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The Hockey Saint

By Hervé St-Louis
September 11, 2016 - 15:30

When recluse top hockey player Jeremiah Jacobson befriends adrift college student Tom Leonard, their friendship and love of hockey is used as fodder to destroy the player’s life. An ambitious detective spies on the friends wanting to expose Jacobson’s secret drinking, his secret wife, and his love of cigarettes. Can Tom be used to betray his friend and expose the life of a saint player to the world?

This book has been in my review pile for a few months now but I’m glad that I took the time to read it today. I’m Canadian so hockey is part of my DNA. It is also in the DNA of writer Howard Shapiro who seems to specialize in writing comics about hockey. The conflict of the story is introduced mid-way in the graphic novel as everything seems to be going well for the two new friends at first. I was afraid that I was about to read a Pollyanna.

But Shapiro added just enough conflict to turn the story around and surprise me with an ending I did not quite expect. The book is meant for teens but never talks down to them. I could see kids from eight to ten reading this comic even though it talks about addiction and the life of a super start trying to find some personal space.

The art is a bit odd with characters’ head being so much smaller than their shoulders in the first few pages. Yet they look distinct and the action is very clear. I wish there were extensive backgrounds but Maricia Inoue is still developing as an artist. Speaking of artists, I’m not sure why publisher Animal Media Group and writer Howard Sharpiro do not feel the need to properly credit the work of the artists who contributed to this comic.

Because I’m used to analyzing comics, I was able to figure out that Maricia Inoue was the artist who drew the entire comic while Andress Mossa probably drew the cover. I’m not sure why Animal Media Group deemed it necessary to be unclear about the people who contributed to the comic. In traditional comic book industry parlance, Shapiro would never be named the sole author of The Hockey Saint.

Having addressed this one point which bugged me, I have to say that I like the Jesus-like character–build of Jacobson and how piteous he was in the story. Yet, he was a flawed saint with his own problems, which I understand will be addressed in an upcoming follow up to The Hockey Saint. If you’re a hockey fan, like comics or are looking for something for that hockey fan who does like comics, or a kid in your life, The Hockey Saint is a good bet.

Rating: 8 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12