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Trees (Single Issues)
Trees #4
Chenglei is starting to find himself in Shu, the Chinese city built under a Tree: but things are starting to find him, too. There's a storm coming, and the pressure is starting to be felt all over the world.
24 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2014
42 people want to read
About the author
Warren Ellis
1,971 books5,765 followersWarren Ellis is the award-winning writer of graphic novels like TRANSMETROPOLITAN, FELL, MINISTRY OF SPACE and PLANETARY, and the author of the NYT-bestselling GUN MACHINE and the “underground classic” novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN, as well as the digital short-story single DEAD PIG COLLECTOR. His newest book is the novella NORMAL, from FSG Originals, listed as one of Amazon’s Best 100 Books Of 2016.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 19, 2014
When you first heard of Trees, you probably thought “wow, Warren Ellis does an alien invasion storyline? That’s gotta be NUTS!” and it kind of is, but not in the exciting way you think. Aliens invade by sticking giant tubes all around our planet, and then do nothing. We never see the aliens and they don’t want to rule the world or even interact with us. Because humanity is beneath them - whoever “them” is.
It’s almost like a joke - this series takes place 10 years after the “trees” appeared, proving we’re not alone in the universe, and the whole time we were waiting for them to make first contact, they’d gotten on with their own lives. Carried on. While we waited like suckers thinking, “that’s… that’s it? They’re not even going to say hello? What the fuck!?”
The first half of Trees #4 is set in the Chinese city, an artist’s colony, that’s been built around their tree where Zhen, the hot woman, has taken out the reclusive art student Chenglei from his flat out to the art school/factory he’s supposed to be working in. Chenglei learns something surprising about Zhen, the school looks awesome, run by enthusiastic creative people, and then right at the end we’re reminded - oh yeah, this comic’s about those giant alien tubes! Except it’s not really, it’s about how humanity has responded to the news that we’re not alone.
We’re then off to Norway - Trees is a global story - where one of the scientists, Marsh, has made an alarming discovery about some black plants found growing in the icy tundra: they contain mechanical wiring. Alien tech.
To be honest, the Norway storyline has been the least engaging for me but the speech Marsh gives about why he wants to stay here and study the black flowers is so damn good, it drew me all the way back in. Marsh sounds like a real person, that’s how good Ellis’ characterisation is, and his motivations, his feelings, seem genuine. It’s a riveting scene.
The issue closes in Somalia as we see the world’s smallest tree - which really doesn’t look like the giant tubes elsewhere. Could it be something else? - as a human military operation begins to… what? Investigate it? Blow it up? We’ll have to wait until the next issue to find out, but it looks like action is on the way.
Four issues in and I’m still on the fence with Trees. Some issues are better than others and I want to like it but, man, is this a slow burn! I suspect it’ll read better in the collected editions rather than piecemeal, one issue a month, but the issues themselves aren’t bad - they just feel like a long-form story that’s been chopped up into comic-book-length chunks.
Trees #4 is one of the better issues in the series so far and if you’re interested in a thoughtful sci-fi story that looks at the effects of an alien invasion on humans rather than your Independence Day-type crap-fest, guns blazing nonsense, it’s certainly worth a look.
It’s almost like a joke - this series takes place 10 years after the “trees” appeared, proving we’re not alone in the universe, and the whole time we were waiting for them to make first contact, they’d gotten on with their own lives. Carried on. While we waited like suckers thinking, “that’s… that’s it? They’re not even going to say hello? What the fuck!?”
The first half of Trees #4 is set in the Chinese city, an artist’s colony, that’s been built around their tree where Zhen, the hot woman, has taken out the reclusive art student Chenglei from his flat out to the art school/factory he’s supposed to be working in. Chenglei learns something surprising about Zhen, the school looks awesome, run by enthusiastic creative people, and then right at the end we’re reminded - oh yeah, this comic’s about those giant alien tubes! Except it’s not really, it’s about how humanity has responded to the news that we’re not alone.
We’re then off to Norway - Trees is a global story - where one of the scientists, Marsh, has made an alarming discovery about some black plants found growing in the icy tundra: they contain mechanical wiring. Alien tech.
To be honest, the Norway storyline has been the least engaging for me but the speech Marsh gives about why he wants to stay here and study the black flowers is so damn good, it drew me all the way back in. Marsh sounds like a real person, that’s how good Ellis’ characterisation is, and his motivations, his feelings, seem genuine. It’s a riveting scene.
The issue closes in Somalia as we see the world’s smallest tree - which really doesn’t look like the giant tubes elsewhere. Could it be something else? - as a human military operation begins to… what? Investigate it? Blow it up? We’ll have to wait until the next issue to find out, but it looks like action is on the way.
Four issues in and I’m still on the fence with Trees. Some issues are better than others and I want to like it but, man, is this a slow burn! I suspect it’ll read better in the collected editions rather than piecemeal, one issue a month, but the issues themselves aren’t bad - they just feel like a long-form story that’s been chopped up into comic-book-length chunks.
Trees #4 is one of the better issues in the series so far and if you’re interested in a thoughtful sci-fi story that looks at the effects of an alien invasion on humans rather than your Independence Day-type crap-fest, guns blazing nonsense, it’s certainly worth a look.
August 25, 2014
With TREES #4 I found out that I’m not a pervert! Yay! I didn’t mention this with my review of the first issue, but there’s a panel in that issue of a character, and I showed the art to my husband, but he couldn’t confirm my suspicions, but this issue confirmed it, so that made me happy. I really was nervous that I saw something that wasn’t there, but it was there the whole time!
Anyway, onto the review. This has been my least favorite issue so far, but I’m still optimistic that this comic is going to end up being really worth my time. We’re still learning about the characters, and I kind of want aliens and action, but it didn’t happen with this one.
This issue pretty much revolved around Chenglei, the artist who has gone to the Special Cultural Zone to pursue a new, more interesting life, but he hasn’t really done that yet. One of his neighbors, Zhen forces him out of his small apartment, and she makes him finally explore his new home.
I really like the friendship that is forming between the two of these characters, and I look forward to seeing Chenglei mature.
The other plot we saw, was the one that I was honestly more interested in, once I got to it. Marsh, one of the scientists at the Arctic research base has been obsessing over the black flowers he discovered (Issue #2). These flowers, under the microscope, are even crazier than he imagined, and his obsession continues in this Issue.
I really think Issue #5 is going to be his, and the research team’s, story and where we’ll end up getting some more information on the aliens.
I’m definitely looking forward to seeing if my assumption on the plot of Issue #5 ends up being right. In a month, I’ll know!
I’m still going to recommend this comic, but if you get bored, or if you want action right away, maybe wait for a few more issues to come out before giving it a shot.
Anyway, onto the review. This has been my least favorite issue so far, but I’m still optimistic that this comic is going to end up being really worth my time. We’re still learning about the characters, and I kind of want aliens and action, but it didn’t happen with this one.
This issue pretty much revolved around Chenglei, the artist who has gone to the Special Cultural Zone to pursue a new, more interesting life, but he hasn’t really done that yet. One of his neighbors, Zhen forces him out of his small apartment, and she makes him finally explore his new home.
I really like the friendship that is forming between the two of these characters, and I look forward to seeing Chenglei mature.
The other plot we saw, was the one that I was honestly more interested in, once I got to it. Marsh, one of the scientists at the Arctic research base has been obsessing over the black flowers he discovered (Issue #2). These flowers, under the microscope, are even crazier than he imagined, and his obsession continues in this Issue.
I really think Issue #5 is going to be his, and the research team’s, story and where we’ll end up getting some more information on the aliens.
I’m definitely looking forward to seeing if my assumption on the plot of Issue #5 ends up being right. In a month, I’ll know!
I’m still going to recommend this comic, but if you get bored, or if you want action right away, maybe wait for a few more issues to come out before giving it a shot.
January 6, 2016
This issue starts of with the focus on Chenglei in the city of Shu learning about the city, some of its people and then the story goes back to the frigid north where the researchers continue to study the Tree there and some awfully strange flowers that have been showing up in the area and are clearly related to the Tree.
Finally we see another character return just in time for the issue to leave readers at a cliffhanger.
I'm a bit torn with this series so far. I can't find any discernible overall plot yet. While the premise is interesting it's a bit hard to maintain interest as it wanders from place to place leaving the reader with brief snippets of information about the Trees here and there.
Finally we see another character return just in time for the issue to leave readers at a cliffhanger.
I'm a bit torn with this series so far. I can't find any discernible overall plot yet. While the premise is interesting it's a bit hard to maintain interest as it wanders from place to place leaving the reader with brief snippets of information about the Trees here and there.
February 7, 2017
"This means something"
What are the tress doing here? What is their purpose?
It surely gives purpose to a few. Chenglei is a brilliant character and seeing the city of Shu through him is a great experience. Revelations of Zhen not only stun him, but show how the Tree has actually affected the community of Shu itself. Chenglei's open mind helps his realize how the world is outside his window and its much more beautiful.
Marsh's actions brings him to the fine line between curiosity and obsession. I really hope he makes a breakthrough on the flowers.
Finally, the dialogue between Malek and his phone is great! And what President Rahim is about to do with his "strategic Tree" makes me want to read more.
What are the tress doing here? What is their purpose?
It surely gives purpose to a few. Chenglei is a brilliant character and seeing the city of Shu through him is a great experience. Revelations of Zhen not only stun him, but show how the Tree has actually affected the community of Shu itself. Chenglei's open mind helps his realize how the world is outside his window and its much more beautiful.
Marsh's actions brings him to the fine line between curiosity and obsession. I really hope he makes a breakthrough on the flowers.
Finally, the dialogue between Malek and his phone is great! And what President Rahim is about to do with his "strategic Tree" makes me want to read more.
October 16, 2014
Ellis is slowly putting together characters' stories, giving more depth with every issue, all the while dangling this alien existence in front of the readers face in a subtle way unlike what I've seen in the past. This passive but surely observant invasion suggests a very realistic feel for what could occur in this situation and the mundane life revolving around the assimilation of it is wholly strange & captivating.
August 30, 2014
The title is gradually finding its footing, the various groups of characters are starting to come to life a little. I still feel that the narrative's slow pace does not lend itself to the single-issue format, though, so I'll wait for the trades instead.
September 11, 2014
I'm totally hooked on the mystery in this book, even if so far it's been all questions and no answers. The coloring is great too. Still haven't spent enough time with any of the characters to be get invested, but for now my curiosity and faith in Mr. Ellis are enough to keep it on my pull list.
June 3, 2015
I loved Chenglei in this (and loved the way that transgender characters were dealt with---as people who exist and who deserve to be treated like, oh, people---and Marsh continues to be excellent.
December 9, 2014
Esto significa algo
October 30, 2015
I bought single issues of this series, #4-7, at the same time, so you can find my full review over at issue 7 which is my impression of the 4 comic books together.
November 16, 2014
And things start warming up and getting more interesting...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews