Essex County

Set in a fictional farming community in rural Ontario, Jeff Lemire's Essex County is a quietly monumental work from Top Shelf that weaves together three interlocking stories of loneliness, memory, and family across generations. Through Lemire's stark, expressive black-and-white art, the series captures the lives of a former hockey star, a young boy, and an aging farmer, exploring how their shared landscape shapes their isolation and unexpected connections. Originally published as three issues, it stands as a defining early achievement for Lemire, showcasing his talent for blending small-town realism with deep emotional resonance.