Hunters, cultists, mutants and shantytown pimps all want a piece of Gus and all that stands between them, is Jepperd. As the little boy with antlers heads out into what’s left of the world, he’ll find out that no one is quite what they seem. Or are they? Jeff Lemire continues to amaze in SWEET TOOTH issue #3.

And for fans of Jeff’s work, he’s the artist on the insert story “The Tale of Brutus the Bold” in this month’s HOUSE OF MYSTERY #18 (also on sale 10/7). This issue also features guest artist Werther Dell’ Edera (DARK ENTRIES).

The first issue of Jeff Lemire’s SWEET TOOTH was published to much acclaim. So if you’re already a fan, or want to know what all the fuss is about, you’re just in time. Gus’ story continues in issue #2 (on sale 10/7) as he joins Jepperd on the road trip of a lifetime.

SWEET TOOTH #1 is now here.

With smash reviews of Jeff Lemire’s OGN THE NOBODY now out there and everywhere, the anticipation has gotten intense. Creators who’ve sneaked a peek, fellow Vertigo editors, and other DC people from all kinds of departments can’t wait to see what’s going to happen. And I can’t blame them. I’ve been with SWEET TOOTH a long time, and it blew my mind that long ago. Seven issues are in the can of this very different ongoing. You clock the difference in style as soon as you see it—and there are plenty of pages and images around the web that I’m sure you’ve previewed. But it’s also a different kind of challenge to publish, month in, month out. Having a sole creator as both writer and artist is a difficult balancing act—harder than the team approach. You need to be lucky enough to be working with someone who’s mastered both and can produce 22 pages every month; moreover—and this isn’t so easy to clock, but it’s key—someone whose whole is even greater than the sum of his own parts.

With a writer/artist, you have a single vision driving the story. But you can also watch the creator reinvent himself over the long road. In the typical monthly the writer and his or her artist collaborators invariably challenge one another—it’s either supportive, or competitive, or contentious, but that creative friction leads to sparks or fires or disasters that change the book. Jeff would be the first to credit my input as well as original editor Bob Schreck’s, Jose Villarrubia’s on colors, Pat Brosseau’s on letters—but there’s a reason he gets the above-the-title cover credit. It takes a certain nerve flying solo: to believe in oneself or conversely doubt oneself enough to pull the trigger; to never rest on laurels (or antlers, as the case may be); to make what was once new, new again. And this doesn’t even consider the amazing daily page production—being both the sprint and the marathon as issues run on and on. Like I said, I’ve seen seven issues and pieces far beyond that number. Whereas THE NOBODY had a conscious unity, SWEET TOOTH is taken down and rebuilt every issue—sometimes every page. And as far down the road as I can see, who knows where Gus’ journey ends. Not even Jeff knows yet, although it’s in his head somewhere.

Now to reveal an inked spread from issue #5:

Post-apocalyptic comics that have influenced SWEET TOOTH by Jeff Lemire

With my Vertigo monthly SWEET TOOTH coming up in just a few days, I’ve been hunting down and/or re-reading as much post-apocalyptic fiction as I can for inspiration. In addition to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and films like The Road Warrior, I’ve also been hunting down as many post-apocalyptic comics as I can. Here are some of my favorite comics in the genre:

SCOUT–Tim Truman’s overlooked masterpiece from the 1980’s. A hard traveling Apache warrior hunting down the “Four Monsters” of Native lore, who have taken the form of politicians and war mongers in this post-apocalyptic America. Truman’s storytelling is incredible. The first series ran for 24 issues, and the sequel, SCOUT: WAR SHAMAN ran for 16, and is even better. It follows a wiser older Scout, ten years later as he treks across America with his two young sons in tow. It was a huge impact on me when I read it as a kid, and is now a huge influence on SWEET TOOTH.

WINTERWORLD–A three issue mini-series from Truman’s “4-Winds” imprint at Eclipse Comics. The same imprint under which he produced Scout. This 1987 story by Chuck Dixon and Jorge Zaffino, follows a scavenger in a world frozen over. He uncovers shopping malls long buried in the snow and ice, and trades the goods he finds. It might have been Zaffino’s first American comics work, and the art is simply stunning.

BOY AND HIS DOG–Harlan Elllison and Richard Corben. This is a total classic which my partner in crime, and colorist on SWEET TOOTH Jose Villarrubia recommended. I love Corben, and he is in peak form here adapting Ellison’s short stories about a young post-nuke survivor and his highly intelligent telepathic dog. Apparently it was made into a film in the 70’s or 80’s with Don Johnson, but I haven’t found that yet.

PUNISHER THE END–Garth Ennis and Richard Corben. Another Corben gem. This is my favorite Punisher story. Frank Castle breaks out of prison after decades inside to find a world demolished by a holocaust. He immediately sets out to punish those responsible. Corben’s aging gray-haired Frank is an unstoppable force of nature and amazing to behold. This character design ended up being a huge influence on the design of Jepperd, the big bad ass in SWEET TOOTH.

As a bonus, here are a few pencils of a particularly “post-apocalyptical” sequence from SWEET TOOTH #3!

We’re so excited for everyone to read JEFF LEMIRE’S first ongoing series SWEET TOOTH (on sale this Wednesday).

And we’re not alone:

“Writer & artist Jeff Lemire has created the new ‘must read’ book with SWEET TOOTH. It’s a fairy tale turned on its ear-or antlers-that takes you on the road trip through an America slightly more fantastical and just as frightening as ours.” —GEOFF JOHNS (Blackest Night)

“I would crawl over broken glass to read this.” —JASON AARON (Scalped)

“Lemire’s next great work is a shockingly original cocktail of the surreal. A candy-colored nightmare of family, violence and the end of the world.” —MATT KINDT (Super Spy)

“Sweet Tooth is a dark, moving, and intriguing story, and Jeff Lemire’s gentle writing and raw, expressive art work perfectly together.” —FRANK QUITELY (Batman & Robin)

“A remarkably strange story, drawn in an appropriately expressionistic style. I need to know what’s going to happen to Gus!” —PETER BAGGE (Everybody is Stupid Except for Me)

A cross between Bambi and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, it’s a post-apocalyptic journey full of quiet intimate moments, powerful emotion and an edge that is unlike anything you’ve ever read by Lemire.

Today’s WALL STREET JOURNAL Weekend Journal Section features JEFF LEMIRE and SWEET TOOTH. Read the story and preview here.

In an in-depth conversation with CBR News, Karen Berger discusses Vertigo’s success in 2009, the imprint’s plans for 2010, and why she believes Vertigo is delivering the best work in the industry.

METRO NY features THE NOBODY

SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE talks about Vikings and NORTHLANDERS “The Cross and the Hammer.”

UNKNOWN SOLDIER is featured on the BBC along with a gallery of images and if you subscribe to SIRIUS XM, listen to Dysart discuss the book with Judith Regan.

And if you haven’t read it yet, download the first issue of UNKNOWN SOLDIER now!

A few weeks ago we showed you some pages from Jeff Lemire’s first ongoing series SWEET TOOTH. Well, now, with only a few weeks until #1 goes on sale we thought we’d give you a bit more.

The Portland Mercury and Omnivoracious, the Amazon.com Book Blog, review THE NOBODY.

You can also hear Jeff Lemire talk about THE NOBODY and SWEET TOOTH on Wordballon.

And, now you can wear Lemire’s ART BRUT Vs SATAN album artwork on your feet . . . . You know how I love shoes!

On July 8th, editor Brandon Montclare posted about Jeff Lemire and his upcoming new series SWEET TOOTH. We showed some interior images from issue #2 . . . and now for the the cover.