Trillium

Writer/artist Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Essex County) turns his gaze to the stars in this mind- and reality-bending science fiction graphic novel. Nika and William are thousands of years and millions of miles apart—she, a scientist in a dark future where humanity is on the run from a sentient disease; he, a haunted ex-soldier in early-20th-century Britain. When they each discover a hidden temple, they form a mental connection destined to rewrite space and time. In his first solo project in years, Lemire’s art excels, combining his trademark sketchiness with gorgeous watercolors. But it’s the layouts that take the book to new heights of creativity. Lemire tells two stories at once by turning the panels upside down, disorienting the reader as much as his heroes. It’s a technique that worked long ago in Dave Sim’s Cerebus, and it works even better here, with clever parallels between plot lines. The script isn’t quite as tight, and refers to grandiose concepts in vague language throughout. Those with the patience to reread and decode Lemire’s alien messages—both literal and figurative—will be rewarded. This book represents a challenge to other creators: the bar for creativity in comics continues to be raised. [em](Aug.) [/em]