Sweet Tooth & 9 Other Essential Comics To Read By Jeff Lemire, Ranked

Jeff Lemire might be one of the most prolific comics writers working in the industry today. He’s written for Marvel. He’s written for DC. He’s written for Vertigo. Most of all, he’s written some of the most compelling, narrative-driven original comics of all time.

While a few adaptations of Lemire comics have been in the works, the first to gain some major traction is the forthcoming Netflix miniseries based on Sweet Tooth — which transpires in a rural post-apocalyptic place full of human/animal hybrids. Like Sweet Tooth, Lemire’s best works dive deeply into how characters endure traumatic experiences, from supernatural events to all-too-familiar concepts like the loss of a loved one.

10 Old Man Logan (2016 – 2017)

After debuting an older Wolverine in Fantastic Four, Mark Millar published the first Old Man Logan stories as part of the ongoing Wolverine series in 2009. In 2015, Old Man Logan gained his own solo series, and Lemire came on board to write its second volume beginning in 2016.

In Lemire’s Old Man Logan, the hero wakes up naked one morning to find himself in what he believes to be a pre-dystopian Earth. Convinced he has traveled back in time, Logan embarks upon a journey to alter the course of events that ruined his life; unfortunately, the reality of his situation is far different than he could have ever anticipated.

9 All-New Hawkeye (2015 – 2016)

Marvel hired Jeff Lemire to reimagine the future Avenger Hawkeye, aka Clint Barton, for the fifth volume of the superhero’s solo comic book series. Titling his venture All-New Hawkeye, Lemire worked with illustrator Ramon Perez on two sub-volumes spanning 11 issues in total.

For the All-New Hawkeye, Lemire sees his titular character reunited with his protégé of sorts, Kate Bishop, as the pair engage in a new series of challenges and adventures. In true Lemire fashion, instead of only emphasizing action, the narrator features flashbacks from Clint’s childhood that explain a lot about his present struggles.

8 Sweet Tooth (2009 – 2013)

Vertigo published Lemire’s one-of-a-kind apocalyptic fantasy series Sweet Tooth over 40 painterly issues, which led to an ongoing revival series started in 2020. Lemire employs his signature watercolor style to illustrate this biographical story focused on a boy with deer-like qualities named Gus.

Gus lives isolated in a rural village, and he’s thrust out into the big world after his father dies. Fortunately, he meets a drifter named Jepperd, and the two traverse the dangerous American dystopic wastelands in search of a safe haven for animal/human hybrids like Gus.

7 Sentient (2019)

Lemire and artist Gabriel Walta earned an Eisner nomination for their deep space comic book Sentient, published by TKO Studios. This six-issue limited series is set on a futuristic ship where humans hoping to colonize a new planet are met with a terrible tragedy.

All of the adults on board are killed, leaving the children to fend for themselves. With the help of an AI named Valary, these kids stand a chance to overcome their traumatic circumstances and learn to survive on their own.

6 Gideon Falls (2018 – 2021)

Wrapping up in 2021, Gideon Falls is an original 27-issue comic from Lemire and the talented artist Andrea Sorrentino published by Image Comics. Part intimate character study and part classic horror story, Gideon Falls spans multiple timelines and generations to explore what it takes for good to overcome evil.

The comic’s narrative focuses on the legend of the Black Barn, a magical structure that brings destruction and mania with it wherever it appears, and two men whose lives are forever altered by interactions with this fabled edifice. Horror master James Wan is currently developing a TV series based on Gideon Falls.

5 Royal City (2017 – 2018)

Another Lemire original, Royal City brings together Lemire’s nostalgic prose style with his impressionistic illustrations. Like so many of Lemire’s works, Royal City contemplates the nature of loss through the Pike family, who reside in the comic’s titular small factory town.

Spanning decades, Royal City digs deep into the psyche of each Pike child and their parents, showcasing how their lives were forever altered by the tragic loss of their youngest, Tommy, who died in a drowning accident. Replete with memories, magical realism, and ruminations on family, Royal City ran for 14 issues on Image Comics.

4 Ascender (2019 – 2021)

In the wake of the comic Descender‘s success, Lemire and his collaborator Dustin Nguyen joined forces again on a follow-up series. Ascender picks up 10 years after the events in Descender‘s final issue, the 18-issue series makes Mila, the daughter of Andy and Effie from Descender, its protagonist.

Dubbed a space opera with sci-fi trappings, Ascender combines magic, space exploration, and epic quests into a beautifully-rendered narrative. TIM-21, the robot featured in Descender, returns here to help Mila on her journey.

3 Descender (2015 – 2018)

Image Comics published Lemire and Nguyen’s Descender over 32 issues. With their story about a young robot named TIM-21 trying to stay alive in a universe that has outlawed AI like him, the pair created breathtaking worlds, dynamic characters, and a space odyssey on par with Star Wars.

Nguyen relies on the same watercolor stylings seen in Lemire’s own illustrated works, and almost every panel jumps off the page. This draws readers even deeper into TIM-21’s voyage of self-discovery and belonging.

2 Black Hammer (2016 – 2019)

Lemire pitched the idea for the Black Hammer Universe to Dark Horse back in 2007, and the publishing company accepted his offer to create an entirely new legion of superheroes. The original run of Black Hammer comics, spanning four volumes and 25 issues, earned Lemire and artist Dean Ormston Eisner awards; it also established a franchise ripe for crossovers, sequels, and spin-offs.

At its core, Black Hammer deconstructs the myth of the superhero by following a group of six former superheroes, trapped in a Twilight Zone-esque town called Rockwood after battling their enemy Anti-God and watching their seventh member perish: Black Hammer. When the daughter of Black Hammer suddenly appears in Rockwood, the gang must contend with its own traumatic past.

1 Essex County (2008 – 2011)

Lemire’s writing style, illustration techniques, and themes were solidified in his early series of graphic stories Essex County. Originally published as a trilogy, with two additional short stories added to subsequent editions, Essex County is based on Lemire’s home county in Ontario, Canada.

These interwoven tales tackle grief, family reconciliation, and memory through Lemire’s masterful lens. Equal parts whimsical and heartbreaking, Essex County sets the standard for what biographical, narrative-driven comics can accomplish.

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