Book Review: Cormac McCarthy’s The Road: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Manu Larcenet

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is one of the greatest post-apocalyptic survival stories to come out in the last 20 years – filled with terror and dread and done so in a minimalistic approach. McCarthy’s style for his original novel, and many others in his bibliography, is unconventional and breaks so many different traditions for how a story is to be told. But he gives the reader just enough to visualize what it is like for the two main characters, a nameless father and son, as they try to survive in a desolate land. It’s grim and haunting material, and it lingers with the reader after the final page is read.

As for the graphic novel adaptation of the story, one must wonder how someone could effectively bring to life McCarthy’s work in this medium – especially after John Hillcoat had previously turned the material into a movie starring Viggo Mortensen. And while Hillcoat’s version is exceptionally made, it also seems to lack the mood and tone for which McCarthy aimed. That’s what artist Manu Larcenet does differently with this new graphic novel, and it translates better than anyone could have imagined. It’s as if all the descriptions and dialogue jumped right from the page and became an image.

The story is a simple survival tale, about a man and son as they make their way through an unknown area after a catastrophic event has ravaged the world. What worked great in McCarthy’s novel, and here, is that it tells its story on less. There isn’t a huge explanation on what happened, nor does there need to be. There is some backstory on what happened to the boy’s mother, but it’s done in a subtle yet impactful way. What works in McCarthy’s novel also works in Larcenet’s adaptation, and he then illustrates the bleak and dreary descriptions in a way that is haunting and unable to shake. The visuals are outstandingly well done and capture the story in a way that is hard to replicate.

Even if you’ve read The Road numerous times, or you’ve seen Hillcoat’s adaptation, Larcenet’s version is something certainly worth seeking out. It’s a short read, only 160 pages in length, but each page is something that you’ll want to slowly absorb and not brush through. It’s a must for any graphic novel fan and especially anyone who loves McCarthy’s work.