Written by Philip Gelatt
Art by Tyler Crook
Published by Oni Press
Petrograd by Philip Gelatt and Tyler Crook is back in print. It follows the well-known formation of the plot to murder Gregorii Rasputin and its eventual (if messy) success.
Rasputin was a real person and a strange one at that. A mysterious, “Monk,” who advised the Tsar of Russia’s family, Rasputin has become a bit of a mythical figure in pop culture.
Whether serving as the villain of the children’s cartoon, “Anastasia,” or fighting Hellboy, the legend of Rasputin sometimes obscures the facts. This makes his assassination work perfectly for a comic that melds real facts with imagined elements
Petrograd is a fascinating piece of historical fiction.
The writer, Philip Gelatt, discusses in the book’s afterward how some of the most outlandish seeming elements of the story are completely true. Rasputin appeared truly impossible to kill and his assassins nearly fumbled the whole thing in a hilariously messy manner.
The fictional elements involve the created-for-the-story character of Clearly, a British intelligence agent. Whether the UK was directly involved with Rasputin’s assassination or not is unclear. It can’t be proven either way.
Gelatt clearly thinks Great Britain had a lot more involvement than the country would claim, and Clearly’s concern at whether Rasputin can even be killed informs much of the story. After all, the actual Rasputin was a surreal and fascinating character, something artist Tyler Crook is able to impart wonderfully with his artwork.
Crook also excels at illustrating Rasputin as the eerie and imposing figure history has made him out to be–with the scene of his assassination being as adrenaline-fueled and erratic in its drawing as actually being present when it occurred may have been. As much of a character as Rasputin is the nation of Russia itself.
Crook gives us a Russia that is rich and shiny as well as poor and grimy. It is a city at war with itself–quite literally as the citizens keep attempting to rebel against the ruling aristocracy (those who know their history are aware that this all eventually led to a revolution that resulted in the Communist regime and its Soviet Union). Crook expertly portrays these dichotomies and supplies us with Petrograd that feels lived-in and authentic. Gelatt and Crook clearly have both done an extensive amount of research to create this labor of love of a graphic novel.
Petrograd, is a superb read for anyone who has a hankering for some great historic fiction or who simply is fascinated by the man (and myth) of Rasputin. Whether you know a lot about the, “Mad Monk,” or only are familiar with him from various sources of popular culture, you’ll come away from, Petrograd, feeling both informed and entertained.
5 out of 5 stars.
