•
Road to Perdition Michael O'Sullivan, the ruthless but honorable enforcer for an
Irish crime syndicate, is personally betrayed by his masters and is forced to flee with his young son Michael, Jr. on a quest for revenge. The story is set in the American Midwest during the
Great Depression and draws upon several historical figures, especially the gangster
John Patrick Looney, of
Rock Island, Illinois; in real life, Looney came into conflict with Dan Drost, a formerly loyal lieutenant in their crime organization, and their feud eventually led to the death of Looney's son Connor. This story had many inspirations, such as the
Japanese
manga series
Lone Wolf and Cub, the life story of Irish American crime boss John Patrick Looney, and various gangster films such as
The Godfather and ''
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre''. This story was the basis for
the 2002 film of the same name. •
On the Road to Perdition This three-part miniseries of
graphic novels was written after the original story, but deals with events within the same timeframe. All three parts were published as individual installments, but have also been reprinted as a single combined volume. •
Road to Purgatory and
Road to Paradise These two prose sequels deal with the adult life of Michael O'Sullivan, Jr., under his adoptive identity of Michael Satariano. After military service in
Bataan during
World War II, he returns to the world of organized crime to seek revenge on other gangsters who had been complicit in his father's death by posing as a senior member of the
Chicago Outfit. Years later, having put his criminal past behind him, Michael is framed by a Chicago mobster for a hit he refused to carry out, forcing him to once again go on the run (accompanied by his teenage daughter) as he attempts to finally end his family's cycle of violence and revenge. Collins is expected to write and direct the film adaptation of
Road to Purgatory. •
Return to Perdition This graphic novel follows the story of Michael Satariano, Jr., a Vietnam vet who returns home from the war and gets caught up in the criminal underworld of his father and grandfather. ==Influences==