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Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1
The six-issue return of the Eisner-nominated cozy horror smash hit! 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 for one of the most anticipated comics of 2025.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 15, 2026
Great start to a new chapter in this story.
First, if you haven't read the original Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, that's where you need to start. Basically, it's a book about a serial killer that looks like she popped up in one of Richard Scarry's children's books.
Samantha is a sweet-looking little brown bear who has literally been getting away with murder for years. But times, they are a-changing.
And with the advent of DNA evidence, and the dogged pursuit of justice by the embittered sister of the duck she killed in the original comic, Sam's murderous hobby might be on the brink of discovery.
Told from the point of view of Monica Brewer, as she spends her days in menial jobs and her nights searching for her answers to her brother's disappearance, this was about as strong an opening issue as you can get.
Highly Recommended.
First, if you haven't read the original Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, that's where you need to start. Basically, it's a book about a serial killer that looks like she popped up in one of Richard Scarry's children's books.
Samantha is a sweet-looking little brown bear who has literally been getting away with murder for years. But times, they are a-changing.
And with the advent of DNA evidence, and the dogged pursuit of justice by the embittered sister of the duck she killed in the original comic, Sam's murderous hobby might be on the brink of discovery.
Told from the point of view of Monica Brewer, as she spends her days in menial jobs and her nights searching for her answers to her brother's disappearance, this was about as strong an opening issue as you can get.
Highly Recommended.
November 10, 2025
3.5. Stars
Good start to the sequel! And it's good to be back Beneath the Trees.
p.s. Am I the last to know that the title is inspired by the Teddy Bear's Picnic nursery rhyme? I just made the connection!!! :)
"Every teddy bear who's been good is sure of a treat today
There's lots of marvelous things to eat and wonderful games to play
Beneath the trees where nobody sees they'll hide and seek as long as they please
That's the way the teddy bears have their picnic"
Come meet this cute and creepy comic!
Good start to the sequel! And it's good to be back Beneath the Trees.
p.s. Am I the last to know that the title is inspired by the Teddy Bear's Picnic nursery rhyme? I just made the connection!!! :)
"Every teddy bear who's been good is sure of a treat today
There's lots of marvelous things to eat and wonderful games to play
Beneath the trees where nobody sees they'll hide and seek as long as they please
That's the way the teddy bears have their picnic"
Come meet this cute and creepy comic!
April 24, 2026
The illustrations are a feast for gore-hungry eyes like mine—I just needed more of them.
One thing is for sure: this cannot compete with the first one. It fell flat for me. I needed more violence, more blood, more of Samantha’s killings. Is there going to be a part three? It doesn’t look promising.
Samantha Strong is evil—that’s already clear from the first book—but what she did to the whole town of Woodbrook felt meaningless to me. I mean, you can be evil, but at least have a purpose.
This was still a bit fun, but I think I’m done with this series.
One thing is for sure: this cannot compete with the first one. It fell flat for me. I needed more violence, more blood, more of Samantha’s killings. Is there going to be a part three? It doesn’t look promising.
Samantha Strong is evil—that’s already clear from the first book—but what she did to the whole town of Woodbrook felt meaningless to me. I mean, you can be evil, but at least have a purpose.
This was still a bit fun, but I think I’m done with this series.
July 23, 2025
Love this series, so glad they decided to add more. It’s just so interesting and fun. This was a good one.
January 7, 2026
"Routine gets you almost all the way through every day, but it’s never quite enough. Routine… … Nicotine."
Like the rest of the universe, I quickly became obsessed with BtTWNS. It took one page and I was hooked. I’ve been impatient about when we would get something new. I failed myself because this came out last year and I didn’t know but we’re going to make up for it now.
Just like the first volume, I was instantly hooked with this one. The end had me freaking screaming and I cannot wait to read more. Holy s**t!!
Like the rest of the universe, I quickly became obsessed with BtTWNS. It took one page and I was hooked. I’ve been impatient about when we would get something new. I failed myself because this came out last year and I didn’t know but we’re going to make up for it now.
Just like the first volume, I was instantly hooked with this one. The end had me freaking screaming and I cannot wait to read more. Holy s**t!!
November 16, 2025
Excited to get back with Samantha and her shenanigans 🤪
May 6, 2026
Entire arc 4.5⭐️
December 25, 2025
So good and scary!!!! I’m so excited for the new issues to come out!!🐻
August 31, 2025
Oooo, that’s a very strong start for this sequel series. Last year I absolutely fell in love with Beneath the trees Where Nobody Sees, as you may know from my booksta posts. And I was so excited to hear that it was getting a sequel. I’m very intrusive by this new character we have. Her motivations are just so strong and that feels like it could spell her doom if she isn’t careful. The other super interesting element at play here is Samantha. What is she up to, why is she doing this. The last comic was all from Sam’s POV so the fact that we start this series off without that just adds so many questions as to what is going on in our good old friends head. I’m very excited for this series and looking forward to all of the issues to come.
July 14, 2025
this is a perfect follow up to beneath the trees! it had previously left sam’s first city murder unsolved because that wasn’t really the focus of that story. beneath the trees focused on samantha as a main character in a way that we wanted her to make it out unscathed and uncaught even though she was a vicious murderer. now we’re focusing on the murdered guys sister and i feel that i want her to get answers. moving all the way to the city and spending 8 years there trying to find her brother i mean she is mad dedicated.
i can’t wait for the next issue. this the type of thing you can read in a ten minute sitting
i can’t wait for the next issue. this the type of thing you can read in a ten minute sitting
July 9, 2025
Happy this series is getting continued! This started off on a strong beginning. I understand how Monica feels. Her brother has been missing for 8 years and she has completely stopped her life in order to look for him. Can’t say I wouldn’t do the same. We as the audience know what’s become of him because of the previous story, but I’m interested to see what Samantha’s angle is here. Why did she ask Monica to come?? While this is only the first issue, I’m already looking forward to more!
April 4, 2026
So basically we see Monica who’s the main duck in this series who is trying to catch her brothers killer. We also see Samatha being a menace. Tbh the story felt very disjointed and boring like there was no direction with regards to the pacing here. I suppose if I did read the first one, it might’ve helped me on the side characters POV but yeah it was meh unfortunately which is a shame since I do like murder mysteries…
Got this for free via Netgalley
Got this for free via Netgalley
July 9, 2025
Awestruck
What a rush, great re-entry. What is going on in Samantha's mind?
A lot of stress, monotony and hunger for answers
What a rush, great re-entry. What is going on in Samantha's mind?
A lot of stress, monotony and hunger for answers
July 9, 2025
So glad this story has been renewed. I loved the first volume and am so excited for more of this second one
July 21, 2025
Looking forward to fleshing out this sequel!
July 27, 2025
Love it! Can’t wait for the next issue!
August 22, 2025
this is my new favorite thing ever.
August 9, 2025
I’d have never guessed I’d be into a bear serial killer graphic novel in 2025, but here we are 🙂↕️
March 3, 2026
Loved this! I can't wait to read the next volume.
April 28, 2026
In Rite of Spring we return to the deceptively quaint town of Woodbrook for a continuation of this cozy horror series.
Set nearly a decade after the events of the original arc, this opening issue shifts perspective to one of the victims family members who is determined to get to the bottom of her brother’s disappearance.
This issue leaned more heavy on tension rather than the gore of the first graphic novel, and I absolutely still loved it.
Set nearly a decade after the events of the original arc, this opening issue shifts perspective to one of the victims family members who is determined to get to the bottom of her brother’s disappearance.
This issue leaned more heavy on tension rather than the gore of the first graphic novel, and I absolutely still loved it.
May 3, 2026
very suspense, wonder what happens next
April 1, 2026
this is for all the six issues
idk this was pretty boring
idk this was pretty boring
March 1, 2026
I like to think that Sam is helping this woman so there is a fall guy she can blame when she goes digging for the people who should not be in her woods
October 3, 2025
I love this series so much and im glad he's bringing it back!
February 14, 2026
Eight years later… the duck sister of the first victim we saw Sam dispatch in the first volume has never given up trying to find her brother. Sam somehow catches wind of her search & posts a message on a board saying duck sister should come to her town. Sam accosts her creepily when she arrives & says she can help….
I guess if you leave out the anthropomorphic animals it’s a pretty simple but still inventive story. Without them I wonder if the story would even work…?
I guess if you leave out the anthropomorphic animals it’s a pretty simple but still inventive story. Without them I wonder if the story would even work…?
August 16, 2025
This is so good! The first book was probably one of the best comics I had ever read. This feels like a Better Call Saul to the original. Beautiful.
July 10, 2025
🪓 Comic Review: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 (IDW Publishing)
Written & Illustrated by Patrick Horvath
She’s back… and the bodies are already piling up.
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 marks a phenomenal return to Patrick Horvath’s twisted, pastel-colored world of polite woodland creatures and brutal serial murder. Following the acclaimed first volume, this sequel series wastes no time diving back into the psychological and sociopathic depths of its deceptively charming protagonist: Samantha the bear, a hardware store owner, neighborly pillar of the community… and cold-blooded killer.
Where the original series delivered one of the most unique tonal juxtapositions in recent memory—Winnie the Pooh meets Dexter—Rite of Spring builds on that premise with even more confidence. Horvath leans into both the sweetness and the savagery, balancing whimsical visuals with sharp narrative structure and a truly unsettling atmosphere.
This new arc kicks off with a clear sense of momentum. Samantha is once again trying to maintain her carefully curated normal life while managing her darker impulses—and now, she’s also navigating the consequences of past actions. The stakes feel higher, the town’s population more suspicious, and the sense of dread hangs heavier with every turn of the page.
Horvath’s art remains one of the book’s greatest strengths: cute, storybook-style animals rendered in a clean, approachable aesthetic… until the blood starts flowing. The contrast remains incredibly effective, drawing the reader into a false sense of safety before pulling the rug out with sudden bursts of gore and tension. It's uncomfortable in the best way.
What’s impressive about this sequel is that it doesn’t try to outdo the original in shock value—it builds character, mystery, and mood, leaning into long-form tension and an increasingly claustrophobic setting. If this issue is any indication, Rite of Spring is going to be a slow-burn psychological descent with Samantha's mask slipping more and more.
Verdict: 9/10
🌲 Rite of Spring #1 is a masterclass in tone, tension, and visual storytelling. Patrick Horvath has kicked off this next chapter with eerie confidence and razor-sharp narrative control. If you thought Samantha’s story was over—you’re in for a beautifully disturbing surprise.
In the meantime, Subscribe to Constant Collectible and never miss an episode! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hx...
Or join the YouTube Community: https://www.youtube.com/@Constantcoll...
The Store: https://constantcollectible.clued.xyz/
ConstantCollectible: The Tea-Shirt Stand: C-Collectible.redbubble.com
The Tea-Shirt Stand: https://www.bonfire.com/store/constan...
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#BeneathTheTreesWhereNobodySees #RiteOfSpring #PatrickHorvath #IDWPublishing #IndieComics #ComicBookReview #CuteButDeadly #SerialKillerBear #PsychologicalHorror #DarkComics #WhimsicalHorror #AnimalNoir #HorrorComics #NewComicBookDay #OnTheShelfPodcast #ComicCollectors #ComicBookCommunity #SmallTownSecrets
Written & Illustrated by Patrick Horvath
She’s back… and the bodies are already piling up.
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 marks a phenomenal return to Patrick Horvath’s twisted, pastel-colored world of polite woodland creatures and brutal serial murder. Following the acclaimed first volume, this sequel series wastes no time diving back into the psychological and sociopathic depths of its deceptively charming protagonist: Samantha the bear, a hardware store owner, neighborly pillar of the community… and cold-blooded killer.
Where the original series delivered one of the most unique tonal juxtapositions in recent memory—Winnie the Pooh meets Dexter—Rite of Spring builds on that premise with even more confidence. Horvath leans into both the sweetness and the savagery, balancing whimsical visuals with sharp narrative structure and a truly unsettling atmosphere.
This new arc kicks off with a clear sense of momentum. Samantha is once again trying to maintain her carefully curated normal life while managing her darker impulses—and now, she’s also navigating the consequences of past actions. The stakes feel higher, the town’s population more suspicious, and the sense of dread hangs heavier with every turn of the page.
Horvath’s art remains one of the book’s greatest strengths: cute, storybook-style animals rendered in a clean, approachable aesthetic… until the blood starts flowing. The contrast remains incredibly effective, drawing the reader into a false sense of safety before pulling the rug out with sudden bursts of gore and tension. It's uncomfortable in the best way.
What’s impressive about this sequel is that it doesn’t try to outdo the original in shock value—it builds character, mystery, and mood, leaning into long-form tension and an increasingly claustrophobic setting. If this issue is any indication, Rite of Spring is going to be a slow-burn psychological descent with Samantha's mask slipping more and more.
Verdict: 9/10
🌲 Rite of Spring #1 is a masterclass in tone, tension, and visual storytelling. Patrick Horvath has kicked off this next chapter with eerie confidence and razor-sharp narrative control. If you thought Samantha’s story was over—you’re in for a beautifully disturbing surprise.
In the meantime, Subscribe to Constant Collectible and never miss an episode! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hx...
Or join the YouTube Community: https://www.youtube.com/@Constantcoll...
The Store: https://constantcollectible.clued.xyz/
ConstantCollectible: The Tea-Shirt Stand: C-Collectible.redbubble.com
The Tea-Shirt Stand: https://www.bonfire.com/store/constan...
Want to support the channel? Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/c_collec...
#BeneathTheTreesWhereNobodySees #RiteOfSpring #PatrickHorvath #IDWPublishing #IndieComics #ComicBookReview #CuteButDeadly #SerialKillerBear #PsychologicalHorror #DarkComics #WhimsicalHorror #AnimalNoir #HorrorComics #NewComicBookDay #OnTheShelfPodcast #ComicCollectors #ComicBookCommunity #SmallTownSecrets
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews