Idealism meets violence in Chris Oliveros's Are You Willing to Die for the Cause?, a thorough but approachable nonfiction graphic novel that looks beyond the headlines of the Québec sovereignty movement of the 1960s and '70s. Le Front de Libération du Québec (FLQ)--known as the Québec Liberation Front in English--was a small but impactful group of self-styled revolutionaries who decided to secure, by any means necessary, social and economic equality for the French-Canadian population of Québec. Oliveros (The Envelope Manufacturer) focuses on the key founders of the FLQ: Georges Schoeters, François Schirm, and Pierre Vallières. A variety of observers and participants--including several of the militants themselves; former mayor of Montréal Jean Drapeau; and Claude Ryan, former editor-in-chief at Le Devoir--narrate the events. The FLQ's intended plans repeatedly failed, the seeming naïveté of these men existing in stark contrast with the bloody results of their actions.
Oliveros's art has a retro feel, with a muted palette of black, white, and shades of orange and green. Strong lines and loosely defined human features keep the focus on action and plot. For readers looking for additional context and details, the sequential art portion of the book is followed by nearly 30 pages of supplemental material. Oliveros notes that the follow-up will cover the next phase of the movement in the 1970s. Are You Willing to Die for the Cause? will appeal to readers of graphic nonfiction, history, and the brand of stylized, informative comics for which Drawn & Quarterly is known. --Suzanne Krohn, librarian and freelance reviewer