Tales from the Farm

Lonely ten year old Lester whose mother has just died of cancer goes to live with his uncle on a remote Ontario farm. Uncle Ken is uncomfortable that Lester wears a mask and cape to do his farm chores, go to school, everywhere, but is unable to talk with him. Jim, who works at the local convenience store/ gas station, and once played for the Leafs, befriends him. This slight story is enhanced by its spare drawings, where the lack of dialogue jumps off the page, and the passing seasons dramatize the searing emotions the characters are unable to express verbally.

When defenders of the comics medium say that great art, story telling and depth are possible in comic form, they should cite Lemire's work as a prime example. Lemire's melancholy tale of an orphaned boy and his appointed guardian is as emotionally deep and moving as anything by Dickens, Salinger or Spielgelmen. I can't wait to read the next two volumes.

Jeff Lemire is one "Crazy Canuck" or should I say sly. He burrows into his past life of Essex County, Ontario in a rural town that could be a stunt double for any other little town all over North America and gives us a pleasure trip into the innocence of childhood and pristine fantasy. Taking a page from Ontario's other hero Seth, who reveled us with It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken. With a hint of Montreal's Mordecai Richler's Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang and Jeff's recounting of his purloined youthful latency. Jeff has a winning story here and is worth reading. Read also It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken