Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

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Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle
By Hervé St-Louis
December 5, 2004 - 08:59

NBM Publishing
Writer(s): Upton Sinclair
Penciller(s): Peter Kuper
ISBN: 1-56163-404-2
$15.95, 48 pages

Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle continues NBM successful venture into adapting existing literary work into graphic novels. Peter Kuper lends a hand to this classic story showcasing the hardships of Lithuanian immigrants in the meat packing industry in the early 1900 hundreds. The original novel sparks several reforms in the industry that led more protection for workers.

Having not read the original Sinclair novel, gauging the accuracy of the adaptation is hard. Nevertheless, Kuper creates a story where narratives and dialogues are well mixed. It never feels as if one is reading an authoritative piece by a novelist. The ending is anti-climatic, as Sinclair’s socialist perspective is the only solution to Jurgis Rudkus, the story’s hero’s problems.

The artwork is where Kuper shines. The painted novel, probably has a mix of airbrush and water colours. Kuper knows how to mix the narrative with illustrations very well. For example, on page two, there’s a transition between two panels where one is a dirty city with chimneys, and the other is a quiet countryside. Jurgis’s blank eye sockets give him an air of despair and innocence.