Review: Frogcatchers GN

Jeff Lemire has a multitude of strong attributes as a comic created including his ability to capture the human spirit as well as enter into the ultra surreal. With something like Essex County he creates a story that succeeds within the way it depicts true to life human drama, but when something like Gideon Falls he along with artist Andrea Sorrentino break the rules of reality in completely mind-bending ways. With his latest graphic novel Frogcatchers, Jeff Lemire taps into both of those areas to craft a heartwarming yet out of the ordinary tale about life, death, and everything in between.Â

That amalgamation of style happens right from the start as a boy harmlessly trying to catch a frog in quiet stream underneath a lonely way timidly transforms into a seasoned man asleep on a decrypted bed. He finds himself in this rundown hotel where he appears to be the only guest. Who he is and how he got there are not clear and his search for answers only leads to more questions. It does not take very long to understand nothing is as it seems.Â

Similar to Lemire“s last graphic novel Roughneck, he returns to doing the art as well, bringing his unique cartooning style to this tale. With the book mostly in black and white, his linework is looser than usually especially as things get more and more surreal.Â Lemire has a type of minimalistic approach where he gets the most out of so few lines. How he can represent age so well just with some slight shading and grouping of lines. He makes it look effortless but clearly it is not.Â

Frogcatchers has the type of narrative where the series of events that take place may not be the most complex or riveting, but looking into what they represent is where the enjoyment lies. Trying to limit this as a specific metaphorical journey would be a disservice to what Lemire is putting together, however, a major throughline of this tale is clearly the accepting of one“s morality and the connection to our youth. In true Lemire fashion, it is often a quiet meditation that takes its time to savor the moment. One where two characters having a conversation while walking on a pier can make you reflect on your existence and the decision you made regarding what is important to you. Of course he is not afraid to make things weird as well throwing in the occasional frog monster to spice things up a bit.Â

Some may not have the same level of emotional attachment due to how much of a distance the reader is kept throughout. Details are left vague which could hinder connection to the general events taking place, however, if you can detach yourself from that need to focus more on the emotional journey there is a lot to appreciate. A metaphorical exploration of death may not be brand new ground still the execution is sound.Â Â

What makes it work though is Lemire“s approach and how he finds ways to consistently misdirect you. Starting as early as the title. Being called Frogcatchers and opening on a scene of a young boy doing just that settles the reader in to think that action will have a major purpose moving forward, and it does but not in the specific sense of the moment. In a way, it represents life in how you think you have a handle on things only for something new to come along and rethink your viewpoint.Â

Final Thoughts:

Memory is this tricky thing where the importance of an event is not a guarantee of remembrance. What Jeff Lemire appears to be doing with Frogcatchers is to ask the ultimate why question to find comfort in the realization of human mortality. It is an intimate look a momentous question and continues Jeff Lemire“s streak of being one of the most thought-provoking creators in comics today.Â

Score: 4.5/5

Author/Artist: Jeff Lemire

Author Profile

Daniel Clark

A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.