Hi there!
One of the most prolific comic book writers out there today is none other than Jeff Lemire. Many of his projects are creator-owned (see what he publishes with Image Comics, for example) while others are stories centered around long-standing heroes belonging to various publishers (e.g. Marvel or DC)! I went through a bunch of his work recently to see what they were all about and here we are! This might not actually be the last time you see me checking out his work though. 😉
This feature published at an undetermined frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, who knows) will present a couple of mini reviews on anything that isn’t a physical book that I own (ebooks, comic books, TV series or movies).
Anything presented in this feature doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t get a full-review treatment in the future. That will entirely depend on how much I loved it, how interested you are in hearing more on it, and how much I have to still say about it! 🤣
Sweet Tooth (Vol. 1): Out of the Deep Woods by Jeff Lemire.
Pages: 128.
Format: Digital Comic Book.
Rating: ★★★★☆.
What is it about? The story introduces readers to Gus, a child belonging to a rare breed that crosses human and animal genes. Growing up isolated from the world that has known an unknown pandemic for the last decade, his father dies one day and he’s left to fend for himself until a strange drifter by the name of Jepperd promises him to help him out.
You can tell that writer Jeff Lemire takes certain themes to heart in almost all of his comic book series after you’ve read a couple of them. In this one, he once again explores the intimate relationship between an older male authority over an innocent and naive child in this heart-wrenching post-apocalyptic tale where trust, justice, and betrayal are at the heart of the narrative.
The artwork requires some getting used to, but by the time you reach the cliffhanger ending, you just don’t have much of a choice but to let your curiosity be piqued by the direction writer Jeff Lemire takes for this story.
Gideon Falls (Vol. 1): The Black Barn by Jeff Lemire.
Pages: 150.
Format: Digital Comic Book.
Rating: ★★★☆☆.
What is it about? This dual-narrative story introduces a mysterious barn that appears and disappears at random while dragging chaos and death into the lives of certain people along its way.
This one is interesting at first, building up the suspense as you try to understand the direction it’s heading and the story writer Jeff Lemire wants to tell, but once it really gets into the mythology behind the barn and the horror elements that are attached to it, it becomes too zany to be fully appreciated.
The artwork fits with the overall tone of the story and adds some very original structure to it that really gets psychedelic when you least expect it.
It’s hard to say if this premise can deliver but I’m not completely dissuaded by it all yet.
Family Tree (Vol. 1): Sapling by Jeff Lemire.
Pages: 96.
Format: Digital Comic Book.
Rating: ★★★☆☆.
What is it about? A world veering towards an apocalypse where people turn into trees. It’s when an eight-year-old girl who slowly transforms into a tree that this fatherless family is pushed to the brink of panic. As they go on a journey to find a cure, they learn certain secrets held back by the father and the danger that is about to enter their lives.
The premise is interesting. Writer Jeff Lemire explores some fascinating ideas throughout this short story-arc but he more often teases rather than develops his world. Nothing is actually truly clear as to the motives of various characters either. You’re sort of blindly dragged into this relatively-dysfunctional family as the mother tries to understand what is going on to her daughter.
The artwork is interesting and a bit rough. It sort of fails to really capture any form of horror but it doesn’t feel like it fits writer Jeff Lemire’s story-telling style in the end.
Moon Knight (Vol. 1): Lunatic by Jeff Lemire.
Pages: 120.
Format: Digital Comic Book.
Rating: ★★★★☆.
What is it about? The story introduces us to Marc Spector/Jake Lockley/Steven Grant, a man with multiple names who fights criminals in New York as Moon Knight. This time around, he’s in an insane asylum and it’s time for him to figure out what’s real and what’s not.
Writer Jeff Lemire nails this take on Moon Knight. I am completely enthralled by the concept of the character and what he brings to the table. With artist Greg Smallwood’s artistic vision, this story-arc perfectly executes the suspense and mystery behind the persona. Is he really who he thinks he is? Who do you trust?
To top it off, the character is ingrained in Egyptian mythology and it is beautifully incorporated into the narrative. How every character fits Marc Spector’s vision of the world is mysteriously fascinating. There’s just so much potential to this.
Moon Knight (Vol. 2): Reincarnations by Jeff Lemire.
Pages: 112.
Format: Digital Comic Book.
Rating: ★★★☆☆.
What is it about? This sequel offers the character the chance to fully embrace all of his different personalities as he goes on a trippy adventure where his mind slowly breaks down.
While still a solid exploration of multiple personas, this felt a bit clunkier in its attempt to depict the realities of Moon Knight’s character, but it is in the resolution and final act that the story gets back its signature style and narrative.
While it was fun to watch these stories take a life of its own, the narrative that went with them could have benefited from a bit more development to get things going.
Moon Knight (Vol. 3): Birth and Death by Jeff Lemire.
Pages: 112.
Format: Digital Comic Book.
Rating: ★★★★☆.
What is it about? This is the final chapter to writer Jeff Lemire’s run with the character and it offers an excellent story that fully wraps up who Moon Knight is.
This is brilliant. How he recreates the character, makes the story flow in a way that nothing is ever concrete and potentially ends by recreating the mind of this character is genius.
In this story-arc, he even dares give Moon Knight an origin story that allows him to become one with who he is as an individual forever stuck with a mental illness.
The artwork also returns to its glory days from the first volume and delivers a visual treat that truly gives this comic book run its own charm.
Have you read any of these?
Share your thoughts on anything and everything with me! 😁
TILL NEXT TIME,
Roars and Echoes 
I haven’t read any of these (I haven’t even heard of this guy before honestly, yeah, yeah I know…shame on me 😂😂). but have to admit that some of the premises of these stories sound really awesome. Too bad that story about the barn appearing and disappearing was too zany, because really I love horror stories such as those😊 Thanks for sharing these, will keep my eye out in the future for more work of him 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahah I assure you that he’s everywhere. 😉 And also Canadian. 😀 I’m sure many of his stories could actually entertain you, he has some fun horror stories, or at least “post-apocalyptic” stories that might pay off in the long run. Thanks for reading, my man! Take care! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, being the fan of all things post apocalyptic that I am….I will certainly keep my eyes out for it😊 Thanks for the recommendation, and take care yourself as well!😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
AWWW!! I am in LOVE with Sweet Tooth now and I AM ADDING IT TO MY TBR ASAP! 😍😍😍😍
Appears and Reappears? Kinda like a Disco light? ITS A DISCO LIGHT BARN?! COOOOOL!! 😍😍😍😍🤣🤣
The Family Tree’s cover is SO creepy AND intriguing! But I am sorry that one didn’t make a good lasting impression!! 🤷🏻♀️😔
Ahhhhhh!! I LOVE Moon Knight’s Cover Lashaan! SOO NEAT AND TIDY! LOVE LOVE LOVEEE IT SOO MUCHHHHH!!……ummmm…..okay yeah the tidiness went the fuck away with subsequent covers! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Well…I LOVE THESE MINI REVIEWS SOO MUCH LASHAAAN! KEEP ON DOING THEM!! 😍😍😍 Maybe twice a month? OF THRICE A MONTH?! 😍😍 Or WEEKLY? Because THAT WOULD BE AWESOMEEEE!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahahah he’s such an innocent little guy. You won’t believe what happens in volume 1. 😉 I look forward to finishing that series up.
Euuuuhhh haahahahah doubt it’s like a disco light, the interval is MUCH longer between appearances. 😉
I love the cover too! It’s what caught my attention first. The author’s name second. The blurb third. 😛
Hahahah I love how much you’re in love with Moon Knight’s cover art. I think there’s an omnibus collecting all three volumes together, making sure that at least that one cover will please you. 😀
Thanks for reading, Rain! I appreciate it. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohh?! I am intrigued! I’ll look forward to your reviews of the other volumes then! 😍
Ohh!! 🤣 BUT HOW COOOL WOULD A DISCO BARN BEEE!! 🤣🤣🤣
Well..that’s how it goes for me with almost every single book I buy! 🤷🏻♀️🤣
Oh? Then if I ever decide to buy this one, I will make it a point to look for the omnibus. But…what does an omnibus mean though?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omnibuses are a collection of multiple “volumes”. You’ll distinguish them from their… VERY big size hahaha 😀
LikeLike
The story about the barn sounded so cool!! It reminds me of some vintage horror movie! 😂 It’s great that after reading a few of his works you can determine some regular themes he likes to introduce! 😄 The cover of Sweet Tooth is so creepy 😭😭
Great mini-reviews, Lashaan 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually found the barn idea interesting at first but as I read, I couldn’t understand why it was so scary hahaha I feel like it lacked a proper world-building to it to make it more frightening. 😛
I agree with Sweet Tooth hahaha Although, once you acquaint yourself with the character, you’ll find him sweet. 😉
Yep, I feel like he really likes exploring the dad-son relationship in A LOT of his stories hahaha
Thanks for reading, Caroline! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like Moon Knight, though not in Lemire’s version (or better yet, I haven’t read it yet in Lemire’s version) 😉 You make it sound solid enough, so I’m tempted! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to trying the previous Moon Knight runs, including the one by Brian Michael Bendis, but I really liked what Lemire accomplishes with the first volume. I want to recommend it but it’s actually scary to recommend anything to Ola hahahah I would be curious to hear your thoughts on it if you ever cave in and check it out though. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure how to take your words, Lashaan 😜 is it a compliment, a backhanded compliment, or an outright challenge? 🤣🤣🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Youuu’lll neeeeeveeeer knoooooowwww! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jeff Lemire is one of my favourite writers, really liked his work on Moon Knight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely have a soft spot for his work although they aren’t all perfect for me. His Moon Knight run was quite good, it didn’t feel overstretched, it had a start, middle, and end. It could’ve benefited from a couple of extra issues, but it was still a great run in the end! Thanks for reading and commenting, Paul. I appreciate it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. Such a great post about Jeff Lemire’s work, was fun to revisit these issues again, especially the Moon Knight run, I really enjoyed it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The first three offerings did not appeal to me, but ‘Moon Knight’ sounds interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marvel plans on making a Moon Knight TV series over at Disney+ too, as part of that whole new MCU TV universe. The world needs to know who this insane dude is quickly! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
My only knowledge about Moon Knight was through the series of Marvel Cards back in the early 90’s. Then later when I found out he’s insane, well, I’m not sure I want to read about an insane Batman clone (because that is how he comes across, even if that isn’t the case)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually first heard of Moon Knight as some kind of “better” version of Batman from others and that’s what had me picking up these comics recently. While I’m interested in the character, he’s nothing like Batman and there’s no way I’d ever end up saying he’s better than Batman too hahaha
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are all new to me and I’m not sure if I’ve read anything by Lemire. I thought the premise of the first three sounded interesting, though it looks like a couple could have used a little more work before being released. Moon Knight I’ve at least heard of but didn’t really know much about. Glad to see two of the three volumes really worked well. Nice bit of variety this time around! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s done a lot of stuff over the past years and continues to deliver a lot of content to this day. I also think that those 3 series could’ve used a bit more development but maybe the following volumes fix all that up quickly. To be determined. 😀
I personally wanted to look into this Moon Knight character more because of some people who dared say that he was a better version of Batman over at Marvel. He’s interesting, that’s for sure. Being insane and all is a good selling point for me too (but never would I say he’s better though!). They plan on making a TV series for him in the near future too. So I’m sure the world will get to know him more in the next couple of years.
Thanks for reading, Todd! 😀
LikeLike
They all sounds interesting with different concept but Moon Knight sounds fascinating. Great reviews!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! Moon Knight is a fun and insane character. I look forward to reading more on him by other writers. Thanks for reading, Yesha! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like this format Lashaan, even though I had never heard of the guy before 😂 The concept of “Moon Knight” sounds super interesting though! Thanks for sharing 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha I’m glad to get you to discover him in that case and hopefully, someday, get you to try something by him too. 😉 And yes, Moon Knight will turn out to be a hit in the future when he gets a live-action adaptation and people start to know him in pop culture! Thanks for reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is quite prolific for sure. The first one seems interesting, but the themes of the others are not for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the fun part is that there are more! Looking forward to sharing them with you guys when I get around to them in the near future. 😀 Thanks for reading, Carla!
LikeLiked by 1 person
People turning into trees. Interesting…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s one way to get more trees back on our planet. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person