Runaway

by Cordell Barker, Sarah Howden (Adapted by)

A cow and a runaway train are on a collision course. How will it all end? The captain is indisposed and there's no one left to pilot the train. But a train mostly drives itself, right? What could possibly go wrong? And with that, Cordell Barker's allegorical tale of greed, ignorance and the social cost of self-importance is away! Adapted from the 2009 animated short of the same name, Runaway is a rollicking and fast-paced comic that is short on dialogue, big on laughs and ends with a bang. Pleasingly devoid of any pedantic tendencies, Barker's story, expertly adapted for the page by children's author Sarah Howden, comes alive with visual jokes, poignant pauses and plenty of action. Rendered in Barker's signature, energetic illustration style, and set in an era of steamer cars and top hats, Runaway is a heavy-duty story cleverly disguised as a simple comedy of errors. National Film Board of Canada Collection
In the tradition of the NFB's creative and innovative storytelling on film comes the National Film Board of Canada a series of celebrated animated films, documentary films and media projects adapted for the printed page. Whether discovering a much-loved classic for the first time or interacting with a favorite film in a new and exciting way, readers will be delighted with the thought-provoking stories and inventive presentations of the National Film Board of Canada Collection.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Humor

88 pages, Hardcover

Published October 11, 2019

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful take on greed and the arrogance it breeds - loved the art! Kind of reminded me of the cartoons I use to watch as a kid. I think it is interesting to see what other countries are doing in cartoons/animation; lots of people just kind of assume that America is the only country that has contributed in any way - but that is wrong!

[Herdis Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short graphic novel is adapted from the identically named short film, also by Cordell Barker.



"Runaway" is a quick, entertaining read and a thinly veiled analogy of greed and selfishness generally and, I'm assuming, Capitalism specifically.

A train with a self-absorbed, preening conductor at its helm speeds down the tracks and hits a cow. When the conductor disappears, the so-called "fireman", the little man who keeps the train's fire lit and thus ensures forward motion, is left trying to control an uncontrollable situation.



Meanwhile, the passengers continue with their lives, blissfully unconcerned. They don't start to react until the situation becomes so dire that it leaves them no other choice, whereupon the wealthy take shamelessly from the poor before abandoning them without a further thought.

The connection to countries with extremely capitalistic governments, where the one percent grow richer at the expense of the poor, and extreme individualism and greed are allowed to rule the day, is unmistakeable.

"Runaway" is simple, witty, and thought provoking. The artwork is delightfully weird and I absolutely love it. Highly recommend!

[Tom Malinowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a train. Lots of different social classes are represented. A cow is on the track that the train is on. What will happen? Really smart, digestible take on social commentary on fairness and equality.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up. This book is so incredibly weird.

[Calli Leventis · Rating 3 out of 5]

quick, funny, kooky romp

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A VERY thinly veiled metaphor, but also somehow a rollicking good time.

[Fatima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some sort of comment on social and economic class and the survival dependent for each.

[Anabelle Longchamps · Rating 2 out of 5]

Le court métrage est super! L’adaptation en BD un peu moins.