Road to Perdition

Road to Perdition is a series of fictional works written by Max Allan Collins. The comic book of the original series, with art by Richard Piers Rayner, was published by DC Comics' imprint Paradox Press. It was adapted into the 2002 film of the same name, starring Tom Hanks, for which Collins also wrote the novelization. Stories 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.