Cover of Road to Perdition

Road to Perdition

Written by Max Allan Collins. Art by Richard Piers Rayner.

Ranked No. 35 of 100 · 1998 · DC / Paradox Press / USA / UK

Prohibition-era crime, revenge, historical thriller

A mob enforcer flees with his son after a family betrayal.

Overview

Michael O’Sullivan works for an Irish crime family. After his son sees a killing, their own family becomes a target, forcing father and child onto a violent journey. The original graphic novel appeared in 1998.

Why It Matters

The chase is also a test of what a father can pass on or prevent. Its emotional stakes give the period crime plot an unusually intimate center.

Genre & Themes

Gangster history, revenge and road story combine in a Depression-era American setting.

Art & Visual Identity

Rayner’s precise, atmospheric drawing gives the route through towns and hideouts a brooding period texture.

Read This If You Like

  • Father-son road stories
  • Gangster noir
  • Historical crime