A “Boondock Saints” Graphic Novel Review

So I guess it’s best to start this review off with a confession: I’m not a huge fan of The Boondock Saints. I’ve seen both films, and liked them well enough, but I do not count myself as one of the many hard core fans that are out there, the ones who can recite the films by heart and have tattoos that mimic those of their favorite characters. The films were always just a little too big for me to grasp on to. The violence, acting, direction, posturing, it’s all so over the top and absurd that you have to be in just the right frame of mind to buy into it, and if you don’t the films come off as a bit silly.

But my god, that over the top nature works like gangbusters when put in a comic book. The one liners, the violence, the poses, all of it translates to graphic form so well I’m inclined to argue that Troy Duffy should stick to comics. He could do some great things here. The medium has recently become bloated by parallel universes, superheroes, and overdoses of pretension. The Boondock Saints takes the piss out of all of that, delivering a hardcore thrill ride that gives the medium a much needed adrenaline rush.

The story weaves in and out of The Boondock Saints 2 and goes a bit further, coloring in the nooks and crannies that the films couldn’t quite reach without coming across as self indulgent. We get more of the MacManus brothers taking out bad guys, and we get more info regarding their father and his history with Louie, the Old Man the brothers find themselves up against today. The boy’s father is easily the most fascinating component of the Saint’s mythology, and this is one back story that makes the grade.

The art, credited to Guus Floor, certainly deserves special mention. Floor does a fantastic job of getting the Saints’ world down on paper, keeping a gritty realism but also embracing the way comics can illustrate movement and action like no other art can.

And make no mistake, this book moves. The story, credited to Troy Duffy and J.B. Love, is constantly pushing forward, weaving between present day and the past efficiently and effectively. Language barriers are broken with ease, and story points are met with grace and style that is, honestly, refreshing. With most superheroes drowning in existential ennui, the Saints’ ability to get the job done without much fuss is a nice change.

With art that’s crisp and dynamic coupled with a story perfectly suited for a comic’s over the top nature, “The Boondock Saints” graphic novel is a must read for fans, and those who aren’t quite on board yet should pick it up to. It’ll make you a believer.