Roughneck by Jeff Lemire

​If you’ve only read Lemire’s more recent work, it’s easy to only think of his as a writer. A very good one at that. But he started off producing books featuring his own art accompanying his writing and in an it’s-almost-unfair-how-talented-this-guy-is sort of way, he’s just as good of an artist as he is a writer. This book is a fine example of that.
The art here - stark ink lines and watercolors? – compliments the story perfectly. In fact, the way the color is used to stand out in the otherwise monochrome bluish tone of the narrative so perfectly matching North Canada where the story is set is very clever.
The portraiture is expressive, just right for a story that’s a pure character driven drama. A story of a man w whose life is driven by inherited violence beat into him as a child. The violence that drives him first to a professional hockey career and later to a dead-end job and a Canada-sized drinking habit. It is only when his long lost sister shows up in town fleeing her abusive boyfriend, that the man is finally motivated to face down his demons and, perhaps, let go of them.
So it’s a slice of life sort of tale; told right, drawn right. Dark but not hopeless, and compelling throughout. A large, gorgeous book with very good text to art ratio that makes for a quick and enjoyable read. Recommended.