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Sweet Tooth #4

Sweet Tooth, Vol. 4: Endangered Species

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Following on the heels of The Nobody, his Vertigo graphic novel debut, writer/artist Jeff Lemire pens his very first ongoing series Sweet Tooth. A cross between Bambi and Cormac McCarthy's The Road, Sweet Tooth tells the story of Gus, a rare new breed of human/animal hybrid children, has been raised in isolation following an inexplicable pandemic that struck a decade earlier. Now, with the death of his father he's left to fend for himself . . . until he meets a hulking drifter named Jepperd who promises to help him. Jepperd and Gus set out on a post-apocalyptic journey into the devastated American landscape to find 'The Preserve' a refuge for hybrids.
Gus reluctantly joins Jepperd on missing persons hunt, but the tension between the two continues to grow. Meanwhile, Singh and Johnny come face to face with a deadly new threat, and Lucy and the girls meet Walter Fish, an enigmatic survivor who may have more to offer than meets the eye. Will this lead to a new sanctuary for them, or something far more dangerous?

159 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2012

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1681 people want to read

About the author

Jeff Lemire

1,395 books3,871 followers
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name


Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.

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5 stars
3,578 (42%)
4 stars
3,236 (38%)
3 stars
1,206 (14%)
2 stars
270 (3%)
1 star
126 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 374 reviews
Profile Image for Anne.
4,745 reviews71.3k followers
June 14, 2021
Now that the group has escaped from Abbot, they're huddled in the woods together while trying to decide what to do next.

description

Lucy, Becky, and Wendy get lost for a skinny minute and stumble upon a kind man named Walter who has his very own self-sufficient compound.
Lucky ladies!
Naturally, Jepperd doesn't trust him. Nor should he! <--what is everyone else thinking?

description

Singh is still toting around the bible that was written by Gus' father. But is it a real prophecy or just the ravings of a madman?
Spoilery things happen and Gus takes another dream journey, this time to what looks like the land of the dead, and sees the past and what may be the future.
Lots of good stuff in this volume.
But I'm still hating the art!
Recommended.
Profile Image for Dave Schaafsma.
Author 6 books32.2k followers
July 4, 2021
Re-read in conjunction with the Netflix series and oh, that pandemic we seem to still be experiencing worldwide. I read it first eight years ago and this time around I like it even better. The best volume so far in the series. Terrific, inventive art and ideas and terrific characters. Frightening post-apocalyptic story with heart.

This story happens ten years after billions of people died in a plague and the new babies being born are hybrid. The kids are weird but vulnerable, and adorable. Rough guy Jeppard is leading antlered Gus and a group of folks north to Alaska, for reasons that are not completely clear, though are suggested in a notebook left by Gus's father. We get back stories of some of the women here as we find a place that could represent safety, an underground shelter at a dam occupied by Walter. Food, beds, a garden, why not just stay there? That's what is dividing the group. Not all is right in the group, we find out, but only we know it, so this will change things.

There's some dramatic moments and some near-death dreaming that are powerful here, and some connecting between Jeppard and Gus, and there's a one page ending with a surprise and some serious foreboding. There are scavengers/bad guys following them, not unlike the guys in Cormac McCarthy's The Road. And these folks in Sweet Tooth are on a road. . to nowhere? Or is it salvation?

SO good, better than I had recalled!
Profile Image for Urbon Adamsson.
1,955 reviews103 followers
August 5, 2025
PT Não gostei tanto deste volume como dos anteriores, mas ainda assim foi uma leitura satisfatória.

Logo de início, há uma primeira parte narrada de forma bastante diferente do resto da série — e, pessoalmente, não me agradou nada. Não sei ao certo quais terão sido as intenções do autor com esta escolha, ou se foi apenas uma tentativa de experimentar algo novo, mas, para mim, não resultou.

Felizmente, a narrativa acaba por regressar, aos poucos, ao estilo que me conquistou nos volumes anteriores, culminando num momento final bastante forte.

Sinceramente, nesta fase, tenho alguma dificuldade em perceber como é que o Lemire vai conseguir encerrar esta história em apenas mais dois volumes. Sabendo que ele nem sempre acerta nos finais, espero sinceramente que este não venha a ser um desses casos.

--

EN I didn’t enjoy this volume as much as the previous ones, but it was still a solid read.

It starts with a first section that’s narrated in a very different way from the rest of the series — and personally, I didn’t like it at all. I’m not sure what the author’s intentions were here, or if it was just an attempt to try something new, but for me, it didn’t work.

Thankfully, the story gradually returns to the narrative style that made me enjoy the earlier volumes so much, eventually building up to a strong and satisfying moment.

Honestly, at this point, I’m finding it hard to see how Lemire will be able to wrap everything up in just two more volumes. Knowing that he doesn’t always stick the landing when it comes to endings, I really hope this won’t be one of those cases.
Profile Image for Paz.
549 reviews220 followers
June 20, 2019
Re-read 06.20.19
Guys, guys, only two volumes left and the last page here is so good. If you haven't read Sweet Tooth, what are you waiting for?

Original Review:
4.5 Stars
This is going to destroy me I'm sure of it. I'm gonna end up with my heart broken...
What a great volume. THERE'S SOME REVENANT SHIT HAPPENING IN HERE .

This volume collects issues #18-#25 and it's, as the previous ones, heartwrenching, sad, but extremely tender and just so beautiful.
Issue #18 was definitely my favorite. I don't think Lemire's artwork has ever look better in this series. That issue, the first one in this volume, is illustrated sideways and there are a few few full-page illustrations that are just breathtaking. Lemire's mixes both classic narration and illustrations. It works perfectly. The narration helps to understand Gus's feelings after being betrayed and then rescued by Jepperd. The way Lemire decided to write those passages, using terms as ''The Boy'' and ''The Big Man'' makes it sound like a children's tale and adds so much to the innocence, sweetness and overall sadness of Sweet Tooth. Yeah, I loved issue 18.

The rest of the volume is very character heavy, we get to learn more about the ladies in the group and, through flashbacks illustrated by guest artists, get to see how their lives were before the sickness.

There's also some amazing scenes between Gus and Jepperd, their relationship is the heart of the series, so yeah, I kind of got emotional. Really emotional. It's remarkable how much Lemire can express in one page with no dialogue and barely a few panels.

Gus's dreams are, as always, intriguing and weird, but they add so much to the tone of the series.

There's also a new character introduced and a new place that brings new possibilities, although, they might be too good to be true.
I'm pretty sure these last two volumes are going destroy me. I never know whom to trust and the ending worries me so much!

Profile Image for Chad.
10.4k reviews1,062 followers
June 19, 2021
All of the women in this cast get some nicely fleshed out background stories when they come across Walter Fish, a mysterious man with an Eden like oasis. There's definitely more going on, but we have to wait until the next volume to find the rest out. There is a ton of dream sequence stuff in this which I always find to be nonsense for the most part no matter the story. Looking very forward to picking up the next volume now and see how this all turns out.
Profile Image for Sam Quixote.
4,803 reviews13.4k followers
May 11, 2012
Gus, Jepperd and co. are on the path to Alaska to trace the source of the outbreak and hopefully find a cure. In this book they meet the benign Wally, a gentle man on crutches who lost his family and who now lives in an abandoned dam containing within it enough food and supplies to last years. But Wally seems to be hiding a secret and Gus might end up paying the ultimate price...

Jeff Lemire brings the series back up to its original high quality after a rocky third book with this excellent fourth volume "Endangered Species". The pacing is a lot quicker as the group heads out into the snowy wilderness leaving the urban grime and distracting street gangs behind, and we get the chance to get to know some of the fringe members of the group.

There's a strong anti-science, pseudo-pro-religion argument being made by Lemire in these books that I don't find off-putting but become more curious to see where he's going with it as the series progresses. These religious overtones manifest in this book in a great limbo sequence painted in watercolour and containing lots of dream fantasy images.

The writing is top notch, the art is as good as you would expect (and some guest artists chip in a few pages - Nate Powell, Matt Kindt, and Emi Lenox), and the story is developing strongly in pleasingly mysterious ways. "Endangered Species" is an excellent addition to this series and makes me want to read more "Sweet Tooth". Roll on, November...
Profile Image for Lashaan Balasingam.
1,476 reviews4,622 followers
February 25, 2021
Writer Jeff Lemire cleverly continues to build up the grand finale by forcing Gus and Jepperd into a harsh father-son adventure and introducing the mysterious Walter Fish character who shows everyone a safe haven that just seems too good to be true.

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Profile Image for Stacie.
805 reviews
August 14, 2020
THIS! Oh hell, this gave me all the emotions that I wanted from the previous volume. Hands down, the best installment of the series yet!

I loved getting to know the backgrounds of the various side characters, and it was a nice touch to have different fonts/art styles for the flashbacks. We got to see more from Jepperd in terms of his emotional state & how he's processing the new circumstances around him. It was enthralling. We also have another new batch of characters that make me have so many questions about where the plot is going to go in the future.

Plus, without going into spoilers, we get a beautifully drawn dream sequence that I could not get enough of. This was a wonderfully crafted part of the overall story.

Btw, that cliffhanger was cruel. Well played, but cruel!
Profile Image for Licha.
732 reviews124 followers
March 23, 2018
Just 'cause a person does bad things don't make him a bad man. You should know that. Gus, to Jepperd when he is about to kill Dr. Singh.

***WARNING***POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD***

**2ND WARNING***STOP IF YOU MUST***

In this volume we get backstories on Lucy, Becky, and Wendy. The girls get lost in the woods and are rescued by Walter, who invites them into his dam fortress. Gus is still not talking to Jepperd after having been turned into captivity by him, but when Jepperd saves Gus from a bear, Gus realizes that Jepperd does care about him. Jepperd and Gus find the girls in the fortress and Jepperd immediately does not trust Walter like everyone does. They all want to stay in the fortress and stop running away, except for Gus, Jepperd, and Dr. Singh, who still want to head to Alaska.

Lucy discovers she is sick. We see signs of Walter not being as docile as he wants to appear to be--him being a pervert, lying about the disappearance of the previous fortress owners, and also possibly shooting Gus on purpose earlier, almost killing him.

The volume ends with Buddy still being alive and held prisoner by Abbott.
Profile Image for Stewart Tame.
2,476 reviews120 followers
November 25, 2015
This series just keeps getting better. I'd go so far as to say this series--this volume even--represents Lemire's best work to date. This volume starts off with the warm fuzzy, what looks to be a holiday issue. It manages to be happy and sweet without being cloying about it. Of course, being Sweet Tooth, the good times don't last. Our intrepid heroes find themselves in a situation that seems too good to be true. But it seems like someone might have the sickness. And then Gus gets shot ... (not a spoiler, because they've hinted at it so much over the course of this series.) We begin to get hints of what they might find in Alaska. I'm loving this series, and I can't wait for the next volume!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for vanessa.
1,232 reviews148 followers
February 16, 2017
I'm here for all of these characters, but I am especially here for Gus and Jeppard's relationship. Wonderfully written and incredibly captivating.
Profile Image for Alison.
550 reviews3,748 followers
November 14, 2017
This has been my favorite in the series so far. It definitely felt like Gus had matured and there are some things happening that are getting intense and brought up a whole slew of new questions I NEED ANSWERS TO.
I liked the format of the first half of this, where you have to hold the book sideways to read through it. Thought that was an interesting way to break up the story-telling and the actual story.
Profile Image for ♡︎.
663 reviews3 followers
February 27, 2017
Yes . Yess. Yesss. Yessss!!!!
Profile Image for Nicolo.
3,465 reviews204 followers
December 25, 2013
Now that the year is winding to a close and my 2013 Reading Challenge as well, I find myself reviewing the books I read this year. I can't believe I forgot to log this, since this was one of the better presents I got last Christmas. My brother sure knows to pick the comics that I would enjoy.

Although I would have wanted to start at an earlier volume, the fourth volume is as good as any as a catch on point to Jeff Lemire's Sweet Tooth. I really like the post-apocalyptic vibe of this title which reminds me of Y, The Last Man since it seem that these two books are all about a boy finding his place in a new world with his bodyguard/protector.

I started and finished this book on the flight home from Manila. The pacing is excellent, Lemire never allows his story wander off meaninglessly. As for knowing what happened in the previous volumes, that isn't really a problem, there's a recap before this collection starts.
Profile Image for Subham.
3,073 reviews102 followers
April 12, 2021
They continue their trek through this landscape to try and find the origins of all this pandemonium but when they split, the ladies meet a man named Walter and stuff between Jepperd and Gus happens and ultimately show down with this man and arguments of what to do next, do they stay here in this safe bunker or go ahead and what will happen with Jepper? And what about their enemies following them? Interesting volume with cool revelations and makes you question human nature and motivations and all that.
Profile Image for Lindsey Lynn (thepagemistress).
373 reviews80 followers
July 23, 2017
This graphic novels series has quickly become one of my favorites. It is an amazing dystopian that has huge adventure, scientific horrors and companionship. I highly recommend this series to anyone who is a fan of dystopian!!!
Profile Image for Mikheil.
Author 11 books117 followers
February 28, 2017
WOW! WOW! WOW!
Definitely the best book of the series so far.
Lemire still manages to amaze me with his art. One of the best I have ever seen! Top class without any doubt! And I like the different type of drawings while telling the stories from various characters' perspective.
Profile Image for Seb.
436 reviews124 followers
November 28, 2022
As we go further in the story, the plot thickens. It grows on you and you practically HAVE TO keep going.

Who the hell is Walter? What's to find in Alaska? Who are those demons? Let's head to the next book 🙃
Profile Image for Chelsea &#x1f3f3;️‍&#x1f308;.
2,038 reviews6 followers
February 16, 2017
4.5 stars.

This series continues to deliver.

This installment finds Sweet Tooth and the gang continuing their trek to Alaska. The relationship between Gus and Mr. Jepperd is tense after his past betrayal. They separate to go get firewood and Mr. Jepperd tries to talk to Gus. The whole time, he's niggling at him like he can annoy Gus into talking to him. Gus resists for the most part until he expresses condolences for Mr. Jepperd's son's death.

Then they encounter a bear and that's pretty scary!

The girls run across a mysterious facility. That plot line reminds me a lot of Lost and the Walking Dead because, of course, things are not what they seem. It gets creepy really fast. We get some insight into the pasts of these women.

This was a great book for rekindling the father/son type relationship between Gus and Mr. jepperd. As mad as I was at Mr. Jepperd, I actually teared up in this one.

Can't wait for the next one.
Profile Image for OV.
47 reviews8 followers
April 15, 2018
Como tenho poucos livros para ler, passo a ironia, resolvi reler a série que me fez enamorar pelo Jeff Lemire. Vou esperar pela releitura do último volume para escrever uma crítica mais completa, mas desde já adianto que é uma série espectacular.

Os ingredientes são um mundo distópico - mais um, sim - no qual grande parte da população foi dizimada por uma doença que ninguém entende mas que parece estar relacionada com uma raça de híbridos que começaram a nascer na mesma altura que a doença apareceu. O que faz lembrar? The walking dead, sem dúvida. Pela plot e pelos cenários.

Nesta série vamos poder acompanhar o protagonista Gus, que é um híbrido, sendo que a história começa realmente quando o pai dele morre e ele decide aventurar-se a sair da floresta na qual vive, apesar de todos os avisos que o pai lhe fez.

(To be continued...)
Profile Image for Koen Claeys.
1,351 reviews26 followers
May 22, 2020
‘Endangered Species’ is the best volume so far (and I’ve already been giving the highest score for the previous ones).
After ‘Eden, It’s an endless world’ this is the second (excellent) series about a worldwide pandemic I’ve been reading (unintentionally) during the Corona-crisis.
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,204 followers
January 17, 2015
Now we kick it into high gear. Well established backgrounds, interesting direction at the end, and some omg moments. This volume easily made the story go from good to amazing.
Profile Image for Courtney Daniel.
441 reviews21 followers
November 27, 2023
I’m hooked, like race to the library to get the next set of books hooked. Kind of leery of Wally- eeeeee and I know the kid is alright cause he’s on the next books cover still, but, gah.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 374 reviews

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