The Road to Perdition

Max Allan Collins

This is, of course, best-known as the basis of Sam Mendes' second feature film. And, to be honest, I think I'd probably have liked the book better had I not seen the film. There were some details David Self's screenplay filled in that made the ending of the book a little less deus ex machina, but I'm not sure I'd have even noticed had I not seen the film.

You already know the plot: the son of a hitman steals along with his father one night and sees the kind of work his father does. This leads to a war when dad's boss tries to have him and his family killed, and dad's primary goal is to try and get son to safety. However, while they're on the run, dad is forced by circumstance to realize that son is actually kind of good at doing some of the ancillary things that need done when one is involved in a life of crime (for example, being a getaway driver).

The graphic novel's main failing seems to be encountered in that plot; it seems to me as if the father, for all his telling the kid that he doesn't want him in this way of life, would have at least recognized, if not entertained, the idea of a "like father, like son" life, especially given the amount of time they're out on the road. But no; the father is a bit too much the bad-guy-with-the-heart-of-gold, leaving the heavy pontificating to the son. Despite that, however, there's a lot to be liked here. The characters are well-done, for the most part (Connor Looney, especially, is more three-dimensional in the film than the book), and as always, Collins' inclusion of historical figures make a good anchor for the reader.

Likable, but read it before you see the movie.