‘We’re all born sinners.’
In a statement made by the protagonist’s father about whether killing is a sin, the novelist Max Collins delves deep into the reader’s core and reflects quite a deep and powerful truth. It is statements like these that help provide the story ‘Road to Perdition’ with such clarity and emotion that the reader can’t help but want to read on. It’s a book aimed at looking at the evil within all of us and questions whether one has to be good or bad, or if you can walk that fine line down the middle.
It’s a deep and powerfully told story that works on many different levels. As the events in the book are all told from the perspective of Michael Jr, it allows the author the ability to show Michael’s father in a more intimate and personal way, through his caring relationship with his family.
Prior to reading the book, I had watched the amazing film adaptation directed by the great Sam Mendes and starring Tom Hanks in the role of Michael Jr’s father. I love the film and thought that it nailed almost everything perfectly, which always made me wonder how well the story worked as a comic. I was pleasantly surprised, as what I read was almost on par with the film in my eyes. Although the basic plots of both are the same, I found that both went their own separate ways and for this both are equally worth seeking out. Every time I thought I knew what was coming, the book through me a curveball and sent the story in a different direction.
The art is pretty consistently great and suits the story perfectly. The line work is amazing, with some of the images looking truly beautiful. It’s one of the few comics that I feel benefits from being in black and white as well, as it almost feels you are reading about the events in a history book or a newspaper. If I had to fault the art in any way, it would be the fact that at times some of the characters can look quite samey, leading to brief confusion of who certain characters are.
Overall though, there is very little that can be faulted with the book. It’s a great read and is truly worth anyone’s time.