By Jeff Lemire (Writer/ Artist)
The Story: Lou Lebeuf, a deaf and lonely man, spends his days remembering his golden times as a hockey player while wallowing in guilt. From his glory days on the ice, to the good times with his brother, Lou recounts nearly seven decades of loneliness and regret.
What’s Good: What makes Lemire’s book worth reading is that it is original and plot-less. The pages are strictly dedicated to rich storytelling, nostalgia, and character development. As for the visuals, the pages are rich with cinematic-like frames for panels that invoke an unforgettable tone. Ghost Stories is a must pick-up, as it is one of the few graphic novels today that offer a deep, realistic story that concerns all of us: loneliness, family, and conflict. If you liked reading Harvey Pekar’s, American Splendor, or Craig Thompson’s Blankets, then you’re going to want to add Jeff Lemire’s graphic novel to the collection.
What’s Not So Good: With a story so good, there’s really not a lot to complain about. I had no problems with it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if readers were turned off by the art, as it doesn’t get anymore “indie” then this. Nevertheless, I’ve never seen two simple circles for eyes look so sad.
Conclusion: Although Ghost Stories is the second installment of three interconnecting graphic novels, it still reads well as its own story. In fact, I would recommend reading Vol. 2 first (then Vol.1, then Vol.3), as it almost serves as a prequel, since it is set in the past. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to buy the other two volumes and looking for Jeff Lemire’s other works.
Grade: A
-Ray Hilario