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Summary: Noir Captured In The Pages Of A Book
Review: Before I sat down to watch The Road To Perdition recently, I had no idea that the film is based on a graphic novel, from the well known comic book author Max Allan Collins. After seeing the movie, I knew I had to seek out the book. Even though I thought the movie was OK--The book is far better as far as I'm concerned. As with most book to film adaptations, certain things are altered or even deleted all together, for the sake of the cinema format. The Road To Perdition is no excpetion.The father/son dynamics of the story are brought into greater depth. As is O'Sullivan's role as chief enforcer for the irish crime boss he works for. Due to a tragic turn of events, Michael O'Sullivan and his son are forced to travel a road filled with danger, deception, Al Capone's money, and murder. The book does an even better job tying in historical figures Capone (the one scene of his in the film was cut) and his right hand man Frank Nitti, than the movie did. Collins keeps both men around to tell the story. Collins gives readers a no holds barred look at the 1930s and the mob The black and white art of Richard Piers Rayner only adds to the gruffness of the story. His work, simple, yet at the same time somehow detailed. By electing to use black and white for the entire layout, one really gets the sense that they are watching a classic older film on the late show. The panels of book indeed, gave director Sam Mendes and crew a baseline, for the movie. I just wish I read the book before I saw the film. One of my criticisms of the movie was that I thought that many of the twists of the story were easy to spot. Since the book goes into certain areas the film barely touches, those twists may not be as easy to forecast Whether you have seen the film or not, the book is a must read. Don't let the fact that it tells the story in "comic book form deter you. It's not same as reading an issue of Superman or Spiderman. This is not for the kiddies. Collins provides a well written introduction that sets the stage The book has 302 pages and comes highly recommended
Rating:
Summary: A book to be experienced. :-)
Review: Buy it and read it for the experience.
I first read of it as a new type of book called a "graphic novel".
Don't ask about the plot, just read it....
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Summary: Historical Fiction and the Art of Comics.
Review: Even though the art seems simplistic and derivitive at times and the story perhaps somewhat cliched, when one actually takes the time to read ROAD TO PERDITION it becomes abundantly clear how much a work of love this novel was to both the author and the artist. The story is well known now since the release of the film in the summer of 2002 and revolves around Michael O'Sullivan, a hit man known as the Angel of Death because he does his job so well. However, O'Sullivan has a family and when his boss becomes paranoid that his Angel's little angels are going to bring down his empire he orders them all killed. But things don't work out very nicely and what follows is the tale of a father and son traveling together on a journey to Perdition to save their souls. It has been suggested that the artwork looks copied from pictures of the period. This isn't quite true. The drawings seem similar to pictures of the period, but they are different. It is a testament of Rayner's work and skill. His simplistic, yet intricate drawings are so well done that some mistake them for the inspirations on which they are based. Collins story is also more interesting than some have suggested. Not only is it a decent story about the love of a father towards his son (and there are more than a few Biblical allusions here), but it is also steeped in history from the period. Though this is a novel, it is more than that. It is a historical graphic novel and one will be hard pressed to refute the actual historical facts that seep through almost every page. The book is more violent and dark than the movie that is based upon it. Yet at the same time, it is full of more hope and light. Most characters are more fleshed out than they are in the film and there is a lot of background information that the movie failed or could not include. A great gift for any fan of the movie, any crime buff fan, or anyone interested in interested in buying a better than average graphic novel.
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Summary: A winning departure for Collins . . .
Review: Graphic novels are difficult to review (for me), since one has to consider both the art and the story. In this case, the nicely restrained and carefully shaded black-and-white line drawings ensure that Collins's storytelling gets center-stage. The plot is straightforward: Michael O'Sullivan is a hit man for the Looney mob in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1930, with close ties to Capone in Chicago. Purely from ignorant curiosity, Michael Jr. sneaks along on one of his dad's "missions" and sees things he ought not to have seen. Which leads to the death of his mother and brother at the hands of Looney's psychopathic son. Which means bloody vengeance by Michael Sr. It all rolls along with the inevitability of Greek tragedy. No super-heros, no heroics of any kind -- just cold revenge. This is one of the best graphic novels I've seen yet, in all its aspects.
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Summary: Wow!
Review: Gripping story! I was so curious to see what was going to happen, I had to keep slowing myself down to look at the artwork. Read it in one day.
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Summary: THEY CALL HIM THE ANGEL OF DEATH
Review: His real name is Micheal Sullivan-professional hit man bound to the criminal underworld of the 1930s and an enigmatic idol to his adoring young sons. He's also a man who knows that loyalties vanish in the dark-a violent lesson learned one rainy night when his wife and youngest son are killed. Now sullivan and his last surviving child are about to face off against the most notorious crime syndicate in history-on a journey of self-discovery.
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Summary: GANGSTERLY REVITING
Review: I DO RECOMMEND THAT THIS BOOK IS READ. IF YOU ARE A LOVER OF GANGSTER FICTON THEN READ THIS ONE. THIS STORY CREATE A MIND WHERE YOU CANT PUT THE BOOK DOWN WITHOUT FINDING OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, OR WONDERING WHAT WOULD BE MISSED.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO THIS STORY LOVE DEATH REVENGE, AND ACCOMPLISHMENT I READ THIS STORY IN ONE SINGLE NIGHT. IT CONSTANTLY HAD MY ATTENTION. GET IT READ IT LOVE IT
Rating:
Summary: "one great ride" is an understatement.
Review: I love this book! I don't usually read comics but, This thing blew me away! from the cinematic action sequences , the great story , even up to some cliches that still blended well with the theme. If you've never bought a comicbook in your life, Buy this book. If you're tired of the repeatative comic book themes you usually get in the mainstream comics, GET THIS BOOK , and experience something different ,yet feels right at home. Mr. Mickey Spillane's review "one great ride" is an understatement.
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Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: I never read anything work by Max Allan Collins before, but this graphic novel hooked me in an instant. The gritty realistic artwork by David Piers just elevates this distinguished 'comic book' to the next level of literary achievement.
Rating: 
Summary: Merely Competent
Review: I picked up Road to Perdition along with "From Hell" by Allan Moore, and I honestly suggest that you read that instead of this. This book has no brain, really. The writing is ok, and it has a few good lines in it, but for the most part it has no flavor to it. The art, which revives the noir detective stories of the 30's, is the only reason this book deserves to be read. Other than that, it just mopes around going from page to page. The fact that O'Sullivan can just mindlessly kill people page after page (yes, about 30 pages are just textless gunfights) makes the story boring. By doing this, Collins has removed the human element of the character which is the only reason most people read graphic novels in the first place
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