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L'acchiapparane
Jeff Lemire torna a raccontare da autore completo con una storia in bianco e nero, con improvvisi sprazzi di colore, in cui un uomo misterioso si risveglia in un hotel, senza memoria di come ci sia arrivato, e deve scappare da misteriosi agenti-rana, aiutato da un ragazzino che sembra sapere molto più di quel che dice. Una storia che si fa via via più concreta, e che con delicatezza tocca uno dei temi più dolorosi che esistano in narrativa (e nella vita): quello della paura di morire, nell’imminenza della propria fine. Una prova d’autore magistrale.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2019
10 people are currently reading
2458 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Lemire
1,426 books3,909 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
December 14, 2018
Frogcatchers is a flawless, brutally sharp diamond that captures the fear, frailty, and unending mystery of what it means to be alive. Should be required reading for the human race.
November 20, 2019
A man awakens in an obvious nightmare/metaphor for dying where he’ll meet his younger self, frog monsters and the inevitable sentimentality that comes with looking back upon one’s life. Serious! Feels! Scroogecatchers!
Jeff Lemire’s latest falls into the best category of his books: da indie roots (the second best being his experimental Image stuff and dead last being his almost-always-abominable work for hire at Marvel/DC/Valiant). So this one’s thankfully for fans like me who loved Essex County and Roughneck – though I wouldn’t say Frogcatchers is anywhere near as good as those modern masterpieces.
It was very easy to clock straight away that this was a coma dream-esque setup from the transitions and, if you’re familiar with those kinds of stories, it plays out fairly predictably. The story never really grabbed me and the Christmas Carol-type ending, rather than make me all gooey and warm inside, felt like a cop-out that undermined the poignancy of everything that came before it when you felt that this was a guy about to enter the abyss once and for all.
Still, I found the premise intriguing – a man waking up alone in a mysteriously empty hotel on the seaside with no memory of how he got there - and I liked how Lemire developed it with the kid and the enigmatic frog people. There’s an appealingly mild sense of menace and doom hanging over everything that I enjoyed.
And Lemire’s artwork is as excellent as ever – it looks deceptively sketchy during most of the time the man is in the dreamscape (for wont of a better word) but it’s undoubtedly skilful and appropriately reflective of the ambiguous environment he’s in; the parts where he’s awake in the real world, in his hospital bed, the lines are crystal clear and the colours really pop amidst all the intentionally drab, predominantly colourless pages.
The lettering is done in pencils that might seem sloppy to some but I kinda liked that rough style and it’s not so bad that you can’t read and understand it. I’ve read books with elaborate cursive lettering that looks like it took much longer to put together than this and hated it because it’s too flowery to read properly; there’s no issue like that here, despite the rushed look.
I liked parts of Frogcatchers but the rather underwhelming story didn’t do much for me, particularly as I know Jeff Lemire’s capable of more complex and powerful work. I’d say it’s worth a look anyway for those of us who wish he’d produce more original books like Essex County and Roughneck instead of the dross he churns out by the bucket load elsewhere.
Jeff Lemire’s latest falls into the best category of his books: da indie roots (the second best being his experimental Image stuff and dead last being his almost-always-abominable work for hire at Marvel/DC/Valiant). So this one’s thankfully for fans like me who loved Essex County and Roughneck – though I wouldn’t say Frogcatchers is anywhere near as good as those modern masterpieces.
It was very easy to clock straight away that this was a coma dream-esque setup from the transitions and, if you’re familiar with those kinds of stories, it plays out fairly predictably. The story never really grabbed me and the Christmas Carol-type ending, rather than make me all gooey and warm inside, felt like a cop-out that undermined the poignancy of everything that came before it when you felt that this was a guy about to enter the abyss once and for all.
Still, I found the premise intriguing – a man waking up alone in a mysteriously empty hotel on the seaside with no memory of how he got there - and I liked how Lemire developed it with the kid and the enigmatic frog people. There’s an appealingly mild sense of menace and doom hanging over everything that I enjoyed.
And Lemire’s artwork is as excellent as ever – it looks deceptively sketchy during most of the time the man is in the dreamscape (for wont of a better word) but it’s undoubtedly skilful and appropriately reflective of the ambiguous environment he’s in; the parts where he’s awake in the real world, in his hospital bed, the lines are crystal clear and the colours really pop amidst all the intentionally drab, predominantly colourless pages.
The lettering is done in pencils that might seem sloppy to some but I kinda liked that rough style and it’s not so bad that you can’t read and understand it. I’ve read books with elaborate cursive lettering that looks like it took much longer to put together than this and hated it because it’s too flowery to read properly; there’s no issue like that here, despite the rushed look.
I liked parts of Frogcatchers but the rather underwhelming story didn’t do much for me, particularly as I know Jeff Lemire’s capable of more complex and powerful work. I’d say it’s worth a look anyway for those of us who wish he’d produce more original books like Essex County and Roughneck instead of the dross he churns out by the bucket load elsewhere.
December 7, 2019
A short and what it appears to be a quickly sketched and lettered story of a man accompanied by a boy throughout, going through his past when he used to catch frogs, alternating with images of him in a hospital bed. At turns nightmarish, surreal, touching, maybe bit too much on the nose in terms of its point and ultimately unsurprising, but you know, it still features the (often wordless, yay!) storytelling of Lemire, and that is always worth paying attention to.
This one is more in the Essex County realistic world of Lemire than his sci fi/horror worlds, and it is yet another of his meditations on fatherhood, as the older man regrets his having worked hard all of his life and neglected the son he now no longer really knows. This is written by the incredibly productive hard-working Jeff Lemire who actually also has a son. . .
This one is more in the Essex County realistic world of Lemire than his sci fi/horror worlds, and it is yet another of his meditations on fatherhood, as the older man regrets his having worked hard all of his life and neglected the son he now no longer really knows. This is written by the incredibly productive hard-working Jeff Lemire who actually also has a son. . .
May 16, 2020
The story of a man going through an existential crisis as he nears the end of his life. I found this a bit underwhelming and short for the $23 price tag. I read it in about 10 minutes. I did really enjoy the art. It's Lemire's typical rough sketches. He's really mastered the colors here, told mostly in shades of gray through a combination of pencils, inks, washes, and watercolors. It's worth checking out, just maybe from the library instead.
October 10, 2019
This graphic novel is BEYOND stunning. I fell in love with the artwork instantly, it’s incredibly beautiful and raw. And behind the gorgeous illustrations is an equally beautiful and haunting story. Once I realized what the story was actually about I was shook, it reached down and settled deep in my bones and left me speechless. This is by far THE best graphic novel I’ve ever read, I’ve never felt so utterly blown away by a graphic novel before! This is a must read for EVERYONE!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and this in no way changes or affects my review.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and this in no way changes or affects my review.
December 9, 2022
Why are we still living with regrets?
(Is it worth it?!)
Wow. The dystopian vibes made it really claustrophobic for me while reading it but it's so worth it.
My only issue is that it's just too short.
It started slow but seems really rushed towards the end.
I really love this kind of artwork, different and kind of nightmarish which is quite suitable for such a narration.
Loved it.
(Is it worth it?!)
Wow. The dystopian vibes made it really claustrophobic for me while reading it but it's so worth it.
My only issue is that it's just too short.
It started slow but seems really rushed towards the end.
I really love this kind of artwork, different and kind of nightmarish which is quite suitable for such a narration.
Loved it.
November 1, 2019
Good thing I was double-tasking by walking the dog as I read this, otherwise that would have been a wasted ten minutes. Lemire roughly sketches out an obvious and heavy-handed short story Boooooo!
November 2, 2019
Can’t go wrong with a book written and illustrated by Lemire. Frogcatchers feels like yet another installment in his Essex County masterpiece (although not officially part of it) — a simple but poignant and beautiful story, a sad one for sure, but also hopeful and lighthearted. I loved it.
February 11, 2020
The less you know about this graphic novel going in the better. I tend to really like Lemire's work, but this one had what seemed liked hurriedly sketched art, and uninspired text. I did really like that the first third or so is completely wordless. There is something lovely about observing your own mind create a yarn around wordless pictures. I guessed fairly early where this was headed, and I liked the color palette decisions. However, given the subject matter, this short story simply didn't have enough depth for me.
December 27, 2021
Прочитав ще один комікс із творчості Джеффа Леміра, який має фірмовий малюнок автора. «Жаболови» розповідають про чоловіка, який таємничим чином прокидається в дивному готелі, де він знаходить молодого хлопчика, який, у свою чергу, попереджає його про небезпеку, яка ховається за дверима під номером 309. Це король жаб. Цікаво ж… Чи вартує більше розповідати про сюжет? Думаю ні, бо це такий комікс, що дізнавшись більше, можна зіпсувати враження. Краще прочитати комікс, щоби дізнатися перепетії цієї сюрреалістичної історії.
Джефф Лемір пропонує нам роздуми про втрачені можливості та швидкоплинні спогади. Куди ми потрапимо, коли помремо? Чи можемо ми повернутися до визначальних моментів нашого життя і дитинств? Але, мабуть, найцікавіше, що ж за дверима 309?
Очевидно, що це дуже особиста робота для Леміра. Йому вдається передати дуже багато про свого неназваного героя за допомогою відверто малої кількості слів — його страхи, жаль, сум. Мене пройняла сцена, де за сюжетом головний герой натрапляє на малюнки свого сина, який зі всіх сил намагався в минулому помалювати разом із батьком. А він постійно був зайнятий, і, малюючи цілий день на роботі, відмовляв у такому часопроведення із сином, бо хотів відпочинку від цієї праці. Це наштовхує на думку, про кого ж йде мова в цьому коміксі, адже Джефф Лемір талановитий, але дуже працьовитий автор. І, схоже, що це Джефф Лемір промовляє до себе про втрачені моменти у своєму житті.
Як завжди, малюнок Леміра оманливо простий. Його можна сприймати або ж навспак не терпіти. Але те, що здається якимись каракулями, часто об’єднується в приголомшливі образи. І взагалі, ніхто інший не зміг би намалювати цю історію, тому шо це занадто близька для автора річ.
Не знаю, чи «Жаболови» є коміксом для великої аудиторію. Не знаю, чи взагалі може він сильно сподобатися комусь. Натомість Джефф Лемір пропонує щось набагато яскравіше та більш глибоке, яке можна спробувати розгледіти. Мені особисто комікс сподобався, тому що доторкнувся до кількох струн всередині мене.
Джефф Лемір пропонує нам роздуми про втрачені можливості та швидкоплинні спогади. Куди ми потрапимо, коли помремо? Чи можемо ми повернутися до визначальних моментів нашого життя і дитинств? Але, мабуть, найцікавіше, що ж за дверима 309?
Очевидно, що це дуже особиста робота для Леміра. Йому вдається передати дуже багато про свого неназваного героя за допомогою відверто малої кількості слів — його страхи, жаль, сум. Мене пройняла сцена, де за сюжетом головний герой натрапляє на малюнки свого сина, який зі всіх сил намагався в минулому помалювати разом із батьком. А він постійно був зайнятий, і, малюючи цілий день на роботі, відмовляв у такому часопроведення із сином, бо хотів відпочинку від цієї праці. Це наштовхує на думку, про кого ж йде мова в цьому коміксі, адже Джефф Лемір талановитий, але дуже працьовитий автор. І, схоже, що це Джефф Лемір промовляє до себе про втрачені моменти у своєму житті.
Як завжди, малюнок Леміра оманливо простий. Його можна сприймати або ж навспак не терпіти. Але те, що здається якимись каракулями, часто об’єднується в приголомшливі образи. І взагалі, ніхто інший не зміг би намалювати цю історію, тому шо це занадто близька для автора річ.
Не знаю, чи «Жаболови» є коміксом для великої аудиторію. Не знаю, чи взагалі може він сильно сподобатися комусь. Натомість Джефф Лемір пропонує щось набагато яскравіше та більш глибоке, яке можна спробувати розгледіти. Мені особисто комікс сподобався, тому що доторкнувся до кількох струн всередині мене.
May 22, 2020
Whew, what a punch straight to the gut! This really hit home.
A new favorite! 5 stars.
Review to come.
A new favorite! 5 stars.
Review to come.
September 28, 2019
Frogcatchers is a unique book in Lemire’s bibliography. The art is rougher than usual, the story shorter and quieter, and the biggest change of all, no hockey. But it’s still VERY much a Jeff Lemire book. A man wakes up in a hotel with seemingly no way to get out. He encounters a young boy who speaks of a terrifying Frog King that controls the hotel. The story then follows the man and the boy’s journey to escape.
This book is pretty heavy thematically and symbolically, the whole book is essential one giant symbol for the theme which is the acceptance of one’s fate and the legacy we all leave behind when we die. There’s not much more I can say without spoiling the whole thing, but Lemire conveys his message quite effectively. It touches on the typical Lemire trope of fatherhood in a particularly memorable scene that I can’t tell if Lemire is writing himself in the man or writing his father in the man. But through reading Lemire’s work, you can tell he’s very afraid of being a bad dad (I’m sure he does a fantastic job).
The art is the roughest Lemire’s art has been since Lost Dogs and I love it. He illustrates a large majority of this book with just a pencil and paper. The book is scans of the original art with 0 touch ups from people other than Lemire. Every pencil stroke is visible and you can really see his art in its purest form. We haven’t seen Lemire’s art like this EVER and as a huge fan I really love it. His hand lettering in this book is awesome too, I love how rough and raw everything about the art is in this book.
Overall, this book closely relates to the Underwater Welder in terms of theme, presentation and story. Both feel like really good Twilight Zone episodes. The only downside I can give to this book is that I really really wanted more. At just under 100 pages, this is a pretty quick read. But Lemire tells the story he wants to tell and he does it well.
9/10
This book is pretty heavy thematically and symbolically, the whole book is essential one giant symbol for the theme which is the acceptance of one’s fate and the legacy we all leave behind when we die. There’s not much more I can say without spoiling the whole thing, but Lemire conveys his message quite effectively. It touches on the typical Lemire trope of fatherhood in a particularly memorable scene that I can’t tell if Lemire is writing himself in the man or writing his father in the man. But through reading Lemire’s work, you can tell he’s very afraid of being a bad dad (I’m sure he does a fantastic job).
The art is the roughest Lemire’s art has been since Lost Dogs and I love it. He illustrates a large majority of this book with just a pencil and paper. The book is scans of the original art with 0 touch ups from people other than Lemire. Every pencil stroke is visible and you can really see his art in its purest form. We haven’t seen Lemire’s art like this EVER and as a huge fan I really love it. His hand lettering in this book is awesome too, I love how rough and raw everything about the art is in this book.
Overall, this book closely relates to the Underwater Welder in terms of theme, presentation and story. Both feel like really good Twilight Zone episodes. The only downside I can give to this book is that I really really wanted more. At just under 100 pages, this is a pretty quick read. But Lemire tells the story he wants to tell and he does it well.
9/10
December 14, 2019
Man, this sure was a whole lot of nothing. Looks like something he dashed off in a few minutes when he was bored...
September 25, 2025
Gosh this book surprised me, it was extraordinary and deep delving into being ready to face a natural death.
March 8, 2020
Jeff Lemire writes simple stories with imagination and incredible impact. And his sketchy, free and fast drawing style is wonderfully expressive for all its spareness and simplicity and imperfection. The point IS the imperfections. That’s his personal journey as an artist with some of his projects in the vein of Essex Country. After all, that’s what put him on the map before all the other stuff came out.
A man wanders in his mind to familiar places he doesn’t quite recognize and has no idea how he got to this place. He meets with a little homeless boy, and together they must evade the Frog King. It sounds whimsical put this way, but when you soon understand the full implications of what is takin place, it all becomes an amazingly beautiful and gut wrenching tale about our existence in this one life of ours. Short and bittersweet.
A man wanders in his mind to familiar places he doesn’t quite recognize and has no idea how he got to this place. He meets with a little homeless boy, and together they must evade the Frog King. It sounds whimsical put this way, but when you soon understand the full implications of what is takin place, it all becomes an amazingly beautiful and gut wrenching tale about our existence in this one life of ours. Short and bittersweet.
September 26, 2020
I've always loved Jeff Lemire's "indie/solo" work. This is the first time he has failed to answer the call so to speak. I'm partly to blame since I've been waiting nearly a year to get my hands on this and read it in a conservative 10 minute sitting. Lemire's art is so defined he really has a certain style and with the watercolours it's a great touch. Maybe Dustin Ngyuyen (Descender/Ascender)has been giving him some pro tips Idk. Death and re-birth, living with regrets are definitely Lemire's go to theme, but he's done it so much better in previous works.
Worth reading if you've enjoyed Lemire in the past, but I would suggest starting with Essex County or Underwater Welder as a better starting point for his indie work
Worth reading if you've enjoyed Lemire in the past, but I would suggest starting with Essex County or Underwater Welder as a better starting point for his indie work
July 26, 2019
4,5/5. Another very weird, maybe his weirdest event if not his best, story! A life and fear allegory... I think... with the unique touch that make Lemire work noticeable and worth reading. Done by a genius!
November 1, 2019
A dreamy (and sometimes nightmarish) short graphic novel about life & death. Not much left to say as you will finish the book in 15 minutes.
I always prefer Lemire illustrating his own stuff so that's a plus for me.
I always prefer Lemire illustrating his own stuff so that's a plus for me.
January 2, 2024
Per essere la prima lettura dell'anno direi molto deludente, nonostante il tema trattato sia molto forte non mi ha entusiasmato per niente e i disegni non mi hanno fatto impazzire.
March 12, 2024
Jeff Lemire no seu melhor.
October 31, 2019
Another meditation on fatherhood from Jeff Lemire (his Black Hammer universe story Doctor Star & the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows is another I recently read). An uncomfortable story about not being present for one's child, with mostly monochromatic, unsettling images in Lemire's jittery style.
November 6, 2019
An old man confronts his impending death. Frogcatchers is short, simple, and barely compelling. There are frogs, there's a fever dream, there are overt allusions to death. It took me ten minutes to read. The art is sketchy even by Jeff Lemire's standards. The lettering worse. Frogcatchers feels like something that was pulled out of the back of the drawer for publication after the author's death. Pass.
November 2, 2019
I’m a big fan of Jeff Lemire, discovered his work early on and admired what he accomplished since then... But this book seems so pointless, so rushed, so easy,... and so overpriced... why ? His previous book with this publisher, “Roughneck”, was VERY good, but this one seems just a waste of time.
December 14, 2019
This was a cool little story about not being ready for what comes at the end.
Wasn’t expecting to fly through this one so quickly. Still a great story all the same!
Wasn’t expecting to fly through this one so quickly. Still a great story all the same!
January 2, 2020
A too-short story of a man dreaming . Reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode, or one particular Heinlein story, "The Man Who Traveled in Elephants".
Read
March 3, 2020En väldigt öm och väldigt mänsklig gestaltning över barndom och döden. Fint illustrerad, särskilt övergångarna imponerar. Vill läsa mer av Lemire.
March 5, 2024
First off, I want to say how much I appreciate these illustrations. It's nice to look at art with a lot of detail and sophistication but sometimes what a story needs is crude illustrations that feels almost like the artist is drawing as fast as possible in order to just explain the narrative.
Maybe it is the case here, maybe it isn't. Maybe Lemire knows that illustrations are just there to help explain a narrative and they don't have to be super detailed because at the end of the day, the reader will only spend a few seconds in each panel.
Lemire makes these crude illustrations feel easy because even in its crudeness, they look awesome!
This is a story about reaching the last days of our lives. About life retrospective. Acceptance. Nostalgia.
Only someone that reflect about these subjects regularly is able to come up with such beautiful story.
I felt a certain serenity reading through this.
Score: 90%
Maybe it is the case here, maybe it isn't. Maybe Lemire knows that illustrations are just there to help explain a narrative and they don't have to be super detailed because at the end of the day, the reader will only spend a few seconds in each panel.
Lemire makes these crude illustrations feel easy because even in its crudeness, they look awesome!
This is a story about reaching the last days of our lives. About life retrospective. Acceptance. Nostalgia.
Only someone that reflect about these subjects regularly is able to come up with such beautiful story.
I felt a certain serenity reading through this.
Score: 90%
May 25, 2019
Jeff Lemire does a fantastic job capturing the journey of life and showcasing our fear of it ending.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2019
One of Lemires finest.
I am a big Jeff Lemire fan so I was pretty stoked when this one hit the shelves. I prefer his Indie work to the big two, with his own art of course. This is a really well done book, even before you start to read it! The dark green hardcover goes nicely between Roughneck and Under Water Welder. I feel like this is Lemires best art yet. It seems that he has mastered the medium with a mix of charcoal, pencil, inks and water colors, done mostly in grey! Its a quick read, which I loved and hated. The story was so good I wanted to speed read but had to stop and admire the art cause things would just jump out. It was done in this beautiful, "hand drawn" manner that made it feel personal. I felt like I was looking through one of his sketch books.
Now, I dont think I would recommend this to a new reader as a book TO BUY. As a gift (to anyone) sure! But the price vs the time it took to read wouldn't make sense if you cant properly appreciate the art. Its a great story, great art but I can see a few saying "that's it?" and that's a shame.
I am a big Jeff Lemire fan so I was pretty stoked when this one hit the shelves. I prefer his Indie work to the big two, with his own art of course. This is a really well done book, even before you start to read it! The dark green hardcover goes nicely between Roughneck and Under Water Welder. I feel like this is Lemires best art yet. It seems that he has mastered the medium with a mix of charcoal, pencil, inks and water colors, done mostly in grey! Its a quick read, which I loved and hated. The story was so good I wanted to speed read but had to stop and admire the art cause things would just jump out. It was done in this beautiful, "hand drawn" manner that made it feel personal. I felt like I was looking through one of his sketch books.
Now, I dont think I would recommend this to a new reader as a book TO BUY. As a gift (to anyone) sure! But the price vs the time it took to read wouldn't make sense if you cant properly appreciate the art. Its a great story, great art but I can see a few saying "that's it?" and that's a shame.
July 25, 2019
I'll start off by saying, I always want the best for Jeff Lemire. He deserves all the success he has and will continue to have. His versatility as a storyteller and an illustrator never ceases to impress me, and Frogcatchers continues that streak.
It's simple in its narrative but packs a boatload of emotions. Tears welled up in my eyes the deeper I got into the story. Those final moments... what a whirlwind of emotions!
It's simple in its narrative but packs a boatload of emotions. Tears welled up in my eyes the deeper I got into the story. Those final moments... what a whirlwind of emotions!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews