists.

Favoring a low level of magnetism the relationship between form and function, is actually dismayingly lacking in a department that should be so much more. Forms might match their functions (think how all the bad guys in Tarentino’s first two movies all wear black suits w/black ties) but they’re developed into anything deservingly complex. Conversely, Tarentino’s villains (in Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs) are all built into thoroughly believable and enjoyable characters. Sometimes you actually can have your cake and eat it too, and Collins seemingly would have us favoring possession over a fully belly.

In either case, the truly phenomenal art-work propels it toward the gravity of a 4 star rating, so that’s where my rating will land. But, be sure to cast a critical eye uponst the pages and you’ll see more of a nude emperor than anything.

Make sure to consume on a full stomach.

[Himanshu Karmacharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Road to Perdition blends real people with fictional characters to deliver an emotional crime noir family drama.

When Michael O' Sullivan, an enforcer for the Irish mob, is betrayed by his masters, he takes his son and flees while also planning revenge. The title of the books signifies more than just their escape attempt to Perdition, USA. It also signifies the downfall of the character, himself.

The writing is amazing with realistic dialogues, and interesting plot. The artwork is very detailed and some panels are just so beautiful. But, there are times when the artwork feels static, especially during action scenes.

Road to Perdition is an underappreciated graphic novel, and so is the movie adaptation. Both are amazing, and need more attention.

[David Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Quick 2 day read for me on a road trip. Different some from the movie, but that is to be expected. Wolfed it down. On to the next illustrated Perdition thriller.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's refreshing to go back to this book and see how concise it all is. In the middle of the Great Depression, a mobster's hitman is betrayed and goes on the road with his son on a quest for revenge. That's the story Max Allen Collins wanted to tell, so that's what we got. No fifty book epic, just a single straight forward story told well.

I remember when the movie adaptation came out and I learned it was based on a comic, it really opened my eyes to what comics were. Up until that point I thought they were all just Batman and Spider-Man, I had no idea there were whole genres of serious storytelling.

Richard Piers Rayner's artwork is quite unlike any I've seen before. It has a definite old timey feel, where it might as well be from a Dick Tracy comic, but then goes hyper-realistic at other times. It all works really well for the story. He has a fantastic use of lines in his art, particularly in the more grounded scenes where there's little action happening.

A really nice, self contained crime thriller, I think it'd be a nice introduction for anyone curious about reading a comic that doesn't feature a superhero.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a plain old black and white graphic novel. WHOA! Hold it right there partner! That description does not even come close when we are talking about this book. The story line itself really was amazing enough. Now look in the back of the book at the blurb about the illustrator. It took him a total of four, that is correct, no misprint here, four long years just to do the illustrations for this book. I really love how my mind was able to actually bleed color and breathe emotion into each panel. This is due to the great care that was taken by the illustrator in creating each panel to fit the story. And the story itself is so amazing! With great characters like Nitti, Capone, Ness and entering stage right The Angel. I really hope you have not seen the movie before reading this book. I feel strongly about the fact that this is one of those books that should be read before watching the movie. Anyhow give this one a shot, no pun intended, and I feel that you will not be disappointed.

[Mahabubur Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

After seen the movie, "Road to Perdition," I thought to read the book. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the fact that the movie did not deviate from what the author wrote, as so many other movies tend to do.

The 1920's and 1930's were a very different world from what we live in, however this story still has a grain of the truth that lies inside parents ... we don't want our children to fall into some of the traps we found ourselves entwined in.

A well written novel that will keep you turning the pages.

[Jesse A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an exceptional story but very emotionally striking. Good to read but I probably won't read it again.

[Harold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable. I read the new "expanded novel." It really doesn't add anything to the movie but good never the less. Collins owes something of the plot to Donald E. Westlake's "The Outfit." A Parker novel written under the Richard Stark pseudonym. Also I am struck by how prolific Collins is. He can crank them out with amazing regularity. Collins also wrote a sequel. "The Road to Purgatory." I think that will be my next book.
I'd like to have seen Bob Hope and Bing Crosby do these Road Movies!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, Melancholy, Unforgettable.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Road to Perdition is a graphic novel published by Paradox Press (an imprint of DC Comics) written by Max Allan Collins and art by Richard Piers Rayner.

Set in Rock Island Chicago in the early 1930s, Michael O'Sullivan is a husband, father, and chief enforcer for the Looney Gang. Known as the "Angel of Death," O'Sullivan has done work for famous gangsters such as Al Capone and Feank Nitti. On a routine job, O'Sullivan is betrayed by his boss and his wife and youngest son are murdered. Now the Angel of Death and his eldest son have set out to get revenge.

The story to Road to Perdition is very simple: a man gets revenge on the people who have betrayed him. But the framing of the story in the 1930s Midwest and weaving true historical figures and events really sets it apart from your average mobster story. The real star of the book though is Rayner's art. The book is drawn in black and white butt he inking, line work, and attention to detail is breathtakingly incredible. Rayner spent four years on this book and it shows. The art is a true masterpiece, and a oversized deluxe edition of this book should exist. Come for the story, stay for the art.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim while browsing the graphic novels in the local library. There was a popular film made from this graphic novel. Of course, the title was familiar to me from the film (which I can't remember if I've seen or not).
I was in the middle of reading another crime/murder mystery book and felt like dipping into that genre in an easy to read format. This is highly entertaining and a quick paced gangster read. The detailed black and white graphics meld perfectly with the story and don't interfere with the story's momentum.
It's a small manga style and is a homage to the manga story Lone Wolf and the Cub with an element of The Untouchables.
Read it in one sitting.

[Murat · Rating 5 out of 5]

1930'lar Amerikası'nın karanlık atmosferi, siyah-beyaz ve detaylı çizimlerle mükemmel aktarılmış. Kimileri klasik bir hikaye olarak görebilir, ancak ben oldukça beğendim. 2002 yılında sinemaya da uyarlanmış, -izlemedim-. (Road to Perdition: Tom Hanks, Jude Law – IMDb: 7.7).

Bu hikayeyi okuyup, öncülü ve benzeri ama çok daha derinliklisi ve başarılısına selam vermemek olmaz: Yalnız Kurt ve Yavrusu, Cilt 1: Suikastçinin Yolu

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read and entertaining enough. Ordinarily, I can't stand books/films about the mafia or the Prohibition era in the US but I've read good things about this book and thought I'd give it a go. While this is a story about vengeance for a depraved and unnecessary act of violence, carried out typically with further acts of violence, I can only have sympathy for the kids in it. I can't really sympathise with the protagonist, Michael O'Sullivan, who is, after all, a gun for hire who made a good living from killing other people. Yes, he was betrayed and most people can empathise with a victim of betrayal, but he is essentially a killer who, one day, finds that it is he and his family who are the targets.

The story does try to show O'Sullivan as both an honourable and a family man. He cares a lot for his son whom he takes with him on the eponymous road. He is a religious man who seeks forgiveness for his sins in the confessional box and prays for his victims. He cares about what happens to innocent bystanders and uses some non-violent means to cause trouble for other mobsters. But, for the most part, he simply mows down a large number of mobsters without taking so much as a flesh wound! This effectively makes O'Sullivan a vigilante-style superhero, not entirely unlike Alan Moore's character, Rorschach, in Watchmen. Of course, Road to Perdition is a graphic novel, like Watchmen, so maybe a larger-than-life character is a requisite for comic books of any genre.

The author's introduction about how he came to write the book and how the process of collaboration evolved with editor, Andrew Helfer, and graphic artist, Richard P. Rayner, was interesting to read, as was the brief note at the end on what parts of the novel were based on fact, 'more or less'. Because of the historical nature of the novel, involving real gangsters like Al Capone, Frank Nitti and John Looney - even if various events and dates were wholly fictionalised (the novel is set in 1930 but events involving the Looneys occurred in the early '20s) - it has the potential to encourage readers to follow up on the subject matter and learn more about what really happened in this period of American history.

[Danny Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the course of an evening I read this novel, and it was the first graphic novel I had actually read. I feel like this story is heavily influenced by Japanese Samurai culture. O'Sullivan, the main character alongside his son, was previously a soldier learned in the art of war, and coming from a lower class Irish family he finds little opportunity after the war than through the same art, working with the mafia. He is skilled in his profession and is apparently unmatched, while still focusing on raising his children to be just, hoping for a better life for them. When he is betrayed and his family murdered, leaving only O'Sullivan and his son, his wrath is immense. I hadn't had any experience with graphic novels prior to this, and from this introduction it opened me up to a field which was especially appealing to me, as it mixes both artwork and literature. While the general story in this was simple it still accomplishes much in the way of empathy, although I can only wonder how screwed up O'Sullivan Jr ends up when he is an adult.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this after I'd seen the movie, I do remember when watching the movie that it reminded of something, but I just couldn't place my finger on it.
It all became clear once I read the Graphic Novel... this is an american interpretation of Kauzo Koike's Lone Wolf & Cub.
And it's a damned good one too!
Although the art did seem to focus more on the characters than the scenery... there are very few longshots, most of the illustrations are close-ups of the characters. I found this unusual, but tended to like it nonetheless.
The movie did variate from some of the book's story, but like I said, having seen the movie first I didn't really mind.
The movie is good in its own right.
The book is simply excellent.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πολύ καλό κόμικ. Και ο πρώτος και ο δεύτερος τόμος.

Είναι τέτοια η ροή και το σασπένς του που δεν σε χαλάει το μικρό μέγεθος και το εφημεριδόχαρτο της Vertigo, ίσα ίσα. Δίνει και άλλη αίσθηση στην ανάγνωση. :)

Τώρα για το σχέδιο να με σχωράτε αλλά δεν καταλαβαίνω τον όρο "διαδικαστικό". Παρόλο που δεν θα μου μείνει, το βρήκα αρκετά λεπτομερές και το στιλ του είναι ότι καταλληλότερο για νουαρ δράση. :D

Για όσους έχουν δεύτερες σκέψεις, να το πάρουν αμέσως. Γκανγκστερικό δράμα στην Αμερική του '30 που δεν επικεντρώνεται στην femme fatale. Γι'αυτό και μόνο αξίζει.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent re-imagining of Lone Wolf and Cub. Gritty, bloody, cathartic.

[Chad Jordahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I heard about on the Comic Tropes YouTube channel.
Relatively straightforward story, but enjoyable. Historical fiction with a good number of real life people as characters -- many of whom I didn't know were real people until I read about it later. The art is very good, highly professional and accomplished... the outlines and composition are realistic (postures, proportions, expressions, environments, etc.) but the style is sort of scribbl-y I guess you'd call it? The artist actually deploys a couple of different art styles. As good as the art is, I do have a beef: most of the characters look kinda different from page to page. Like for example, the boy looks anywhere from 8 to 12 or so through the course of the book (which takes place over weeks, not years). It's fine, not a huge deal, and look I've always thought it was super impressive when artists can do hundreds of drawings of the same character in tons of different poses and angles and have them all look like the same person. But these differences were enough to throw me off and distract from the experience.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not too big on gangster stories most of the time, but framing this as a somber revenge actioner let me get behind it. It's a good story with a strong ending, fantastic detailed artwork, and attention to historical detail.

[River · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s so interesting getting to compare the original book to the movie I watched recently. Also one of the faster books I’ve read as I only read a few pages yesterday and finished this in two few hour chunks today.

[Kieran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lives up to the hype.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good

[Chandni · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the story and the themes in this graphic novel, I can't say the art style did a lot for me. I didn't mind it was in black and white, but it just wasn't as defined as I wanted it to be. I think I prefer the movie version to this.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best thing I've read in years.