The Nobody

by Jeff Lemire

Jeff Lemire's been doing some excellent work lately, and this graphic novel for Vertigo can be seen as a bridge from his perfect Essex County trilogy to his new monthly series Sweet Tooth. The Nobody marries the small-town sensibilities of the former project to the science fiction aspects of the latter.

In The Nobody, a bandaged man named John Griffen (which tells you everything right there) arrives in the town of Large Mouth, where he holes up in a hotel room for days on end. Large Mouth being a small town (appropriately filled with large mouths), there is a lot of chatter, prompting Vicky, the classic 'girl from a small town who craves excitement' to seek out and befriend Griffen.

Things take a turn however when someone from his past comes looking for him, and Griffen begins to lose his self-control. Then, the reason why he's in town, and the reason for the bandages, become the central plot element.

As with Lemire's other work, this book embraces the slow pace of small-town living. His panels are full of wide open spaces and small moments - a butterfly alighting on Griffen's shoulder is reason for pause. The book is in a monochromatic blue, which gives his sketchy artwork an otherworldy feel. The story is paced perfectly, building to its confrontation at a lake in winter.

This book is highly recommended.