A History of Violence - John Wagner

If you have seen the film remake of this popular graphic novel then forget how atrociously bad it was and read this. If you have never seen the film, read this and then NEVER be tempted to see it! Rarely can a film have missed the point of a book more dramatically or produced a glib, one-dimensional interpretation of a multifaceted and complex work.

But that’s enough about the film. This is a great graphic novel; powerful, disquieting, intense, well drawn and with a fantastically realised plot. There is a 4 page introduction in which the author says everything that needs saying: violence exists, its unpredictable, uncontrollable and with lasting consequences. One of the most electrifying and well devised graphic novels I have ever read. A must-read.

7 out of 10