Air Force Veteran Cormac McCarthy's Post-Apocalyptic Epic 'The Road' Is Now a Graphic Novel Worthy of the Original

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A lot of military veterans talk about preparing for a post-apocalyptic world, but author Cormac McCarthy, whose work was shaped by his time in the U.S. Air Force, wrote one of the most vivid books on the subject. His 2006 novel "The Road" won a Pulitzer Prize and was named one of the best books of the 21st century by The New York Times Book Review. It was adapted to a feature-length film starring Viggo Mortensen ("The Lord of the Rings") and Kodi Smit-McPhee ("X-Men: Apocalypse") three years later.

The latest incarnation of "The Road" takes the form of a graphic novel illustrated by Manu Larcenet. Larcenet is an award-winning French cartoonist and illustrator who wrote to McCarthy before the author's death in June 2023, asking for permission to make a graphic novel adaptation of the book.

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"The Road" takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States. Society has collapsed in the aftermath of some kind of extinction-level event, and people have taken to banditry and cannibalism to survive. A father-and-son pair are making their way south to escape from a winter in the northern U.S., carrying only a small number of possessions in knapsacks and a shopping cart. They also have a gun with two bullets intended for themselves, lest they face being captured by the cannibals who seemingly roam the countryside everywhere they turn.

"I loved 'The Road' for the atmosphere it creates," Larcenet wrote to McCarthy. "Most likely because I enjoy drawing the snow, the chilling winds, the dark clouds, the sizzling rain, tangles and snags, rust, and the damp and the humidity. I draw violence and kindness, wild animals, dirty skin, pits, and stagnant water. I enjoy the contrast between the characters and their environment, and as conceited as it may sound, I feel like I'm up to the task."

McCarthy was shown Larcenet's previous work, including an adaptation of "The Brodeck Report" by Philippe Claudel, and was convinced to agree to the book. Unfortunately, he was barely able to work with the illustrator and didn't live to see the full graphic novel come to life.

"I thought we were going to have a dialogue," Larcenet told ComicsBeat in a recent interview. "Unfortunately, this has not been possible; he died and only saw half of the album before we could communicate. I was only told that he was both happy and impressed by it. Which is both too little and a lot."

If McCarthy was impressed, then audiences were certain to follow. Larcenet's visually stunning interpretation, faithful to the book in every detail, has performed admirably among readers: First published in France in March 2024, it sold more than 60,000 copies in the first three weeks, according to Abrams Books.

The English language version of Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," illustrated by Manu Larcenet, is on bookshelves now.

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