James Sallis' Drive: The Graphic Novel

The 2011 movie, Drive starring Ryan Gosling as the titular Getaway Driver was an underground hit. It is based on the novella written in 2006 by author James Sallis. The novella follows a man who stunt drives for the movies by day while driving for criminals at night. The driver is a profoundly moral man, moral as in he abides by a strict set of his morals and codes of ethics. After a driving job goes south, very south, the unnamed driver needs to rectify things.

The story is reminiscent of an in 1940's camp noir. Quiet, and methodical the story moves at a measured pace until we get to action scenes supercut with moments that jump back through time that give the graphic novel a very cinematic feel. It is bloody, but not in a gratuitous way. The graphics of the story are drawn in a way that has a very 1980's neon feel. The panels practically glow off of the page.

Artwork aside, the adaptation of this story falls flat for me. It might not be the book's fault but more that the movie so heavily overshadows it. It just doesn't have the same sort of magic you expect from this story, although it tries. I suggest giving this a look through but go watch the fantastic movie.