Graphic Novel Review: R.U.R. The Karel Capek Classic by Katerina Cupová

Posted on September 2, 2025 at 9:34 am by Gene Ambaum

R.U.R. The Karel Capek Classic by Katerina Cupová, translated by Julie Novàková. Rosarium Publishing, 2024. 9788986614687. 264pp. Includes a sketchbook at the end.

I’ve tried to read translations of Capek’s 1920 play, R.U.R., a few times (it’s famous for introducing the word “robot”), but this graphic novel adaptation is the first version I’ve finished. Cupova’s adaptation pulled me through because the book is just beautiful to behold. (So beautiful that even when I couldn’t quite follow the story’s jumps and such, and when its dated treatment of the female characters in particular annoyed me, I could focus on the art.)

R.U.R. stands for Rosarium’s Universal Robots, a factory churning out emotionless, humanoid workers. Director Domin opens the book with a big speech. Helena Glory wants a tour of the factory; these are never granted, but he shows her around anyway because she’s the President’s daughter. She’s an activist who believes robots are people, despite a lot of evidence to the contrary. She soon reveals herself as a representative of the League of Humanity, who are out to free the robots; she believes people need to show them a little love. The director wants to marry her. She initially refuses. And then the story jumps forward a bit, to when society is falling apart and those onboard are trying to ride out what may be the end of human civilization.