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patchworkbunny's review
5.0
Trees by Warren Ellis and Jason Howard has very mixed reviews over on Goodreads but I found much to love in it. I believe it’s one of those comics definitely better read as a trade (new term learned at the weekend, that’s what I’d been calling a volume or bind-up) rather than individual issues as it has a lot of storylines going on.
Trees is set ten years after an alien invasion. Giant tree-like structures came down from the sky, landing on cities around the world, but the aliens never made any attempt to communicate. Or do anything much. The trees are a mystery. The stories follow different groups of people living in the shadow of these alien structures, exploring how life has changed, and in some ways everything’s the same.
Some of the stories are quite intimate in feeling and I had definite moments of shock near the end of this first volume. I will definitely be picking up the second volume later this year.
Trees is set ten years after an alien invasion. Giant tree-like structures came down from the sky, landing on cities around the world, but the aliens never made any attempt to communicate. Or do anything much. The trees are a mystery. The stories follow different groups of people living in the shadow of these alien structures, exploring how life has changed, and in some ways everything’s the same.
Some of the stories are quite intimate in feeling and I had definite moments of shock near the end of this first volume. I will definitely be picking up the second volume later this year.
abookabookabook's review
Cool interesting start.
Some possible loose threads still, but I love the themes.
Shadowy areas being a gathering place for "the Other."
Impending doom and creeping dread.
Some possible loose threads still, but I love the themes.
Shadowy areas being a gathering place for "the Other."
Impending doom and creeping dread.
aiight's review
2.0
Can't recommend because it is likely an abandoned series. Art was adequate; a couple of characters were initially hard to distinguish from each other. Had the abbreviated feeling that so many comics have and makes it feel rushed. Middle has a preachy section that, while nominally admirable in intention, feels very shoehorned.
squidjum's review
4.0
I think this series has a lot of potential, and a good deal to say about people's motivations.
pumpkincore's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
rick_k's review
4.0
I have a lot of confidence in anything by Warren Ellis. He has proven to be a keen observer of society and can create worlds and characters although warped and twisted to reflect ourselves like a funhouse mirror. He has opened up dark places within his characters and revealed a sympathetic link to a little bit of darkness we recognize. Trees, Volume 1 introduces a world, much like our own, only the question of the existence of intelligent life in the universe has been answered, at least for humanity. Immense alien bio-mechanical structures have landed on Earth. The distribution seems arbitrary situated in Manhattan, Mogadishu, Rio de Janeiro, near Shu in China and Svalbard. For ten years they seemingly do not move, do not communicate, do not acknowledge us at all. They stand motionless as trees.
What does change is us. Many flee the shadow of these colossi, other are drawn towards them. They are studied by scientists, philosophers, politicians and artists. The rest of the world carefully tries to ignore the behemoths; to pretend they do not exist - or have always existed. The trees seemingly exert influence over those in proximity simply by their presence. Warren Ellis sets up this tension; a tension which has existed in this world for ten years, but plants the seeds for eminent communication between our species in future volumes.
While Warren Ellis is working as subtly as I have ever seen him, Jason Howard is bold and impressive. His illustration excels in all aspects. Through his scratching short strokes he conveys huge landscapes, expressive characters, organic and technical detail, and kinetic action sequences with equal confidence. He expertly reveals the "trees" from distant shadows and incomplete forms to eventually describing texture and patiently waiting to unveil the view of them in their entirety. He has the unenviable task of working in huge shifts in scale, but through color and composition he translates the action with clarity and emotion. It is truly stunning work.
I received access to a digital copy of Trees, Volume 1 from NetGalley.com. The collected trade paperback will be released by Image Comics on Wednesday, February 11th, 2015.
What does change is us. Many flee the shadow of these colossi, other are drawn towards them. They are studied by scientists, philosophers, politicians and artists. The rest of the world carefully tries to ignore the behemoths; to pretend they do not exist - or have always existed. The trees seemingly exert influence over those in proximity simply by their presence. Warren Ellis sets up this tension; a tension which has existed in this world for ten years, but plants the seeds for eminent communication between our species in future volumes.
While Warren Ellis is working as subtly as I have ever seen him, Jason Howard is bold and impressive. His illustration excels in all aspects. Through his scratching short strokes he conveys huge landscapes, expressive characters, organic and technical detail, and kinetic action sequences with equal confidence. He expertly reveals the "trees" from distant shadows and incomplete forms to eventually describing texture and patiently waiting to unveil the view of them in their entirety. He has the unenviable task of working in huge shifts in scale, but through color and composition he translates the action with clarity and emotion. It is truly stunning work.
I received access to a digital copy of Trees, Volume 1 from NetGalley.com. The collected trade paperback will be released by Image Comics on Wednesday, February 11th, 2015.
scottsofbohemia's review
5.0
Different, lovely characters. Interesting dystopian(ish) future scenario, believable advancements in culture. I always love Ellis's writing. Can't wait to see where this goes.
nicksquiggles's review
5.0
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Creepy and gripping, I liked how we followed several characters in different places. I am looking forward to picking up Vol. 2 :)
Creepy and gripping, I liked how we followed several characters in different places. I am looking forward to picking up Vol. 2 :)
papalbina's review against another edition
4.0
i'm not a big fan of the art. it is interesting, kind of old-fashioned, sketchy, but not the kind of drawing that i usually like and would catch my eye in a comic shop. although the cover is very eye-catching.
the story on the other hand is my type of story, although it is darker than my usual reads. it's difficult to describe what i liked the most in this comic, probably the different locations and the variety of characters, nationalities, ethnics, etc. and of course, the trees. the trees that are not doing anything in this story, but there are a presence that changed everything.
trees is a strange and dark scifi graphic novel that surprised me and that i would like to continue reading. when is the next issue scheduled?
thank you to image comics and netgalley for providing me with a copy of this comic.
the story on the other hand is my type of story, although it is darker than my usual reads. it's difficult to describe what i liked the most in this comic, probably the different locations and the variety of characters, nationalities, ethnics, etc. and of course, the trees. the trees that are not doing anything in this story, but there are a presence that changed everything.
trees is a strange and dark scifi graphic novel that surprised me and that i would like to continue reading. when is the next issue scheduled?
thank you to image comics and netgalley for providing me with a copy of this comic.