Jeff Lemire
Jeff Lemire (; born March 21, 1976) is a Canadian comic book writer, artist, and television producer. He is the author of critically acclaimed titles including the "Essex County Trilogy", "Sweet Tooth", and "The Nobody". His written work includes "All-New Hawkeye", "Extraordinary X-Men", "Moon Knight" and "Old Man Logan" for Marvel; "Superboy", "Animal Man", "Justice League Dark", and "Green Arrow" for DC; "Black Hammer" and "Mazebook" for Dark Horse; "Descender" and "Gideon Falls" for Image Comics; and "Bloodshot Reborn" for Valiant. In 2021, "Sweet Tooth" was adapted as a Netflix television series through Susan and Robert Downey  Jr.'s production company Team Downey, with Lemire serving as an on-set consultant. Lemire has also collaborated with musicians such as Eddie Vedder on his "Matter of Time" animated video and Gord Downie on "Secret Path," a multimedia storytelling project. Early life. Lemire was born and raised in a small farming town in Essex County, Ontario, near Lake St. Clair. Lemire attended film school, but decided to pursue comics when he realized that filmmaking did not suit his solitary personality. Career. 2000s. Early work. After self-publishing the Xeric Award-winning comic book "Lost Dogs" in 2005 via his  Ashtray Press imprint, Lemire found a home at Top Shelf Productions. Lemire serialized a science-fiction strip called "Fortress" in the quarterly "UR Magazine". In 2006 Lemire's work was included in an international symposium gathering artists, scholars, curators, publishers, librarians, critics, and writers at the Banff Centre. Lemire's work was part of the "Comic Craze" exhibit, which showcased Canadian comics and narrative fiction. Section::::"Essex County". Lemire wrote and illustrated the Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated "Essex County Trilogy" for Top Shelf in 2008–2009. In June 2011 it was announced that visual effects artist John Dykstra will direct an  adaptation of "Essex County" entitled "Super Zero". 2012 saw the publication of a new graphic novel from Top Shelf called "The Underwater Welder", which was released to critical acclaim. In December 2015, it was announced that First Generation Films had optioned the rights to "Essex County" to develop the graphic novel as a television series from Canada's CBC. Aaron Martin was set as writer and showrunner, as well as executive producing with Lemire. In October 2020, Lemire revealed that the show will commence filming in 2022 as a 6-episode mini-series with himself serving as writer, showrunner, and  producer. Section::::"The Nobody". In 2009, DC Comics' Vertigo imprint published Lemire's "The Nobody", a two-colour tale of identity, fear and paranoia in a small community. Section::::"Sweet Tooth". Lemire wrote and illustrated the full-colour Vertigo series "Sweet Tooth", published September 2009 to January 2013. In May 2020, Netflix confirmed the release of the movie adaptation of "Sweet Tooth" as a series of eight episodes. Susan and Robert Downey Jr. take part in the project through their own production company Team Downey. While on set during the filming of the pilot in New Zealand, Lemire was hit with an  inspiration for how to revisit the world of "Sweet Tooth" in comics, which led to the 2020 six-issue miniseries "Sweet Tooth: The Return". 2010s. DC Comics. Lemire signed an exclusivity contract with DC Comics in December 2010. He moved over to the DC Universe to write the one-shot "Brightest Day: Atom", with Turkish artist Mahmud Asrar, designed to act as a springboard for an Atom story to co-feature in "Adventure Comics". He also relaunched the "Superboy" series featuring the character Conner Kent. During "Flashpoint" he wrote "Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown" miniseries, then, as part  of The New 52, he wrote the ongoing series "tpb" and "Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.". Further into the launch of The New 52 Lemire took over the writing duties on Justice League Dark with issue #9, while leaving Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. to newcomer Matt Kindt. He continued to write "Animal Man" into 2012, including teaming up with "Swamp Thing" writer Scott Snyder for a crossover between the two books called "Rotworld." In February 2013, Lemire replaced Ann Nocenti as the writer of "Green Arrow". His work on the title, which had not been well-received under previous writers, was  widely praised by critics and fans, and lasted until September 2014. Lemire drew a Rip Hunter story for "Time Warp" #1 (May 2013) which was written by Damon Lindelof and published by Vertigo. In 2014, Lemire joined a team of writers composed of Brian Azzarello, Keith Giffen, and Dan Jurgens to co-write "", a new weekly series set five years into the New 52's future. It ran from May 2014 through April 2015. Lemire wrote "", an original graphic novel with art by Terry and Rachel Dodson published by DC Comics in November 2014. As part of DC's Earth  One line, "Teen Titans: Earth One" takes place in an alternate continuity-free universe that re-imagines DC's characters. Marvel Comics. After his exclusivity contract with DC came to an end, Lemire began working with other publishers. At the 2014 New York Comic Con, it was announced that Lemire would be writing "All-New Hawkeye," his first Marvel Comics title, with artist Ramón Pérez, which began in March 2015, a follow-up to Matt Fraction's and David Aja's acclaimed run. The series ran for five issues until September 2015 before being relaunched as part of All-New  All-Different Marvel. Bleedingcool reported in April 2015 that Lemire had signed an exclusivity contract with Marvel, which excluded his creator-owned work with Image and Dark Horse Comics, as well as his work with Valiant Entertainment. In June 2015, Lemire was announced as a writer for three titles in the All-New, All-Different Marvel branding: "All-New" "Hawkeye", with artist Ramón Pérez, "Extraordinary X-Men", with artist Humberto Ramos, and "Old Man Logan", with artist Andrea Sorrentino. Three months later, it was announced he would pen the relaunched "Moon Knight" title, with artist Greg Smallwood. His work on  the character served as inspiration for the 2022 Disney+ television series adaptation. Series directors Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson said of the Lemire/Smallwood run's influence: "Extraordinary X-Men", billed as the flagship X-Men title, features a team led by Storm, deals with the fallout of the Terrigen Mist, and launched in November 2015. "All-New Hawkeye" debuted in November 2015, continuing with the story-line established in Lemire's and Pérez's previous run on the title. "Old Man Logan" launched in January 2016, and features a future version of Wolverine. Valiant Entertainment. In December 2014, Lemire  launched "The Valiant", a four-issue limited series, featuring characters from all over the Valiant line, co-written with Matt Kindt with art by Paolo Rivera. His first work for Valiant Comics, the series sets the stage for the Valiant Universe moving forward. Spinning out of "The Valiant", Lemire began writing the ongoing series "Bloodshot Reborn" alongside artist Mico Suayan, with the first issue being released in April 2015. The series features Bloodshot, a character Lemire approached by distilling the issues he had him and twisting the prototypical action hero into a more emotionally-driven story. The second story arc , starting with issue 6 in September, featured art by Butch Guice. The third arc, debuting with issue 10 in January 2016, began publishing in the Valiant Prestige format, with art by Lewis LaRosa. Section::::"Descender". In March 2015, Lemire launched "Descender", a creator-owned science fiction series with art by Dustin Nguyen, from Image Comics. Announced on San Diego Comic-Con 2014, the ongoing series follows a robot named Tim-21 through his adventures in space. The series is Lemire's first creator-owned ongoing series not illustrated by himself. "Descender" ran thirty-two issues from March 2015 to July 2018. A  sequel series, "Ascender", set ten years after the original series, launched April 2019. In January 2015, Sony Pictures acquired the movie rights to "Descender" after a competitive bidding war. Josh Bratman is producing, with Lemire and Nguyen serving as executive producers. Jesse Wigutow, writer of the "Tron: Legacy" sequel, was announced as the screenwriter adapting "Descender" in February 2016. Section::::"The World of Black Hammer". In July 2014, Dark Horse Comics announced a new creator-owned superhero series written by Lemire with art by Dean Ormston, titled "Black Hammer", set to be released in March 2015. However, in April 2015 Lemire  stated that the series had been delayed indefinitely due to a cerebral hemorrhage suffered by Ormston. In February 2016 it was announced that the series would be launching on July of that same year. In 2017 it won the Eisner award for Best New Series. In 2017, Jeff Lemire launched "The World of Black Hammer", a series of "Black Hammer" spinoff titles. In 2018, the title was optioned as a "multiplatform franchise" by Legendary Entertainment, with television and film adaptations in the works. Section::::"Plutona". "Plutona", a five-issue limited series from Image Comics co-written with artist Emi Lenox, was  released in September 2015 to critical acclaim. Announced at Image Expo 2015, the series follows a group of kids who find the body of a dead superhero in the woods, and features colors by Jordie Bellaire. Lemire will be drawing backup stories featuring the last adventures of Plutona. Section::::"Roughneck" and "AD: After Death". In September 2013, Simon & Schuster acquired world rights to Lemire's newest graphic novel, "Roughneck", for publication in 2016. The graphic novel, which Lemire wrote, illustrated, and painted, follows a former hockey player's slide into depression as interrupted by the arrival of his sister, and was  scheduled to be published in October 2016. Comparing the project to "Essex" "County", a book that found success in the mainstream literary world, Lemire stated that he chose Simon & Schuster because he wanted to find a publisher that would treat "Roughneck" as a novel instead of a comic, with his goal being finding success outside of the direct market. "AD: After Death", a graphic novel written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Lemire, was announced at Image Expo 2015 for release on November of that same year. Section::::"Secret Path". In 2016, Lemire collaborated with musician Gord Downie on "Secret Path , a graphic novel accompaniment to Downie's solo album of the same name. Section::::Royal City". In March 2017, Lemire released a new ongoing series entitled "Royal City" through Image Comics. He is the sole writer and illustrator. The series follows Royal City resident the Pike family, who live with the ghost of the young Tommy Pike, who "is quite literally haunting them all still and holding them all back." Lemire originally intended the series to be much longer. He later said of the series' premature ending: Lemire has mentioned he intends to return to the series someday. Section::::"Sentient". In October  2019, TKO Studios released "Sentient" as both a six-issue miniseries and an original graphic novel. Written by Jeff Lemire with art by Gabriel Hernández Walta, "Sentient" was nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Limited Series in 2020. 2020s. Section::::"Snow Angels". On February 16, 2021, writer Jeff Lemire and artist Jock's "Snow Angels" launched as a comiXology Original. It is a ten-issue limited series divided into two miniseries of four and six issues respectively. Additionally, a prose short story written by Lemire was released on Amazon's Kindle and Audible to tie in with the comic's  release. The series was republished in trade paperback form by Dark Horse Comics in 2022. Section::::"Mazebook". Lemire originally announced this series in his newsletter, "Tales from the Farm", in January 2021 before the official announcement the following June. It is a five-issue monthly miniseries, published by Dark Horse Comics. Written and drawn by Lemire, the story follows a man looking for his daughter ten years after she originally went missing. The first issue was published September 8, 2021. Section::::"Tales from the Farm" newsletter. In early September 2021, Lemire announced his "Tales from the Farm" email newsletter would be moving  to Substack, where he would be serializing a new story, "Fishflies". It began September 10, with Lemire projecting the series to run about five hundred pages, with each update being around five pages long. In addition to the "World of Black Hammer" stories published with Dark Horse Comics, Lemire will be debuting new stories through his "Tales from the Farm" newsletter. Several are already in the works. Section::::"Primordial". This was initially announced as collaboration with illustrator Andrea Sorentino codenamed "Project Bark". It was published as a six-issue miniseries by Image Comics beginning in September 15, 2021. Section::::"The Bone Orchard  Mythos". In his "Tales from the Farm" newsletter, Lemire has said he and Sorrentino are already at work on their next project after "Primordial", teasing an announcement to coming in the Fall of 2021. Lemire claimed it will be "the most ambitious thing he and I have done together." In November 2021, Lemire announced the project as "The Bone Orchard Mythos", a "shared horror universe of interconnected stories taking place across multiple books and in different formats" from him and Sorrentino at Image Comics. The first three books will be a graphic novel in June 2022 called "The Passageway", a  mini-series in Fall 2022 called "Ten Thousand Black Feathers", and another hardcover graphic novel in mid-2023 called "Tenement", with a Free Comic Book Day prelude issue debuting in May 2022. Section::::"Cosmic Detective". In May 2020, Jeff Lemire and Matt Kindt announced the opening of a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for a graphic novel entitled "Cosmic Detective", for which they will be writers with David Rubín on board as artist. The book was completed in November 2021, with the digital edition releasing in December 2021 and the physical edition set to release in 2022. Section::::""Project Jackknife/Headlights"". Announced collaboration with illustrator  Gabriel Walta, which Lemire calls "ambitious" and a "longer story" with at least three different story arcs, currently planned for a November 2022 release. Section::::"Little Monsters". Lemire announced plans to re-team with "Descender" and "Ascender" illustrator Dustin Nguyen for a project initially known under the working title of "Project Pavement". The project's name was eventually revealed to be "Little Monsters", an ongoing series at Image Comics, and the first issue came out in March 2022. Most recently, he had signed an exclusive deal with Image Comics. Awards. Lemire won a Xeric Award in 2005 for his book "Lost  Dogs". He was a 2008 recipient of a Young Adult Library Services Association Alex Award for "Essex County Volume 1: Tales from the Farm". Lemire received a Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Creator Award for Outstanding Cartoonist in 2008, and the Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent in 2008. 2013 saw Lemire win another Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Cartoonist (recognizing his work on "Sweet Tooth" and "The Underwater Welder"). Lemire won an Eisner Award for Best New Series in 2017 for his work on "Black Hammer". Lemire has also been nominated for an Ignatz, a Harvey, and multiple  other Eisner Awards (most recently for "Barbalien: Red Planet" by Dark Horse). In 2011 "Essex County" was selected as one of five titles for Canada Reads, with the theme of "The Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade." Its celebrity champion was Sara Quin. "Essex County" was eliminated in the first round, but later placed #1 in a "People's Choice" poll with more votes than all other books combined. Personal life. As of 2009, Lemire lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is married and has a son.