Jesse Lonergan

Jesse Lonergan is the kind of cartoonist who makes you remember why you fell in love with comics in the first place. His work exists at the intersection of experimental formalism and emotional storytelling, pushing the boundaries of page composition while remaining deeply grounded in universal human experiences.

Early Life and Background

Born in California and raised across Saudi Arabia and Vermont, Jesse’s unconventional upbringing shaped his artistic perspective. He spent two years in Turkmenistan teaching English with the Peace Corps—an experience that undoubtedly influenced his work’s sense of isolation, connection, and the search for meaning in vast, sometimes alien landscapes.

Solo Works

Lonergan’s solo output reads like a master’s class in pushing comics as a medium:

Hedra (Image Comics, 2020) stands as his most acclaimed work—a wordless 48-page graphic novel nominated for an Eisner Award. Set after nuclear war devastates Earth, it follows one lone astronaut who wins a lottery for humanity’s last chance at survival. The entirely visual storytelling showcases Lonergan’s mastery of sequential art, conveying complex emotions through innovative page layouts and cinematic compositions. As Broken Frontier noted, it’s “an exquisite piece of pure comics craft.”

Drome (23rd Street Books, 2025) is Lonergan’s most ambitious work yet—a 320-page epic that The Beat declared “the front-runner for 2025 book of the year.” The mythic graphic novel about gods, heroes, elementals, and the dawn of civilization has earned widespread critical acclaim, with IGN naming it a clear contender for the year’s best graphic novel.

Planet Paradise (Image Comics, 2020) continues his exploration of unique narrative worlds.

Faster (Bulgilhan Press, 2021) demonstrates his versatility across publishers.

All Star (NBM Publishing, 2014) and his earlier works including Joe and Azat (NBM Publishing, 2009) and Flower and Fade (NBM Publishing, 2007) established his reputation for innovative storytelling.

Mainstream Collaborations

Beyond self-publishing, Lonergan has brought his distinctive visual style to major publishers:

Miss Truesdale and the Rise of Man (Dark Horse Comics, 2025) continues his work in Mike Mignola’s Hellboy universe, following the critically acclaimed Miss Truesdale and the Fall of Hyperborea (2023).

Man’s Best (Boom Studios, 2024) is a five-issue series written by Pornsaak Pichetshote.

He has also contributed to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green #1 (IDW Publishing, 2024) written by Dave Baker, and Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Annual (IDW Publishing, 2021) written by Daniel José Older.

Self-Published Work

Lonergan remains active in the self-published scene with We Ride at Night—a rock-and-roll fever dream of a comic that The Beat describes as “almost like a comics poem that intermingles snippets of songs.” Available digitally via his Patreon, it’s a black-and-white zine that captures the intersection of music and superhero storytelling.

Artistic Style

Lonergan’s work is defined by experimental page layouts, innovative panel compositions, and a willingness to let form serve meaning. He plays with the formal elements of comics—gutters, panels, page turns—to create reading experiences that feel both intellectually rigorous and emotionally resonant. His wordless works like Hedra demonstrate that his art speaks volumes without a single line of dialogue.

Perfect for fans of…

Artists who push the medium’s boundaries, like Chris Ware, Shawn Kurhan, and Anders Nilsen, will find much to love in Jesse Lonergan’s experimental, formally inventive comics. His work also appeals to readers who enjoy the mythic storytelling of creators like Mike Mignola.

Support the Artist

• Official Website
• Patreon - for We Ride at Night and more
• Etsy Shop - prints and originals
• TeePublic - merchandise