Royal City Compendium One

by Jeff Lemire

In a return to the literary and thematic territory of JEFF 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. There, Patrick is quickly drawn back into the dramas of his two adult siblings, his overbearing mother, and his browbeaten father, all of whom are still haunted by different versions of his youngest brother, Tommy, who drowned decades ago. ROYAL CITY is a sprawling, ambitious graphic novel that charts the lives, loves, and losses of a troubled family and a vanishing town across three decades.   Collects ROYAL CITY #1–14   “Buzzing with a meticulously controlled intensity that’s propelled by its deeply flawed and richly imagined cast of characters, JEFF LEMIRE is at his best.” ―IGN

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

408 pages, Paperback

Published July 18, 2023

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Leeni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ihan jees satunnainen sarjislöytö kirjastolta. Jos haluaa lukea sarjakuvaa, jossa on vähän vaikka mitä genreä, suosittelen. Löytyy yliluonnollista elementtiä, ihmissuhdedraamaa (romanttista ja muuta), rikosta, mysteeriä… Onnistunut juoni ja hahmoista tykkäsin, piirrostyyli vähän tylsä mun makuun.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve come to the realisation that Jeff Lemire might just be, in my opinion, one of the best writers of all time. From Essex County, Descender, Little Monsters and now having finished Royal City, it’s clear he has such versatility and mastery of different genres. Yet each of his works have a similar theme of youth and the universal, yet isolating feeling of adolescence.

Royal City returns to his literary fictional routes of Essex County by exploring human nature through his distinctive art. This story about a family that is haunted by a tragedy from their past. The graphic novel is an unrelenting emotional tale of trauma, regret, and basically the human condition. Over 14 issues Lemire writes and illustrates how everyone, even blood relatives deal with these in unique and meaningful ways. Lemire follows the dynamics of the siblings closely and the tragedy is built too brilliantly, something you can’t look away from. Yet ultimately the specific details remain a mystery as that simply isn’t the importance of the story.

This could be a overly gloomy book but Lemire manages to balance the melancholy of the decaying town and the family that we follow with semblances of growth, development and of course hope.

This particular quote sums up the entire thesis of the story, which comes in the final issue, “Just because it [the past] forms us, it doesn’t mean you have to let it define you forever” and it’s a powerful message and one that brought a tear to my eye, not just for the characters but for myself.

If you’re a fan of Essex County, Jeff Lemire or just incredible stories then there really is no reason to not read this incredible series.

[Jacob A. Mirallegro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the pacing and artwork. Jeff Lemire's art style improves with each book of his I read and I think he works best at the weaving of text and art when he's both writing and drawing. The watercolors and visuals are so good, really pleasing book to look at I think. The story is pretty engaging, there isn't a lot of twists or unexpected moments but the pacing and characters are really good. That's clearly what it's about more so than a "plot" which isn't to say the story is bad or boring, there's just more dedication to the flowing emotions and interactions from the characters.
The little background references to Sweet Tooth and Trillium were fun.

[Lex V · Rating 4 out of 5]

An other great story by Jeff Lemire,if you like his writing style,you’ll love that one too.I find his type of drawing really great,it tells something not just show you.
Family dynamic can be rough,so many personalities within a same house.
This story goes from character to an other by discovering,bit by bit the whole plot.
Good book,a must read

[Avri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a crime comic, a fantasy comic, a horror comic, or a slice of life comic. Royal City is a sometimes gentle, sometimes raw ride that draws you in, gets under your skin.

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

At this point, I feel like Jeff can do no wrong. His writing and story telling TEAR at your heartstrings. Such a beautiful/touching/honest story about family, love and loss. <3

[Grace Beaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunted and haunting.