I have long been a fan of Jeff Lemire’s work, from the creator-owned Sweet Tooth and Trillium to his amazing runs on Marvel’s Moon Knight and DC’s Animal Man. I appreciate that he always seems to begin his writing process with character first and builds his plot up from there. Yes, Animal Man has some far-out sci-fi elements, but, at its heart, it was a story about the relationship between a father and daughter. This month, Dark Horse releases The Nobody, a reinterpretation of H.G. Wells’ Invisible Man originally released by DC’s Vertigo imprint in 2009. For me, this was like finding a hidden gem from a creator I’ve long admired. I have no idea how I missed this book the first time around, but, thanks to Dark Horse, I have a second chance.
As with many of his independent works, Lemire serves as both writer and artist for The Nobody. Right away, we are introduced to a small Canadian town, though really it could be any rural town, with Lemire’s usual colorful cast bringing Large Mouth to life. Lemire’s art, as always, is a standout and he perfectly captures the remoteness of Large Mouth, making it feel like a relic stuck in time, its inhabitants unable to leave. The subdued color palette of light blue, black, and white chosen by Lemire makes the whole book feel like a series of wood cuts that have been stamped on the paper. The effect made me feel like I was reading an ancient preserved folktale.
Lemire’s story centers on humanity’s mistrust of the other – a particularly topical subject here in 2026 despite The Nobody being written in 2009. The book opens with Mr. Griffin, walking into town covered in bandages and simply looking for a place to stay at the local motel. For the simple crime of being a stranger, he draws the ire of some of the townspeople when he first arrives. Griffin does find a friend and confidante in Vickie, a local girl who works for her father at the diner but otherwise remains reclusive, drawing even more suspicion from the townsfolk. Even those who had defended Griffin at first slowly begin to turn against him. As with most great “monster” stories, the real villain of the story is humanity, as we watch mistrust and hate seep into the people of Large Mouth while being slowly led by Lemire to its powerful conclusion.
As violence against immigrants explodes throughout our country, I can’t think of a better time for a parable like this. Is this scapegoating and despising of the other endemic to humanity? Can we hope to move beyond to a place of peace and acceptance? The Nobody is a powerful piece of storytelling with a lesson this world sorely needs. A beautifully woven tale from one of the best in the business.
Creative Team: Jeff Lemire (writer/artist), Sean Konot (letterer)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Click here to purchase.
