Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler and Damian Duffy

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Damian Duffy, 262 pages. Abrams, JANUARY 2020. $23. 978-1419731334

Language: R (87 swears, 2 “f”); Mature Content: R; Violence: R

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In 2025, America is not the amazing place it used to be -- communities close themselves off for safety, only leaving when they have to. But not all those spreading harm and fear are deterred by a locked gate. As the world around Lauren and her family becomes more violent and unpredictable, she tries to prepare them for the hardships coming -- unfortunately, some are not willing to listen until it is too late.

While the premise initially caught my attention, I quickly lost interest because of the rough illustrations. The talent of illustrators in making beautiful panels to tell a story is often my favorite part of graphic novels, so I was disappointed to discover I wasn’t enjoying that aspect of Parable of the Sower. These rough illustrations were not only unaesthetically pleasing, they also hindered the story by making it difficult to understand who was doing and saying what, which quickly lead me into confusion. I suggest reading Octavia E. Butler’s original work instead. The mature content rating is for nudity, sex, and mentions of rape and prostitution; the violence rating is for death, suicide, child abuse, drug use, arson, murder, and implied cannibalism.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen