Initial critical reaction to Sam Mendes' film of the Max Allan Collins graphic novel, The Road to Perdition, has been ecstatic.  The film, which stars multi-Oscar winners Tom Hanks and Paul Newman, opens this weekend, and is already being touted as a possible multi-Oscar winner.  A dark gangster saga set in the depression, The Road To Perdition has little or no chance to catch Spider-Man in the box office derby, but the film will be seen by many -- and as a serious art movie it should stimulate viewers to want to read the original source material.  Originally published by DC (and largely ignored in both the comic and traditional bookstore markets), the graphic novel is once again available through Diamond (the DC version) as well as other book distributors (the Pocket Books version).  Pop culture retailers should seriously consider carrying the book and displaying it prominently since it has considerable outreach potential.

The graphic novel, which Collins based in part on actual historical figures and events, also echoes one of the author's favorite comic series, Lone Wolf & Cub (which is currently available from Dark Horse), although the child involved in The Road To Perdition is considerably older than the toddler from Lone Wolf, which allows Collins to examine the father/son relationship in a much different and more complex way.  Interestingly enough the folks associated with the movie have not made much of the film's graphic novel origins -- and indeed there are some major changes from book to film, but these differences actually make for interesting discussions and the essence of Collin's Irish mafia saga comes through on the screen.