Reviews

Sweet Tooth Vol. 5: Unnatural Habitats by Jeff Lemire

Only show reviews with written explanations

mrsthrift's review

4.0

I really liked how this dug deeper into both the mythology of the half-animal/half-child creatures and also how much BETRAYAL and DRAMA they fit in the modern day part of the story. I continue to be captivated by the dystopian relationships, characters and setting, and I especially love how an old hockey buddy can appear out of nowhere. I will definitely continue to read this series.

megadallion's review

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3.0

This one was a bit slower, more back story than action, but we're finally getting down to the meat and bones of the mystery of the plague, hybrid kids, and Gus's origins. I didn't really care for the illustration and typography style they used for "The Taxidermist," but it was a pretty interesting story. My favorite part was probably the humor and irony of the two hockey players coming back together in the middle of the apocalypse. It makes you realize how surreal that must've felt and how easily this horrible, cruel new world becomes the only thing you can remember. Only one more volume left!

crabbygirl's review

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4.0

(this is an overall review for volumes 3 to 5 which I read in a batch)
picking up were we left off, Jepperd has a change of heart and rescues Gus along with a few other hybrids, 2 enslaved women, a doctor and a hick. so now there's a gang to root for. we get to see their backstories - inked in unique ways - and care as much for them as the original duo. there's a sidetracked story involving the inuit and a great take on unit art.
just like The Walking Dead, they appear to find a paradise in which to live but of course it is a scam. Gus is growing older, looking more like a teen by the end of these books than a child. and now that he's got what amounts to a hybrid teen girlfriend, the story has more places to go.
i'll say it again: the art work is stunning - this author is a true creator: story AND artwork.

trike's review

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4.0

Oof, brutal. But we find out the backstory of all of this, the deep backstory going back to 1911 and the secret the Inuit people are hiding.

This is pretty good stuff. I read all six volumes in one sitting. It’s basically [b:The Island of Dr. Moreau|6265974|The Island of Dr. Moreau|H.G. Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328147138l/6265974._SY75_.jpg|68894] meets [b:The Stand|149267|The Stand|Stephen King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1213131305l/149267._SX50_.jpg|1742269], but a solid remix. I’m sure there’s lots of allegory to be had, but I’m just enjoying the story.

Looking forward to the Netflix adaptation coming soon. Trailer: https://youtu.be/GrBw0pbF11s

sqwaytalqs's review

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4.0

This series continues to be outstanding, and I'm chomping at the bit to get the next volume!

otherwyrld's review

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3.0

The first time I read through this volume I really didn't like it at all. A second read-through has made me appreciate some of the finer points of the story, but it still feels like there's a whole lot of nothing going on.

The first half of the book is set in 1911 and explores the origins of the plague and the hybrids. It starts out as typical arrogant white Christian mission destroying native culture and ends up with a clash of religious beliefs that, surprisingly, the natives win. Having said that, it is a pyrrhic victory because everyone winds up dead and the plague carrier (a hybrid baby) is sealed away in an icy tomb.

Meanwhile, back in the main plot, we are still trying and failing to get away from the dam. It's the whole Herschel's farm situation all over again, with the main characters trying to leave but ending up circling around the damn place (pun intended). Suspension of disbelief is stretched beyond its limits when Jepperd meets someone who not only knew him before the plague, but is actually a strong ally.

Meanwhile, there was no sign of Abbott in this book at all, but all this messing around has probably meant that he is a lot closer than he was. Finally, Gus stops being a passive victim and starts standing up for himself, which is long overdue.

leelah's review

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3.0

3,5 stars

Fifth volume in Lemire's heartwrenching series about deer boy is like a wind out-of-nowhere and smell in the air you feel before the rain crashes down on you- messy, slightly chaotic and very much a build-up piece. As much as I understand the necessity of this volume from narrative standpoint, it's still the least favorite of mine.
Big reason for that comes from the fact that first three issues are giving us the much needed answers on origin of the plague that swept humanity and created hybrids. In terms of entire story, those three issues are totally disjointed from Gus and Jepperd's journey. Origin panels are telling the story through journal entries of rich, British aristocrat whose brother in law went missing on expedition to Arctic in 1911.
So, let's tackle this right now: as much as cause-for-fictional-plague explanation goes, this was not the most logical, scientifically or biologically correct and plausible one.
But-and this is the point- it ties perfectly with this story. It works here, it works only in this scenario with Gus as main character. I am purposely trying to be more vague to avoid spoiling, but if we are following story of any other hybrid or human, this explanation would be anticlimactic and even bogus. Hence, it worked for me, only because it ties perfectly in with everything else, including those weird prophetic dreams Gus has and weird bible his father wrote.

Spoiler

Tekkeitsertok, god in Inuit mythology makes sense with Gus being somehow integral for whole plague thing and the fact their journey seems to end in Alaska.

Other three chapters are wrapping up the issue with dam and Walter/Haggerty guy. It was written somewhat hastily and it made that whole story line completely unnecessary considering how it ended. Casualties and Gus seeing people being evil is hammered into his head by now and it doesn't really have effect on Jepperd since he has a purpose now: what perspired in dam would not change that in any way: nor to distract him from it, nor his resolve needed to be strengthen. This part stood out mainly because it cemented the important piece of Gus's character development; something we were aware several issues back-he doesn't need Jepperd to save him anymore. It's where coming-to-age tag makes sense: Gus is grown up now and not the gullible boy you can lure in with a chocolate bar. And doesn't that make this volume ending on a right note before culmination the story reaches in next, last one?