Gus is a young boy with deer ears and antlers. He’s a hybrid—a child born with animal features after a great plague killed most of humanity. When Gus’ father dies, Gus ventures out into the world in search of a fabled haven for hybrids called “The Preserve.” What makes Sweet Tooth: Out of the Woods different from other post-apocalyptic tales is its main character. While the end-of-the-world scenario is well-worn ground, the oddness and mystery surrounding the hybrids brings something new to the story. Lemire’s art and Jose Villarrubia’s colouring amp up the book’s tense atmosphere.
This article appears in Sep 2-8, 2010.
