Damian Duffy and John Jennings are doing amazing work with these adaptations of Octavia Butler’s novels. This graphic novel adaptation of Parable of the Sower stays close to the source material and brings the world of the novel to life with vivid colours that add to the intense emotions in the story. 

 

The book begins in 2024 and is set in a dystopian world affected by constant climate disasters, economic crises, and social chaos. The main character is Lauren Olamina, an extremely smart and sensible 15 year old, and she narrates the story through entries in her diary. She knows that her gated community won’t keep her safe forever, and is trying to prepare for the worst. She’s coming to terms with how she sees the world and figuring out her beliefs. In doing so, she begins to develop her own ideas about religion that lead to the development of a new religion called Earthseed. Lauren’s beliefs ground her throughout the story and help her survive. 

 

I first read the novel in 2020, and Butler’s insight and predictions about the future blew my mind. Revisiting this story now in this form allowed me to better appreciate Butler’s observations about society. And this time around I was able to focus more on how Lauren is perceived by others. I think it was easier to understand this because of the illustrations, and it’s interesting to visualize just how odd she seems to everyone else around her. But the graphic novel also works well in showing how determined and unwavering she is in herself and her beliefs. She knows who she is and what she must do, and she doesn’t care if other people don’t believe her, she’s doing it anyway. These qualities draw people to her as they realize that ultimately, Lauren is just trying to create a better future. In my review of the novels I said that Lauren is the smartest character I’ve ever encountered in a book, and I still think that’s true. I admire her drive and ability to understand the power dynamics at play around her that have shaped the world she lives in. 

 

This graphic novel is excellent but much like the adaptation of Kindred, I think it’s still important to read the story through the novel first, and let this comic complement your reading experience. I’m looking forward to picking up the adaptation of Parable of the Talents which is currently in the works!