Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1

by Patrick Horvath

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.

Genres: Horror, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Mystery, Comic Book

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2025

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series, so glad they decided to add more. It’s just so interesting and fun. This was a good one.

[Areadingsunflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excited to get back with Samantha and her shenanigans 🤪

[Skye Ehlert · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good and scary!!!! I’m so excited for the new issues to come out!!🐻

[Emma (littledollreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Raaven💖 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Andrés Felipe Araújo Parodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awestruck

What a rush, great re-entry. What is going on in Samantha's mind?
A lot of stress, monotony and hunger for answers

[LonelyBookClub (Katie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad this story has been renewed. I loved the first volume and am so excited for more of this second one

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking forward to fleshing out this sequel!

[Erin Greek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Can’t wait for the next issue!

[Andrew James · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is my new favorite thing ever.

[Basia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

[Stephenee Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d have never guessed I’d be into a bear serial killer graphic novel in 2025, but here we are 🙂‍↕️

[Claire Giannino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much and im glad he's bringing it back!

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

🪓 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.

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[Book Tea 🫖 with Jai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Beneath the Tree Where Nobody Sees Rite of Spring

Author: Patrick Horvath

Genre: Author: Patrick Horvath
Volume 1 of 6
Genre: horror, thriller, mystery, graphic novel
Pages: 144


Hidden Amongst the Trees: The Enigma of Rite of Spring #1 revolves around a young woman's search for her missing brother. With the knowledge that he is likely deceased, the sister is unable to let go, and this adds to the mystery of the story. While the focus is on Samantha, the victim's sister, it is evident that her lifestyle has been heavily influenced by the cruelty of Horvath. In a time where society has evolved beyond the 80s, Samantha must navigate through an ever-changing world as she grapples with her volatile past. As technology reigns supreme, secrets are now a thing of the past, and Samantha is about to discover this firsthand.
Amidst the chaos, there is one poignant moment where Samantha is engulfed in the glow of her computer screen. In that instant, the world around her fades, leaving only the wire connecting her to reality. The symbolism of this panel captivates and immerses the reader in the character's pain, as she struggles to find purpose in a life shattered by loss. Desperate for any semblance of meaning, Samantha delves into the depths of cyberspace, searching for answers in the wake of her devastating loss."

https://www.tumblr.com/thebookteawithjai

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 is an IDW Comic issue written and illustrated by Patrick Horvath. It was released July 2025.

Monica Brewer has been searching for her lost brother for over 8 years. She has dedicated her life to seek answers about his sudden disappearance in the big city. Knowing the system no longer cares about her brother, Monica has turned to cold case internet message boards where she receives a message that the answers to her questions can be found in Woodbrook, VT.

BTTWNS was my favorite book of 2024 and if this first issue is any sign, the sequel will become another favorite. I like the flip that the main protagonist in this volume isn’t Samantha and I’m curious what Samantha’s motivations are in this sequel series. Horvath knocks it out of the park again writing and illustrating this book. If you are a fan of mysteries or crime stories, this series should be an absolute MUST read.

[TAJ ALGADDAFI | تاج القذافي · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring
هو تكملة قوية وذكية للقصة الأصلية، يقدم شخصيات جديدة ودوافع اعمق، ويعيد تسليط الضوء على سامانثا من منظور مختلف.
.
هذا الجزء يبدأ بعد قفزة زمنية حوالي ثماني سنوات منذ أحداث القصة الأصلية.
العالم الآن مختلف: نحن في التسعينيات مع ظهور الإنترنت.
الشخصية الجديدة المحورية هي مونيكا بروير، شقيقة البطة الضحية التي اختفت في الجزء الأول، وهي تسعى لمعرفة ما حصل لأخيها باستخدام التكنولوجيا الحديثة (الإنترنت).
.
الأسلوب الفني لا يزال ساحرًا: الحيوانات اللطيفة والأحداث المظلمة.. تناقض رائع..
لكن هذا الجزء أعمق من الذي قبلة، خصوصا من النواحي النفسية ..و يلقي نظرة على ماضي سمانثا الدبة مع والديها.. حياة مونيكا البطة بعد إختفاء شقيقها وهي ما تمثل ما يمر بيه اهالي الكثير من الضحايا حول العالم..و الكثير من التفاصيل النفسية التي يمر بيها اهل البلدة نفسهم ، من عائلات الضحايا او من تعرض للإيذاء من البلدة بسبب الإتهامات الكاذبة.. الصراحه ابداع .

[RSC_Collecting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to the revival of one of my favorite series! Set seven or eight years after the events of the first one. We're reminded of the first kill we saw. A random duck who meant nothing. Or so we thought. That duck's sister has been searching for him ever since. With no leads in the city, she gets an anonymous tip to check out our little town. And that's where the story begins. It's a fun twist to the story. And I'm very curious what the plan of our characters will be. There's a lot that could happen and I am very excited for it!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite, Beatrix-Potter-meets-Dexter horror comic from 2024 returns with a new series, picking up 8 years later.

For the majority of this first issue, we follow Monica Brewer (not serial killer Samantha) as she searches fruitlessly for her brother - the white duck whose murder was unsolved in the first series. Initially I was thinking this was a slow start, until, UNTIL the last couple of pages.

Oh Samantha. What is your devious end game here?

I'm very much looking forward to the remaining issues.

[VanillaSoup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very strong start

The last comic was set in the eighties, but we’re in a whole new decade now, the bright and exciting ninties, with brand new technology, namely - the internet. I LOVE how this sequel integrates the internet as a plot point, the culture surrounding online cold case wannabe sleuths has always fascinated me so I was happy to see that touched upon
Great premise for the sequel too, I’m already fascinated by the new character and how she will interact with Samantha and co

The art remains as solid and lovely as ever

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know about everyone else but I about peed my pants that we have more issues!!!! I just love this series. Starting out extremely strong, let’s hope it keeps it up!
This made my whole damn day!!!!
Monica’s brother has been missing for 8 years and she has allowed it to take over her life. Making flyers, going to the sheriffs office, & calling anywhere & everywhere. Samantha lured Monica to come to Woodbrook. The suspense is already awesome!!!!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bring me back to the world of Woodbrook. I'm so glad Horvath decided to revisit this smartly done comic about an unsuspecting small-town bear wreaking havoc on the town with gruesome murders.

Eight years later, a white duck sister is still on the hunt for information about her missing/presumed dead brother and just got a tip that leads her right into the worst hands.

The anticipation of this arc is HIGH because I don't want to stop at just the first issue!

[Kayla Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so excited that we are getting more in this series! This series never fails to pull out some wild plot twists right from the get go and this new spin off is no different. I'm so intrigued to see what Samantha has up their sleeve this time and if they have finally met their match.

Content Warning: murder, grief, loss of a loved one

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series continues with a strong first issue. Pulling me into the gritty setting and the high stakes. Despite the anthropomorphic animals and colorful comic style, the story has a realness that is more sincere than many graphic novels that try for realistic art styles and settings. Looking forward to the collected volume

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, Strange and Bloody

I'm loving this sequel. The first series was a revelation. A world of talking animals all living in peace. But some are born predators. The inner dialogue of Samantha Brown, A brown bear and serial killer, showed a self awareness that reminded me of the series Dexter.

[Daniel Freer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, picked up just as good as the last one did!!!!

Love the whole.idea behind this story. From the characters and the setting to the time it takes place in. Great writing and artwork here. Just a truly great read no matter what your into, this is one of those stories you just WANT TO READ!!!!

[Colin Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing follow up to one of the most inventive horror series of the past few years. I love the 90s, early Web vibe! With a very compelling new protagonist and a link to the first series, this has the promise of something novel that deepens our understanding of the bigger Beneath the Trees world.