Broken Frontier

An epic work of historical fiction that doubles as a character study of a remarkable city on the cusp of revolution, Petrograd investigates one of the most controversial assassinations in history.

Much has been written about the murder of the notorious Russian spiritualist Rasputin. Considered by many to be a lecherous charlatan interested only in good wine and loose noblewomen, Rasputin was also feared by many in the Russian political arena for his influence over the royal family, not to mention his reputed supernatural powers. He is one of the more fascinating personages of the 20th century. Even the academics have done more to cloud the truth surrounding his death, than uncover what really happened that fateful night in Petrograd.

Told from the perspective of haunted British spy Cleary, Petrograd not only attempts to present a valid theory for the “Mad Monk’s” murder but to illuminate the shadows surrounding one of the most fascinating and important cities in the world. Both writer Philip Gelatt and artist Tyler Crook obviously possess a healthy passion for their subject matter. Working in tandem, the pair builds an atmospheric tale that captures all of the intrigue, paranoia, and intensity of their unique setting. Simmering at the boiling point of revolution, while aiding the Brits in their war against the Hun, the city we once again call St. Petersburg was a sultry hotbed of political maneuvering, government corruption, and international espionage.

Although a fascinating, multilayered protagonist, Cleary isn’t the real star of this book. A reluctant spy, haunted by the horrors of the trenches and the revolutionary aspirations of his Irish compatriots, Cleary’s plight mirrors that of the city itself. Like Cleary, Petrograd is a city pulled in many directions. At the time, one of the cultural capitals of the world and home to thriving artistic and academic communities, Petrograd was also one of the most impoverished cities in Europe thanks to Russia’s involvement in World War One and the gross excesses of its ruling elite. As Cleary fights to keep his head above water spying on the burgeoning revolution for the Russians, even as he spies on Russian political elite for the Brits, Petrograd itself struggles to form a new identity in the face of global war abroad and rampant political abuses at home.

If all of this sounds a little convoluted, have no fear: Gelatt and Crook perform admirably, allowing their plot to unfold organically driven by their complex, well-rounded characters, without sacrificing any of the unique atmosphere of their setting. Crook’s artwork is breathtaking, evoking the expressiveness and innovation of industry legends like Eisner and Kubert. His figures are rendered with a certain raw exuberance and robustness, contrasting perfectly with the book’s muted color palette of grays and pale reds. Much of Petrograd’s conflicted identity comes across in Crook’s depiction of dirty snow-covered streets, obscenely intricate architecture, and shadowy meeting places.

Just as important a character as Cleary and more present in the plot than Rasputin himself, it is Petrograd’s struggle to define itself that drives Gelatt and Crook’s exploration of this turning point in Russian history.