Stepping into a dark future

Reading Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Talents is a singular experience; penned in 1998 and set a decade into our future, the novel chillingly mirrors dystopian scenarios unfolding today. However, this isn’t a review of Butler’s renowned speculative masterpiece itself, but rather of the adaptation by Abrams ComicArts, skillfully scripted by Damian Duffy and vividly illustrated by John Jennings and David Brame. The accomplished creative team, who previously brought us Parable of the Sower, has once again found remarkable ways to amplify the dread and hope that form the bedrock of Butler’s storytelling.

Like mother, like daughter

Parable of the Talents continues Lauren Olamina’s narrative through her journal entries which chronicles her challenging life in a California landscape that bears a strong resemblance to the Book of Eli with its sepia toned color scheme.  

However, in Parable of the Talents, Olamina’s journal entries are framed by acerbic commentary of her evangelical journey from none other than her daughter, Larkin Olamina Bakole (aka Ashe Vere).  

While Olamina’s entries are depicted in a barren rust belt, Larkin’s perspective is presented in an elaborate futurescape.  This visual juxtaposition, a powerful motif invented by Jennings and Brame, is simultaneously tragic and hopeful – a distinctly ‘Butlerian’ theme rendered effectively in sequential art.

Sweating blood and tears

Olamina’s hyperempathy or “sharing” is another brilliant motif that pulls us into this dreadful world.  By experiencing violence and cruelty not just through her eyes but through her very being, we don’t merely witness events; we feel their impact.   This intensifies Butler’s inclination to depict tragedy in unflinching detail, making it at times almost unbearable. It’s understandable to want to look away.

Duffy and Jennings however stare into the abyss at the expense of their own mental health; as they attest in the book’s epilogue interview. 

This is most evident in the book’s climactic attack on Acorn, Olamina’s beloved sanctuary.  This chapter encapsulates the litany of atrocities endured by Olamina and her community throughout the series: rape, torture, slave labor, and indoctrination.  As Damian presents these disturbing moments, John Jennings and David Brame illustrate them tenaciously.

The result is a moment that captures the essence of this graphic novel; insurmountable hardship is met with ferocious endurance and unforeseen miracles.  Rinse and repeat. 

Moments lost

My primary critique of the adaptation is that there seems to be a laissez-faire approach to the art and the design of the story that loses its grip on the narrative.  

For instance, establishing shots are drawn haphazardly at times.  At other times,  moments like Olamina and Larkin finally meeting in person don’t seem to carry the same gravitas as other horrific moments in the book.

Additionally, Olamina’s portrait drawings, a significant detail of the story, were never really showcased.  An obvious missed opportunity in an artistic adaptation.  

I only gripe because Parable of the Talents comes dangerously close to being interpreted as trauma-porn — something we must avoid at all costs.  To prevent these misinterpretations it’s crucial we highlight Olamina’s moments of victory with the same doggedness as we shared her suffering.

Mission accomplished

For some, stories depicting profound trauma, such as Parable of the Talents, may feel redundant or even triggering. Acknowledging this, I commend Damian Duffy and John Jennings for persevering with Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Talents, alongside several of her other dark narratives (Parable of the Sower, Kindred).   Since 2017, they have been providing a fresh experience for Octavia Butler enthusiasts as well as newcomers. 

Despite the often-foreboding nature of her stories, Butler’s overarching vision ultimately offers a message of salvation and hope – something profoundly needed in our current climate.

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