Acclaimed writer/artist and Sweet Tooth creator Jeff Lemire has signed a deal with Image Comics, making the publisher the exclusive home of all his forthcoming projects in 2022 and beyond. Lemire already has an extensive history with Image Comics, having helped spearhead numerous titles such as Descender, Gideon Falls and the currently in publication Primordial.
Jeff Lemire is not only the acclaimed creator of hit titles such as the aforementioned Sweet Tooth and Family Tree, he is also one of the most prolific, producing quality title after quality title. Lemire broke into the comics mainstream in the mid-2000s, writing and illustrating titles such as Essex County. The list of creator-owned titles Lemire has had a hand in over the past decade are too many to list; he has also an extensive catalog of projects at Marvel, DC and Valiant. Many of Lemire’s recent projects have been creator-owned, such as Mazebook (which he wrote and illustrated) and Primordial, with frequent collaborator Andrea Sorrentino. Lemire is also the mastermind behind the Black Hammer universe. He recently created the Bone Orchard Mythos with Sorrentino; the book will be a shared horror universe, consisting of graphic novels as well as ongoing series. Many of Lemire’s finest projects were published by Image Comics, and now Lemire has inked an exclusive deal with the publisher.
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A press release on Image Comics’ website announced Lemire’s deal, mentioning his already-existing upcoming projects with the company, including Little Monsters with Dustin Nugyen (who worked with Lemire on Descender) as well as the previously-mentioned Bone Orchard Mythos. The press release also revealed that Lemire has many soon to be announced projects, some written and drawn by Lemire himself, as well as projects with creators new to Image. However, Image did not comment on whether they would reprint Lemire’s extensive back catalog of projects from other publishers, such as Black Hammer or Sweet Tooth.
As noted in the press release, Lemire has worked with Image Comics for over a decade and was quoted as saying he appreciated “the complete creative freedom and support” the publisher had provided him. Lemire’s decision to sign an exclusive deal with Image Comics makes perfect sense; the list of titles he has produced for Image reads like a “greatest hits” of modern comics, ranging from science fiction titles such as Descender to folk horror books such as Gideon Falls. Lemire’s track record with the publisher speaks for itself, with numerous breakout titles and now with this exclusive deal, he has free rein to create some of the best work of his career.
Jeff Lemire is one of the most innovative creators working in comics today, winning numerous awards and fan acclaim for titles such as Sweet Tooth, and now he has signed an exclusive deal with Image Comics.
Source: Image Comics