What do you think?
Rate this book
Royal City
Royal City, Vol. 1: Next of Kin
In his most ambitious and most personal project to date, JEFF LEMIRE spins the captivating and engaging story of a family from the small factory town of ROYAL CITY and the ghosts that haunt them.
In a return to the literary and thematic territory of Lemire's breakthrough graphic novel ESSEX COUNTY, ROYAL CITY follows Patrick Pike, a fading literary star who reluctantly returns to the once-thriving factory town where he grew up. Patrick is quickly drawn back into the dramas of his two adult siblings, his overbearing Mother and his brow beaten Father, all of whom are still haunted by different versions of his youngest brother, Tommy, who drowned decades ago.
As each member of the family struggles to keep themselves above water, it quickly becomes clear that Tommy's death isn't the only dark secret tearing the town, and this family, apart at the seams. Can each member of the Pike family come to terms with their own guilt over Tommy's death, and make peace with the many versions of Tommy that still haunt them, or will they all be dragged down below the river along with his lingering ghost?
ROYAL CITY promises to be a sprawling, serialized graphic novel that will chart the lives, loves and losses of a troubled family and a vanishing town, across three decades.
Jeff Lemire is the creator of DESCENDER (with DUSTIN NGUYEN), AD: AFTER DEATH (with SCOTT SNYDER), ROUGHNECK, SECRET PATH (with Gord Downie), PLUTONA (with EMI LENNOX), ESSEX COUNTY, SWEET TOOTH, TRILLIUM, and THE UNDERWATER WELDER. He had also written celebrated stories featuring Green Arrow, Animal Man, Bloodshot, Wolverine, Hawkeye, Teen Titans, the Valiant, the X-Men and Inhumans for the major comic book publishers.
Collecting issues 1 through 5.
In a return to the literary and thematic territory of Lemire's breakthrough graphic novel ESSEX COUNTY, ROYAL CITY follows Patrick Pike, a fading literary star who reluctantly returns to the once-thriving factory town where he grew up. Patrick is quickly drawn back into the dramas of his two adult siblings, his overbearing Mother and his brow beaten Father, all of whom are still haunted by different versions of his youngest brother, Tommy, who drowned decades ago.
As each member of the family struggles to keep themselves above water, it quickly becomes clear that Tommy's death isn't the only dark secret tearing the town, and this family, apart at the seams. Can each member of the Pike family come to terms with their own guilt over Tommy's death, and make peace with the many versions of Tommy that still haunt them, or will they all be dragged down below the river along with his lingering ghost?
ROYAL CITY promises to be a sprawling, serialized graphic novel that will chart the lives, loves and losses of a troubled family and a vanishing town, across three decades.
Jeff Lemire is the creator of DESCENDER (with DUSTIN NGUYEN), AD: AFTER DEATH (with SCOTT SNYDER), ROUGHNECK, SECRET PATH (with Gord Downie), PLUTONA (with EMI LENNOX), ESSEX COUNTY, SWEET TOOTH, TRILLIUM, and THE UNDERWATER WELDER. He had also written celebrated stories featuring Green Arrow, Animal Man, Bloodshot, Wolverine, Hawkeye, Teen Titans, the Valiant, the X-Men and Inhumans for the major comic book publishers.
Collecting issues 1 through 5.
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2017
16 people are currently reading
1498 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Lemire
1,398 books3,867 followersLibrarian 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
September 30, 2017
The fractured Pike family are brought back together to the dying industrial town of Royal City when the elderly patriarch, Peter, suffers a stroke. But they also have another shared commonality: dead Tommy Pike, drowned at age 14, who haunts each of the family in his own way. In this time of crisis, the family must finally confront their dark past. But is Tommy somehow still alive…?
Jeff Lemire’s new Image ongoing, Royal City, is being sold as a sequel of sorts to his critically acclaimed modern masterpiece, Essex County. Ehhh… no! It’s not nearly as good but it’s not bad either.
Lemire does a fine job of introducing the familial cast: Pat the frustrated novelist, struggling to follow up his bestselling first book; his little brother, Richie, the drunk fuckup; Tara, his sister and local businesswoman attempting to rejuvenate Royal City’s faded glory; and Patti, the matriarch, bitter, sad, and with secrets of her own. We get a strong sense of each character and they all get a decent storyline.
I also liked the supernatural Tommy element. You don’t exactly know whether Tommy’s real or not - is he a metaphor for the family’s guilt/trauma or is he a ghost? - or what happened to him way back when, so it’s a consistently intriguing aspect of the story.
Rather than Essex County, Royal City reads more like Lemire’s more recent Dark Horse series Black Hammer, in that the story is heavily soap opera-cheesy. There wasn’t enough going on for me story-wise to say I loved reading it and what was going on had me rolling my eyes: the affairs, troubled marriages galore, the forced drama between siblings, particularly the resentment between Pat and Richie. And that pseudo-cliffhanger final page - I could practically hear the opening drums to the Eastenders theme tune!
I don’t know why Lemire’s currently fixated on this hokey family saga crap or whether he’s just not that good at executing the sort of drama he’s aiming for, but I wasn’t taken with what he did here (or in Black Hammer either).
Art-wise, Lemire’s settled into a comfortable groove where he’s not doing anything different from his usual style. It looks like it’s always looked but his colours this time around are a bit more vibrant and interesting.
Don’t get me wrong: the first volume of Royal City is perfectly readable and held my attention, it’s just that the overall effect isn’t that impressive, memorable or unique, and the Essex County comparison really doesn’t help either. Underwhelming, slightly unsatisfying, but mostly ok, don’t expect too much from Royal City.
Jeff Lemire’s new Image ongoing, Royal City, is being sold as a sequel of sorts to his critically acclaimed modern masterpiece, Essex County. Ehhh… no! It’s not nearly as good but it’s not bad either.
Lemire does a fine job of introducing the familial cast: Pat the frustrated novelist, struggling to follow up his bestselling first book; his little brother, Richie, the drunk fuckup; Tara, his sister and local businesswoman attempting to rejuvenate Royal City’s faded glory; and Patti, the matriarch, bitter, sad, and with secrets of her own. We get a strong sense of each character and they all get a decent storyline.
I also liked the supernatural Tommy element. You don’t exactly know whether Tommy’s real or not - is he a metaphor for the family’s guilt/trauma or is he a ghost? - or what happened to him way back when, so it’s a consistently intriguing aspect of the story.
Rather than Essex County, Royal City reads more like Lemire’s more recent Dark Horse series Black Hammer, in that the story is heavily soap opera-cheesy. There wasn’t enough going on for me story-wise to say I loved reading it and what was going on had me rolling my eyes: the affairs, troubled marriages galore, the forced drama between siblings, particularly the resentment between Pat and Richie. And that pseudo-cliffhanger final page - I could practically hear the opening drums to the Eastenders theme tune!
I don’t know why Lemire’s currently fixated on this hokey family saga crap or whether he’s just not that good at executing the sort of drama he’s aiming for, but I wasn’t taken with what he did here (or in Black Hammer either).
Art-wise, Lemire’s settled into a comfortable groove where he’s not doing anything different from his usual style. It looks like it’s always looked but his colours this time around are a bit more vibrant and interesting.
Don’t get me wrong: the first volume of Royal City is perfectly readable and held my attention, it’s just that the overall effect isn’t that impressive, memorable or unique, and the Essex County comparison really doesn’t help either. Underwhelming, slightly unsatisfying, but mostly ok, don’t expect too much from Royal City.
July 1, 2021
Dark, tender, and brilliant, Royal City embodies the soul of tragedy and regret among family. The story delves into the bitter drama and dark past of this family. Each is dealing with demons of their own: failure, divorce, infertility, addiction, loneliness, cynicism. And they are all haunted by the year 1993.
What’s apparent is Lemire’s self-awareness, reflecting upon his own life, his successes and failures, and his own mortality. It’s about childhood and the existential pains of growing up, death and the way that death takes on a life of its own. Don’t deny yourself a deep and introspective reading experience because of dark subject matter. This may be Lemire’s best indie work yet.
As usual, the artwork borders on the surreal, with the subtle watercolors and painterly lines. Lemire really seems to have mastered his own style: cartoony and stylized, yet emotive and immersive. It’s like reading Saturday comics, which I’ve said before, but they’re so powerful and sparse they could make you cry. And I really mean that.
Don’t pass this up. While Lemire has a distinct and unusual art style, and a somewhat melancholic, introspective writing style, it’s smart, different, and better than his already great other works.
What’s apparent is Lemire’s self-awareness, reflecting upon his own life, his successes and failures, and his own mortality. It’s about childhood and the existential pains of growing up, death and the way that death takes on a life of its own. Don’t deny yourself a deep and introspective reading experience because of dark subject matter. This may be Lemire’s best indie work yet.
As usual, the artwork borders on the surreal, with the subtle watercolors and painterly lines. Lemire really seems to have mastered his own style: cartoony and stylized, yet emotive and immersive. It’s like reading Saturday comics, which I’ve said before, but they’re so powerful and sparse they could make you cry. And I really mean that.
Don’t pass this up. While Lemire has a distinct and unusual art style, and a somewhat melancholic, introspective writing style, it’s smart, different, and better than his already great other works.
October 24, 2017
Royal City, (volume one), is set in a small bleak town (one bit of graffiti has it “Royal Shitty”) and features a bleak family who it seems has been falling apart since their brother Tommy died in 1993. But each family member is still visited by Tommy in various ways. The occasion for the book is Dad’s stroke; he’s just had another fight with his wife, and he thinks he hears Tommy’s voice on the radio. While Dad is in a coma, we get backstory on the rest of the family, though our main character is Patrick, a struggling novelist who is failing to write his story of Tommy, entitled Royal City. Of course Patrick’s marriage to a film actress is falling apart, as his wife is having an affair. Little brother Richie would just seem to be a drunk., who owes a gang 2K. Sister Tara’s negotiating a deal to end the family business, where her (estranged, of course) husband works, and is trying to get a union going to oppose her. Sound like too much fun? It would appear the town and family are cursed. But I am engaged with this family. I want to see what the thread is that will unravel all this despair. They are stuck in 1993, but why, and how to get out of it?
Royal City, for Lemire, approaches the introspective territory of his Essex County, seen through the lens of writer stand-in Patrick. Will the family come together and support each other? Can each of them find redemption? Family, and father-son stories, are the best of Lemire’s work, a touchstone to which he always returns. There is a lot of heart in this story, and a measure of hope underneath it all.
Royal City, for Lemire, approaches the introspective territory of his Essex County, seen through the lens of writer stand-in Patrick. Will the family come together and support each other? Can each of them find redemption? Family, and father-son stories, are the best of Lemire’s work, a touchstone to which he always returns. There is a lot of heart in this story, and a measure of hope underneath it all.
January 11, 2025
This was sad and really good!
December 23, 2017
In what seems like a trademark for Lemire, this new series is a pensive, melancholy family drama that examines regret, death, relationships and reckoning with the past. It follows the Pike family as they deal with the near-death stroke of the family patriarch, while each family member is haunted by the youngest brother Tommy, who drowned in an accident, something the family has never gotten over.
Once again, Lemire is so efficient here in his visual storytelling, that it packs more of a punch in it's 160 pages than many of the prose books I've read this year. It's very cinematic in the way he uses imagery and this juxtaposition of said images. The whole graphic novel has a beautiful structure. I love the way each family member interacts with Tommy in a way that they each would prefer to remember him; in ways that suit their present predicament. In a way, it reminded me a lot of one of my favorite TV shows: the HBO classic Six Feet Under, in it's magical realism and in the way it approached tragedy. So if you enjoyed that show, you will love this one: yet another memorable piece of art by Jeff Lemire, and one of the best graphic novels this year.
Once again, Lemire is so efficient here in his visual storytelling, that it packs more of a punch in it's 160 pages than many of the prose books I've read this year. It's very cinematic in the way he uses imagery and this juxtaposition of said images. The whole graphic novel has a beautiful structure. I love the way each family member interacts with Tommy in a way that they each would prefer to remember him; in ways that suit their present predicament. In a way, it reminded me a lot of one of my favorite TV shows: the HBO classic Six Feet Under, in it's magical realism and in the way it approached tragedy. So if you enjoyed that show, you will love this one: yet another memorable piece of art by Jeff Lemire, and one of the best graphic novels this year.
March 30, 2020
Jeff Lemire returns to his more introspective roots. The story of a family whose patriarch has a stroke. Each family member's life is falling apart and they've never fully recovered from their youngest brother dying years ago. They all still talk to him and see him as they viewed him years ago. I wasn't the biggest fan of the depressing subject matter.
Received an advance copy from Image and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from Image and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2017
Sometimes I read comics to go on huge fantasies. Sometimes I read them to be in the boots of a superhero. And SOMETIMES I read them to get a bit of slice of life stories. Sometimes I can't connect but I'm glad to say Royal City hits all the right marks.
Royal City is really about a shitty little town that connects a family in different ways. Patrick is the "main" character, and I say main because his whole family gets a good amount of character development, and he comes back to town after his father has a stroke. See, each member of the family sees their little brother Tommy in different forms. Forms they remember him best by and they all talk to him as if he was there. At first it's slightly jarring but once you get into what each family member is dealing with it all makes sense.
Good: I fucking LOVED Patrick. His internal struggle + conversations with everyone came off so well done I can't help but connect. Especially since he's a writer and he's stuck on what to actually write. So true. Also, love the sister in here and her fight with her husband was near perfect. The mom storyline is also tragic and watching her slowly breakdown is cry worthy.
Bad: I didn't love the last family member's storyline. Just a typical fuck up who owes some local gang money and now is in trouble. I just couldn't connect to this one character.
Overall Royal City hits on almost every note. To have multiple interesting characters and pick up steam as it goes really is something special. I hope this series continues to be as good as it started. A 4 out of 5!
Royal City is really about a shitty little town that connects a family in different ways. Patrick is the "main" character, and I say main because his whole family gets a good amount of character development, and he comes back to town after his father has a stroke. See, each member of the family sees their little brother Tommy in different forms. Forms they remember him best by and they all talk to him as if he was there. At first it's slightly jarring but once you get into what each family member is dealing with it all makes sense.
Good: I fucking LOVED Patrick. His internal struggle + conversations with everyone came off so well done I can't help but connect. Especially since he's a writer and he's stuck on what to actually write. So true. Also, love the sister in here and her fight with her husband was near perfect. The mom storyline is also tragic and watching her slowly breakdown is cry worthy.
Bad: I didn't love the last family member's storyline. Just a typical fuck up who owes some local gang money and now is in trouble. I just couldn't connect to this one character.
Overall Royal City hits on almost every note. To have multiple interesting characters and pick up steam as it goes really is something special. I hope this series continues to be as good as it started. A 4 out of 5!
July 19, 2017
A new indie comic written and illustrated by Jeff Lemire is always a good thing in my book. He may be a big shot superhero comics writer nowadays, but his more grounded, down to earth indie comics were always his best, and I'm happy to say that Royal City is a welcome return to form. It doesn't quite match the emotional peaks of the brilliant Essex County, but is still a very good story in its own way. Recommended to anyone who's into family dramas and complicated relationships, and of course to every fan of Lemire's books like Essex County, Underwater Welder and The Nobody.
April 10, 2023
Jeff Lemire - I really do like his stuff but it seems like every few weeks I'm reading yet another new volume of his work. Even right now there's like 6 (!) TPBs of his Black Hammer series I want to read.
I'm always a bit surprised when people say they don't like Lemire's artwork. I love it and I find his best work is the stuff he illustrates himself. I enjoyed Frogcatchers (2019) and I think Roughneck (2017) is among his finest work, a 5-star comic.
So I was pretty excited to check this out regardless of the vast deluge of Lemire's work (It's hard to get excited about a new book by a guy that has a new book out every week).
But this was a let down. A completely forgettable rehash of the ideas he explored better in Roughneck and Essex County. Nothing about this captivated me. It's still a good comic, well-drawn with some nice story beats but very forgettable.
I'm always a bit surprised when people say they don't like Lemire's artwork. I love it and I find his best work is the stuff he illustrates himself. I enjoyed Frogcatchers (2019) and I think Roughneck (2017) is among his finest work, a 5-star comic.
So I was pretty excited to check this out regardless of the vast deluge of Lemire's work (It's hard to get excited about a new book by a guy that has a new book out every week).
But this was a let down. A completely forgettable rehash of the ideas he explored better in Roughneck and Essex County. Nothing about this captivated me. It's still a good comic, well-drawn with some nice story beats but very forgettable.
May 12, 2018
I was waiting for some kind of twist, but no just really boring.
August 5, 2017
This isn't a happy and funny comic. There are no superheroes nor is there any global threat or space invasion of any kind. There are no monsters, mutants, vibranium or adamantium. there are, however, villains. Bad people. People you wouldn't want to trust or even get to know.
Royal City is an everyday comic story. What some would call, Slice Of Life. It is a drama revolving around a fucked up family in a place called Royal City.
Jeff Lemire has written (and is writing) some fantastic stuff...the guy is a machine that is working on so many projects right now that I can't keep track of everything he is up to these days.
Royal City, for me, is classic Lemire. I love Descender #1 and Black Hammer #1 but this book is more reminiscent of Lemire's older work like Essex County or his new graphic novel, Roughneck. It is a story about normal people dealing with normal problems. It's sad, it can be depressing, and it can wear you down with the realization of how people can be right fucking assholes sometimes.
But you know what? It's freaking fabulous. It's real life - and while I most certainly read to escape real life...sometimes it can be pretty darn entertaining to take a peek at how shitty someone else's life is - which in turn can make you feel a little bit better with your own current lot in things.
Royal City is definitely a comic I look forward to reading each and every month and now that the book is on break until October it means that there is a trade coming out sometime soon. If you haven't yet read this and are interested...now is the time to jump on board.
Royal City is an everyday comic story. What some would call, Slice Of Life. It is a drama revolving around a fucked up family in a place called Royal City.
Jeff Lemire has written (and is writing) some fantastic stuff...the guy is a machine that is working on so many projects right now that I can't keep track of everything he is up to these days.
Royal City, for me, is classic Lemire. I love Descender #1 and Black Hammer #1 but this book is more reminiscent of Lemire's older work like Essex County or his new graphic novel, Roughneck. It is a story about normal people dealing with normal problems. It's sad, it can be depressing, and it can wear you down with the realization of how people can be right fucking assholes sometimes.
But you know what? It's freaking fabulous. It's real life - and while I most certainly read to escape real life...sometimes it can be pretty darn entertaining to take a peek at how shitty someone else's life is - which in turn can make you feel a little bit better with your own current lot in things.
Royal City is definitely a comic I look forward to reading each and every month and now that the book is on break until October it means that there is a trade coming out sometime soon. If you haven't yet read this and are interested...now is the time to jump on board.
February 22, 2018
Um dia hão-de faltar-me palavras para adjetivar o trabalho do Jeff Lemire. Hoje em dia direi apenas que é um autor espantoso. Royal City – Volume 1 foi a obra dele que mais me surpreendeu, talvez por não ter lido nada sobre ela. Sou fã da arte dele, não é segredo, mas foi a história que me arrebatou por completo.
No primeiro capítulo deste volume – composto por cinco capítulos – podemos acompanhar cada um dos membros desta família, depois do seu patriarca ter sofrido um AVC – há a mãe, dois filhos e uma filha. Durante este capítulo, o autor escolhe semear alguma confusão no leitor, não deixando perceber de imediato de que se trata a história.
À medida que a narrativa decorre – inteligentemente pensada, mais uma vez – as peças vão-se encaixando e compreendemos do que se trata este livro, de como todos lidamos de forma diferente com os acontecimentos da nossa vida – neste caso um acontecimento comum a todos eles, e não estou a falar do AVC do pai – e como os encaramos, como os entendemos, como escolhemos vê-los.
Não sei que caminho vai seguir a história, mas até ver é fantástica, muito bem escrita, uma narrativa gráfica extraordinária, intimista, complexa, metafórica, densa…e com personagens muito bem construídas e com muito mais camadas do que aparentam ao primeiro quadradinho. Não é das obras mais referenciadas do Lemire, até porque é das mais recentes, mas vale tanto a pena. Recomendadíssima.
No primeiro capítulo deste volume – composto por cinco capítulos – podemos acompanhar cada um dos membros desta família, depois do seu patriarca ter sofrido um AVC – há a mãe, dois filhos e uma filha. Durante este capítulo, o autor escolhe semear alguma confusão no leitor, não deixando perceber de imediato de que se trata a história.
À medida que a narrativa decorre – inteligentemente pensada, mais uma vez – as peças vão-se encaixando e compreendemos do que se trata este livro, de como todos lidamos de forma diferente com os acontecimentos da nossa vida – neste caso um acontecimento comum a todos eles, e não estou a falar do AVC do pai – e como os encaramos, como os entendemos, como escolhemos vê-los.
Não sei que caminho vai seguir a história, mas até ver é fantástica, muito bem escrita, uma narrativa gráfica extraordinária, intimista, complexa, metafórica, densa…e com personagens muito bem construídas e com muito mais camadas do que aparentam ao primeiro quadradinho. Não é das obras mais referenciadas do Lemire, até porque é das mais recentes, mas vale tanto a pena. Recomendadíssima.
October 4, 2017
This was like a gritty mildly depressing family soap opera. The beginning was slightly confusing, especially since I didn't fully read the synopsis, but the more I read the more I started to enjoy it and I love the illustration style.
"I'm at the point where I've stopped thinking about who I can be and started to realize that this is who I am.
Let's face it, I'm nothing. I'm a fraud, a pretender."
"I'm at the point where I've stopped thinking about who I can be and started to realize that this is who I am.
Let's face it, I'm nothing. I'm a fraud, a pretender."
September 24, 2021
OCENA: 4,5 ⭐️
October 12, 2019
Jeff Lemire does sadness, loneliness, loss, and bleak towns so well. There is always a feeling of that you are in for a ride that will have your stomach in knots. I love his characters and I'm immediately invested to see what will happen to them and what their story is.
I had a little bit of trouble in the beginning, trying to figure out if the story was going back and forth in time, why Tommy's character was different ages in what seemed like the same time period. Once I got a hang of who Tommy was and what Lemire was trying to do I was able to escape right into the story.
I had a little bit of trouble in the beginning, trying to figure out if the story was going back and forth in time, why Tommy's character was different ages in what seemed like the same time period. Once I got a hang of who Tommy was and what Lemire was trying to do I was able to escape right into the story.
January 22, 2018
Going back to reread this series, partly to refresh myself on the story and partly to remind myself just how good this series is. This is Jeff Lemire at his best, and the kind of story that he thrives in. One of the best of 2017!
November 6, 2018
I wanted to like it more. Maybe it's my antipathy toward the idea of a (literal) ghost. Maybe i've lost that loving feeling (for Jeff Lemur).
I don't regret reading this story, though, because it occupied my mind a little during this week on the road for work.
If my attitude doesn't improve with vol 2, i can easily quit the series because i'll forget about it by the time vol 3 is released in October.
{links are to other things i'm also so-so about}
I don't regret reading this story, though, because it occupied my mind a little during this week on the road for work.
If my attitude doesn't improve with vol 2, i can easily quit the series because i'll forget about it by the time vol 3 is released in October.
{links are to other things i'm also so-so about}
March 1, 2018
Lemire creates another solid story revolving around family and relationship. I don't think this is the strongest story he has done in these "family style" books but it is still good. Royal city focuses on the struggles of a pretty average family that are shaken up as their father suffers a stroke. Like his other books there is a "ghost" element that I won't spoil but it is written well. I thought the inner relationships could of had more impact or meaning but I am only comparing this to Lemire's other works like essex county or roughneck. I am glad he added color to this book, it helps the art a lot. I wish underwater welder had color but oh well. I will keep reading Lemire until the cows come home.
April 1, 2018
Nice! This is Lemire back in Essex County mode. He’s done so many other series since then that I’d almost forgotten how well he writes ordinary people. Elderly Peter Pike suffers a mild stroke which leaves him in the hospital in stable condition but unconscious. As sons and daughters and his wife visit, we are introduced to a cast of flawed characters. The Pike family share a tragic past: young Tommy Pike, who apparently drowned back in 1993.
The setting itself, Royal City, is almost a character in its own right. It's a city in decline, the sort of place that Ben Katchor or Seth could wax lyrical about. This series is moody and spare and just plain gorgeous. Too early to tell where it's all going, but this is a promising beginning. Recommended!
The setting itself, Royal City, is almost a character in its own right. It's a city in decline, the sort of place that Ben Katchor or Seth could wax lyrical about. This series is moody and spare and just plain gorgeous. Too early to tell where it's all going, but this is a promising beginning. Recommended!
February 24, 2018
I'm a fan of the author, was looking forward to diving into this new graphic novel series, and it's really good. This is the story of a small town family; one that has a tragedy in their past. Everyone deals with life events differently, and this family is no different. It took me a little while to figure out what was going on, and when things clicked, whoa nelly! Do not read the summaries, trust the journey the author takes you on, and let things unfold at their own pace. I read this one several weeks ago, but have thought about it ever since. I look forward to seeing how this story plays out in the next installment.
December 13, 2020
Môžem to re-readovať koľkokrát chcem, furt to dostane tých 5, lebo si to kurva zaslúži. A prvýkrát v živote sa konečne pustím do druhej knihy (a verím, že si to tú kvalitu udrží).
February 1, 2018
This was just a family drama and one that wasn't really interesting most of the time. I was being nice by giving it a 3 star rating when I was thinking this was a 2 star book most of the time I read it. I don't see what was so great about this, and possibly it was just because of the author name attached to it. Really average read about a family who talks to their dead relative and sees him in different ways, but not a supernatural book if you understand.
August 1, 2018
This is pure Lemire perfection. Probably why he's my favourite author right now. Such a simple sweet family drama. The art really complements the story to perfection. I wont spoil any of the goodness but its really just a family all dealing with personal and family issues, all brought together by a stroke the father has. Highly reccomend this one for people wanting something different to the most of the other comic stories at present. A slower pace look at real life.
May 1, 2019
There's a ghost haunting the Pike family although one can say each member is struggeling with their own demons... Damn... another amazing series by Lemire.
December 25, 2020
(4 of 5 for the classic Lemire)
I finally finished one of the few backlogs from my Lemire exploration. One of the crucial ones. First thing - it's hard not to comment this as the whole thing, so I will comment complete Royal City story here.
One of the strong Lemire's tricks is creating characters who will rouse your pity. Sad, from dumb to shady characters which are driven in their usually not so bright destiny by their doing but somehow without their own power to change it (in a non-tragical way). Essex, Roughneck, Weilder and more - and obviously Royal City too. Royal City is about those deadbeat cities with so much "gravity" and so low energy that it's hard to leave them or break gloomy destiny which waits for every soul in them. We explore this in means, one family, with a tragic history, which haunts every single of them.
This is Lemire's field and he played it well. I still think Roughneck is best of his work in this category, but royal City is a very good and nicely balanced story. The length is good, the tempo is good and Lemire's art is working well here. Still, I'm not totally enthused here as some of my friends are. Maybe I'm already sated on this kind of Lemire's stuff. Few times I got a bit bored and I find myself overall unimpressed by the whole thing.
I finally finished one of the few backlogs from my Lemire exploration. One of the crucial ones. First thing - it's hard not to comment this as the whole thing, so I will comment complete Royal City story here.
One of the strong Lemire's tricks is creating characters who will rouse your pity. Sad, from dumb to shady characters which are driven in their usually not so bright destiny by their doing but somehow without their own power to change it (in a non-tragical way). Essex, Roughneck, Weilder and more - and obviously Royal City too. Royal City is about those deadbeat cities with so much "gravity" and so low energy that it's hard to leave them or break gloomy destiny which waits for every soul in them. We explore this in means, one family, with a tragic history, which haunts every single of them.
This is Lemire's field and he played it well. I still think Roughneck is best of his work in this category, but royal City is a very good and nicely balanced story. The length is good, the tempo is good and Lemire's art is working well here. Still, I'm not totally enthused here as some of my friends are. Maybe I'm already sated on this kind of Lemire's stuff. Few times I got a bit bored and I find myself overall unimpressed by the whole thing.
August 24, 2017
Τον Jeff Lemire γνώρισα μέσα από το Essex County, ένα ασπρόμαυρο λιγομίλητο saga μιας οικογένειας με φόντο τον άγριο τόπο του Καναδά. Τον ξανασυνάντησα (και λάτρεψα) με το Sweet Tooth, ένα από τα καλύτερα και πιο σκοτεινά dystopian stories που έχω διαβάσει ποτέ, και τώρα, μετά από τόσα χρόνια που αφιέρωσε σε σουπερηρωικά comics, επέστρεψε και πάλι με μία βαθιά προσωπική ιστορία, το Royal City.
Παρέα με την Image, δημιούργησε (γράφοντας και σχεδιάζοντας) ένα serialised comic για την οικογένεια των Pike. Ένα δράμα, με paranormal στοιχεία αλλά κυρίως ανθρώπινα, για την απώλεια και τα απωθημένα. Είναι υπέροχο. Μπορείς να διαβάσεις τα πέντε πρώτα τεύχη που έχουν κυκλοφορήσει ή να περιμένεις τον τόμο που θα φτάσει αυτό τον Οκτώβριο. Ανυπομονώ για τη συνέχεια...
Παρέα με την Image, δημιούργησε (γράφοντας και σχεδιάζοντας) ένα serialised comic για την οικογένεια των Pike. Ένα δράμα, με paranormal στοιχεία αλλά κυρίως ανθρώπινα, για την απώλεια και τα απωθημένα. Είναι υπέροχο. Μπορείς να διαβάσεις τα πέντε πρώτα τεύχη που έχουν κυκλοφορήσει ή να περιμένεις τον τόμο που θα φτάσει αυτό τον Οκτώβριο. Ανυπομονώ για τη συνέχεια...
February 1, 2019
How I missed Lemire's writing. He knows how to create stories that will pull me in.
July 20, 2019
Seriously! This guy never failed! Do yourself a favor and read Jeff Lemire!
April 7, 2021
Crudo y realista retrato de una familia descompuesta por un evento trágico del pasado. El fantasma del ausente se materializa de una forma diferente ante cada uno de ellos, como un miembro amputado del que el cerebro no se ha desembarazado del todo.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews