Reader's Diary #2291 - Darryl Cunningham: Putin's Russia The Rise of a Dictator

While Darryl Cunningham's graphic novel Putin's Russia: The Rise of a Dictator was released prior to the current crisis in Ukraine, it's almost shocking how it points to where we are right now. Maybe less shocking for folks who have been watching Putin's actions, but for me it was very eye-opening.

There's not a lot of editorializing in Cunningham's book, it's mostly rapid fire facts, but it's certainly not a dry read. Presented as a megalomaniac (think Trump) with enough craftiness and foresight (do not think Trump), Putin is downright scary. The number of critics he's offed with poison is insane. Pure evil.

Art-wise this biography is nothing special. Too many panels are simply headshots. Still, occasionally Cunningham mixes up the style and the colour pallette is limited but engaging in a Hergé sort of style.