Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring by Patrick Horvath

 

Book Name: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring

Author: Patrick Horvath

Comic Series: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees

Original Story, Adaptation, or Something Else: Original Story

Published Date: July 21, 2026

Official Synopsis: The Eisner-nominated cozy-horror comic series returns in this sequel to the critically acclaimed first volume!

It’s been eight long years since a bloodlusting brown bear drove into the city, kidnapped a kind young duck, dissected his body, and buried the pieces in the woods. The duck’s family painstakingly sought justice…but this brown bear was smart…she covered her tracks…and in the ’80s, there simply wasn’t a way for the duck’s family to find answers.

But it’s not the ’80s anymore. Almost a decade after cuddly brown bear Samantha Strong solidified herself as the sole serial killer in Woodbrook, the world is entering a new era. As Samantha will soon find out, there are no secrets in the age of the internet. And those who lost loved ones to her massacre haven’t given up the flame of justice.

A reckoning is coming to Woodbrook. Join visionary writer and artist Patrick Horvath as he returns to the hit series that has taken the comic world by storm!

Review: The cuteness of the drawing style with the grisly horror that the drawings illustrate. The depths of human (err...woodland animal) nature written about and the violent acts that occur. That encapsulates my impressions of  Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring by Patrick Horvath. This sequel to Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees occurs six years after the action of the first series and features a duck looking for her brother, various townspeople, and, of course, a homicidial bear. Horvath once again makes the contrast between the adorable, storybook-like animal characters and the grim reality of murder deeply unsettling. The result is a comic that can be cute, funny, and genuinely disturbing from one page to the next.

The sequel does take its time building its larger story; however, that slow-burn approach works well for the mystery. Horvath's artwork remains the book's greatest strength, using deceptively innocent visuals to make the violence and psychological horror hit even harder. Patrick Horvath understands exactly how disturbing it can be to place truly horrific events inside a world that looks like a children's picture book. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring is a creepy, stylish, and compelling continuation that should satisfy fans of the original while leaving readers eager to see how Samantha's story ends.

What Works: Everything! If I had to pick just one thing, it would be the juxtaposition between the cuteness of the artwork mixed with the violence and horror of the action it contains. 

What Doesn’t: Nothing. This is a solid all-around visual story. 

Rating: 8 out of 10 homicidal bears

MISC

Version Read: Electronic

How Acquired: Advance Readers Copy from NetGalley

Special Notes: This was an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. My opinions are my own.