Comic Info
Comic Name: Sweet Tooth
Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Jeff Lemire
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2010
Sweet Tooth #9
Reprints Sweet Tooth #6-11 (April 2010-September 2010). Gus finds himself trapped for experiments after being sold to Singh and the scientists at the compound by Jepperd. As Singh dives into how Gus fits into the plague, Jepperd recalls his life before the plague and how it changed when the plague hit…leading Jepperd to a big decision about his future.
Written and illustrated by Jeff Lemire, Sweet Tooth Volume 2: In Captivity is second volume of the post-apocalyptic fantasy published by DC under its Vertigo imprint. Following Sweet Tooth Volume 1: Out of the Deep Woods, the issues in the volume also were collected in Sweet Tooth: The Deluxe Edition—Book 1.
Sweet Tooth at this point is a bit of an acquired taste. I’ve read other works illustrated written and illustrated by Lemire, and I’m accustom to his style and storytelling. I also know that Lemire knows how to pull out all the stops when it comes to surprising the audience…something that makes Sweet Tooth an addictive series.
Sweet Tooth #11
In this volume you get to learn a bit more about the plague and the animal creatures through Singh’s laboratory. This both serves to advance the story and introduce some of the characters that will become important as the story moves on. The story also features an interlude issue which shows more of Gus’s past through hypnosis.
While first collection of the series introduces both Gus and Jepperd and sets the mystery of the plague in motion, this volume really solidifies the relationship between the two survivors. The telling of Jepperd story parallels Gus’ captivity in Singh’s prison and kind of frames both characters as “tortured souls” who are alone…which sets up their unique friendship which promises to carry through the rest of the series.
Sweet Tooth is starting to win me over at this point. The series goes for a basic, matter of fact type of storytelling and this combines with Jeff Lemire’s simple style of art. It is this combination that can make Sweet Tooth a bit of a tough read if the readers can’t give in to it and enjoy it. Giving in to Sweet Tooth however does have its advantage…the more of the series you read the more you rush to the end! Sweet Tooth 2: In Captivity is followed by Sweet Tooth 3: Animal Armies.
Related Links:
Sweet Tooth 1: Out of the Deep Woods
Sweet Tooth 4: Endangered Species
