As we approach the end of 2024, the notable presence of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road: A Graphic Novel Adaptation on several prominent “best of” comic lists almost removes the necessity of adding one more review to the pile of praise accumulated by this stunning published work from French cartoonist Manu Larcenet and Abrams ComicArts. But, as we drift into the coldest of seasons, there’s something inescapably appropriate about taking pause to ruminate on the messages and thoughts present in the stark, brutal, and yet undeniably human story imagined by McCarthy and brought to vivid life by Larcenet. If Fanbase Press can encourage simply one more individual to pick up and read this title, then there’s worthy cause to discuss The Road graphic novel and sing its praises one more time.
SPOILERS BELOW
On its face, The Road is the story of a father and son trying to make it to safer ground after the fall of the civilized world. More importantly, it’s a story about what makes us human, the power of the love between a parent and a child, and how we find a reason to live in a world where there’s no reason to have any hope left.
While post-apocalyptic stories have been popular in pop culture for some time, they carry a different weight after living through a global pandemic and with the current cultural unrest present throughout modern-day America. The potential collapse of civilized society is alarmingly easy to imagine in current times, as is McCarthy’s vision of a devastated nation plagued by bands of vicious and cruel individuals left with nothing to cling to but delivering their own trauma and pain on to others. From The Walking Dead to this year’s Civil War, there’s something undeniably present within the cultural zeitgeist that has us entranced in stories speaking to our premonitions of how close the world as we know it is to crumbling in front of our very eyes and our certainty of how horribly we will treat one another once that catastrophic event occurs.
While the pain and despair in The Road is overwhelming, the lead characters and their journey represent the evergreen kernel of hope within the history of humanity; that even within the worst, most destructive times and our deepest despair, there are undeniable examples of the enduring strength, love, and compassion that justify the existence of the human race. While the father is unquestionably a broken man saddled with an enormous amount of emotional trauma and pain, his love for his son is crystal clear, providing the reader a twisted blend of heartbreaking and heartwarming emotions as they follow along his parental attempts to prepare and protect his child while navigating his small broken family through an existence of almost pure anguish. The common truth is that every parent is on their own in the end. We take the guidance and advice we can and then adapt as best as possible to the curve balls life throws our way. The Road asks: What if that curve ball is the fall of the world around you? What if it’s your partner losing all ability to continue as the concept of hope turns to ashes? How do you be a parent when there’s literally nothing left (both within you and around you), but giving up is not even an option? While each reader must find their own answers, I found it notable that in this story, the brightest possibility for a better future seems to reside in both the naïveté and resilience of childhood. The adults of The Road can no longer bear the weight of the world in light of the memory of what was, and the children know nothing else but what exists in the moment.
While McCarthy’s story deserves all its due credit, when it comes to The Road: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, French cartoonist Manu Larcenet must be recognized for the powerful and talented creative force and collaborator that he is. Larcenet’s artwork is breathtakingly bold, indescribably emotive, and absolutely unflinching. Given Larcenet’s amazing skills as a visual storyteller at the top of his craft, readers will easily lose themselves in this dark depiction of a world where the flames of society have long burnt out. Relying confidently and often on poignant, powerful, and dialogue-free images to convey deep and complex emotions, this is truly a read that will cut deep to the bone.
FINAL VERDICT: The Road: A Graphic Novel Adaptation is definitely a must-read 2024 release for any fan of the sequential art medium. While that may be enough encouragement to send those interested to their local comic book shop in search of a copy, let me also suggest that even if you’ve already read the title, revisiting The Road during this winter season and sitting with its weight is well worth the time it takes. It brings to mind one of my favorite quotes about winter from the musician and activist Sting:
“Walking amid the snows of Winter, or sitting entranced in a darkened room gazing at the firelight, usually evokes in me a mood of reflection, a mood that can be at times philosophical, at others wildly irrational; I find myself haunted by memories. For Winter is the season of ghosts; and ghosts, if they can be said to reside anywhere, reside here in this season of frosts and in these long hours of darkness. We must treat with them calmly and civilly, before the snows melt, and the cycle of the seasons begins once more.”
Bundle up and take care of each other, my friends. With or without us, the seasons will begin once more.
Creative Team: Manu Larcenet (writer/artist – graphic novel adaptation), Cormac McCarthy (writer – original novel)
Publisher: Abrams ComicArts
Click here to purchase.
