The Death of Stalin (Graphic Novel)

I bought this graphic novel because of the film that was made based on the book. Whereas the film was made into a black comedy, there is no humor here, just horror.The book deals with the jostling for power between Stalin's henchmen upon his death. Of all of them, it is Beria that comes out as being pure evil, though the book fails to point out that the others were also evil, it was simply a matter of degree between them.

As a graphic novel, this has very interesting art and some nice sequences. Due to the length, It does have difficultly dealing with the large number of characters, and the last chapter is rushed. I would warn that this novel is very much in line with the dark/lurid tone of some European comics rather than the farce/broad satire you might expect from promotional material for the movie based on it. There is amusement to be had at the many absurd elements but it's never really comical.

Passing judgement on Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin’s graphic novel. The Death of Stalin may be as much a study of the psychology of the reviewer as the quality of the book. This is a fictionalized version of life inside the belly of one of modern history’s most insidiously evil places and people. One has to question what it means to say that you liked a book like this. I am siding with the folks who call this black humor. Only it is blacker. Black like the sun had never shone.The Story line has a firm anchor in historic events and real people. However the authors are clear that they intend The Death of Stalin as fiction. Even as fiction it is not that far off from the strange actual events and people as portrayed.Given that this was a world of state directed arbitrary terror, and measured political intrigue, what does it mean to say you laughed at these craven people and these violent events? Is there a message in the contrived and genuinely believing leaders who so willingly put doctrine, even a twisted and corrupted version of doctrine over life and any retention of human dignity?In the opening pages, Soviet Russian Dictator is cursed by the wife of one of his victims. He falls to the ground. Before doctors are called or any thought is given to the possibility he may still be alive, the members of the Supreme Central Committee meet to decide on who is left among the recently purged Moscow medical community who can be allowed near the dying beloved<?> leader.The played out subtext of every word and action among these men, is, who is to assume power, under what terms and with who allowed to survive? Beria immediately executes his long planned machinations to either assume the Chair of the Soviet, or at least be the master string puller. Nikita Khrushchev lumbers into the maneuvering, but always seems to be behind Beria. Molotov comes close to being the one honorable man, in that he is to the end motivated by his abstract political doctrine. General Zhukov, is not a member of the Committee, but as head of the Army he is effectively the King maker. The rest of the Committee fall into camps, but as characters they do not appear as rounded figure.This lack of depth in so many characters tends to make it hard to accept the too speedily reached resolution. This resolution is explained much better in the movie. Never explained is the importance of Stalin’s Children, both now adults neither, of no obvious consequence and both treated as key pawns in the power struggle.The back drop to Stalin death is the continuation of the Stalinist State as a place where people are murdered on less than whim.The art work on character faces is not well standardized. It is appropriate that the panels are drawn from awkward and unsettling angles. The muted, dark earth tones are all effective and again, appropriate.There is something hard to read in The Death of Stalin; given how dark the place and time, but the humor, draws from the extremes that was this place and time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned many things about the Stalin era. I'm sure there are many details that had to be left out from this complex chain of events due to space issues and I wish some of the back stories were explained further. They are worth exploring from a curious historian's perspective. But man what an amazing read. It is breathtaking what an authoritarian government can do to hobble people's minds and spirit. Worth remembering in today's world.Excellent drawings and storyline! A quick and easy read.

There really wasn't anything funny about Joseph Stalin & his crew of murderous henchmen, but this remarkable film does exactly that, turning Stalin's death and the political-infighting that followed it into a humorous-but-accurate re-telling of events! On the surface it's all very serious, but you can't miss the superb comedic performances as the major players jockey for position to see who will replace the departed Soviet dictator. Steve Buscemi is awesome as Nikita Khrushchev, the "hero" of this film. And Simon Russell Beale does an incredible job playing Lavrenti Beria, the primary "villain!" But ALL of the casting is just outstanding. I've enjoyed watching this DVD several times already, and there's not that many films I can say that about! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

A very interesting black satire on the bureaucracy of the USSR, the cunning of self interested career politicians, and how it all permeated even the most simple aspects of the Soviet decision making process.Did I mention Stalin ruled even after his death?

Superb illustrations and story line. Saw the movie first. Was encouraged to purchase "Death to the Tsar" after reading the "Death of Stalin".

The death of Stalin was probably one of the best things to happen to the USSR. Stalin, a paranoid megalomaniac, put to death anyone that remotely irritated him. His actions likely undid everything the Bolsheviks and Lenin had fought for.Is no less farcical that the resulting power struggle left in the vacuum of his death would lead to more death, political back stabbing, his son tucked away, and a brain being dropped.Based on comments and stories from the events after Stalin's death, The Death of Stalin is a wonderfully graphic novel. Filled with gallows humor about the cut throat politics that happened to get Nikita Kruschev put into the Chairman's seat.