WRITTEN BY - PHILIP GELATT
ART BY - TYLER CROOK
PUBLISHED BY - ONI PRESS
PUBLICATION DATE - 11TH JANUARY, 2022
In 1916, in the midst of the First World War, the Russian city of Petrograd stands on the brink of revolution while Russia secretly attempts to broker peace with Germany. One of the most incendiary people in this powderkeg is alleged holy man Rasputin, the “mad monk”, trusted advisor to the Tsarina, and, as the official history dubs him, Russia’s greatest love-machine. Already the subject of gossip in the trenches and city streets, the Tsarina puts more and more faith in Rasputin’s advice. Eventually outstaying his welcome, the major players of the day plot to dispose of him in one of the most “extra” assassinations in history. “Petrograd” is the story of how a British intelligence agent gets caught up in these turbulent events.
Tyler Crook’s artwork in “Petrograd” is quite stunning. It appears simplistic at first glance, but on closer inspection it blows you away. Some panels are filled with quiet emotion and depth, while others burst with kinetic action. Each one almost tells a story in its own right. The shape and positioning of the frames on each page is a masterclass in visual storytelling. The horrors of the Western Front and the faded grandeur of the streets of Petrograd and its people are vividly and memorably rendered.
Philip Gelatt’s story is concise, tight and unflinchingly brutal when it needs to be. The shadow of Rasputin falls on every page even when he isn’t present. A story about secrets and conspiracies, it is a perfectly paced tale that leads up to the kinetic and brutal scenes of the assassination itself. The messy aftermath, which leads to full blown revolution in Russia, is powerfully intense. The characters are all well-rounded with believable motivations and distinct voices, from the conflicted Cleary to the hedonistic Rasputin himself.
Presented here in a new edition, ten or so years after the original release, “Petrograd” is easily one of the best, most compelling historical graphic novels I have ever read and it comes highly recommended.
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