And for fans of Jeff’s work, he’s the artist on the insert story “The Tale of Brutus the Bold” in this month’s HOUSE OF MYSTERY #18 (also on sale 10/7). This issue also features guest artist Werther Dell’ Edera (DARK ENTRIES).

SWEET TOOTH #1 is now here.

With smash reviews of Jeff Lemire’s OGN THE NOBODY now out there and everywhere, the anticipation has gotten intense. Creators who’ve sneaked a peek, fellow Vertigo editors, and other DC people from all kinds of departments can’t wait to see what’s going to happen. And I can’t blame them. I’ve been with SWEET TOOTH a long time, and it blew my mind that long ago. Seven issues are in the can of this very different ongoing. You clock the difference in style as soon as you see it—and there are plenty of pages and images around the web that I’m sure you’ve previewed. But it’s also a different kind of challenge to publish, month in, month out. Having a sole creator as both writer and artist is a difficult balancing act—harder than the team approach. You need to be lucky enough to be working with someone who’s mastered both and can produce 22 pages every month; moreover—and this isn’t so easy to clock, but it’s key—someone whose whole is even greater than the sum of his own parts.

With a writer/artist, you have a single vision driving the story. But you can also watch the creator reinvent himself over the long road. In the typical monthly the writer and his or her artist collaborators invariably challenge one another—it’s either supportive, or competitive, or contentious, but that creative friction leads to sparks or fires or disasters that change the book. Jeff would be the first to credit my input as well as original editor Bob Schreck’s, Jose Villarrubia’s on colors, Pat Brosseau’s on letters—but there’s a reason he gets the above-the-title cover credit. It takes a certain nerve flying solo: to believe in oneself or conversely doubt oneself enough to pull the trigger; to never rest on laurels (or antlers, as the case may be); to make what was once new, new again. And this doesn’t even consider the amazing daily page production—being both the sprint and the marathon as issues run on and on. Like I said, I’ve seen seven issues and pieces far beyond that number. Whereas THE NOBODY had a conscious unity, SWEET TOOTH is taken down and rebuilt every issue—sometimes every page. And as far down the road as I can see, who knows where Gus’ journey ends. Not even Jeff knows yet, although it’s in his head somewhere.

Now to reveal an inked spread from issue #5:

We’re so excited for everyone to read JEFF LEMIRE'S first ongoing series SWEET TOOTH (on sale this Wednesday).

And we’re not alone:

"Writer & artist Jeff Lemire has created the new 'must read' book with SWEET TOOTH. It's a fairy tale turned on its ear-or antlers-that takes you on the road trip through an America slightly more fantastical and just as frightening as ours." —GEOFF JOHNS (Blackest Night)

“I would crawl over broken glass to read this.” —JASON AARON (Scalped)

“Lemire's next great work is a shockingly original cocktail of the surreal. A candy-colored nightmare of family, violence and the end of the world.” —MATT KINDT (Super Spy)

"Sweet Tooth is a dark, moving, and intriguing story, and Jeff Lemire's gentle writing and raw, expressive art work perfectly together." —FRANK QUITELY (Batman & Robin)

"A remarkably strange story, drawn in an appropriately expressionistic style. I need to know what's going to happen to Gus!" —PETER BAGGE (Everybody is Stupid Except for Me)

A cross between Bambi and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, it’s a post-apocalyptic journey full of quiet intimate moments, powerful emotion and an edge that is unlike anything you’ve ever read by Lemire.

Today's WALL STREET JOURNAL Weekend Journal Section features JEFF LEMIRE and SWEET TOOTH. Read the story and preview here.

A few weeks ago we showed you some pages from Jeff Lemire's first ongoing series SWEET TOOTH. Well, now, with only a few weeks until #1 goes on sale we thought we'd give you a bit more.

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