Thistlebone

by T.C. Eglington, Simon Davis (Illustrator)

Midsommar meets The Wicker Man in this break-out original folk-horror series from the pages of 2000 AD!

England, 2019. The secluded rural village of Harrowvale holds a dark past — that years earlier, on a farm bordering the vast tracts of woodland, it hosted a cult that was seeking to escape civilisation and find purity in the old ways, namely worshipping an ancient deity called THISTLEBONE. Led by the charismatic Jasper Hillman, their pagan beliefs grew ever more radical to the point where they held the young Avril Eason captive with the intention of sacrificing her. But Avril escaped.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror, Fantasy, Comic Book, Folklore, Paranormal

64 pages, Hardcover

Published April 27, 2021

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 stars for the story, 5 for some of the best artwork I have ever seen . . . .

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟
Story was good, artwork is excellent.

[Callum McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sumptuously rich and detailed artwork really sells the unnerving imagery and threatening atmosphere in this tale of ritualistic folk horror. Our heroine is the survivor of a now defunct cult, returning to the scene of her torment 20 years later, after ominous messages suggest the group has been revived.

Madness, folklore, mass hysteria, and PTSD all play a part in the narrative, which builds in tension throughout. Reaching boiling point in the closing pages, we're left horrified and wanting more in equal measure, perfectly setting up the promise of Book 2. While it doesn't bring anything hugely new to the genre, it's perfectly solid and satisfying.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good horror comic with a lot of tension and some truly gorgeous artwork. The story rattled along and I found it hard to put down!

[Teemi Shaata · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I wasn’t expecting was a full blown oroborus circle of violence….
Yet i loved this snippety little comic book
Super fun to read
Recommend for those who are into PTSD and Cult stories✨✨

[Alex Habgood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spooky times. 👻

[Alex Sarll]

With hindsight, there have been strips with folk horror elements in 2000AD before. Thistlebone, though, feels like the magazine's first conscious attempt at the subgenre since it became a buzzword. Storywise, it's a competent exercise within the field's established boundaries, rather than bringing anything novel: a woman goes back to the village near which she escaped from a cult years previously, and of course there's still something uncanny going on in the woods. But Simon Davis is an excellent choice of artist for it, especially compared to the late-period Slaine or any-period Sinister Dexter on which he's often been wasted. Those slightly off-key colours and suggestive shadows turn what could have been an unremarkable story into one which, while hardly a classic, made for a fun bit of variety in the weekly prog, and as a collection may well introduce the magazine to a new audience.

[James Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated, interesting mythology and characters. Did I mention beautifully illustrated? It's really pretty and there's tonnes of subtext within those panels.

The story is initially straightforward but adds layers of mystery as the story progresses. With hints of more mysteries to discover and unlock I'll be pre-ordering book two as soon as I have the option.

[Noah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
Walking a very well trodden path without adding anything to the landscape.

[Marth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thistlebone - 3.5

Ah solid fowk horror comic fae scribbler T.C. Eglington an artist Simon Davis in the pages ave 2000AD. The storie follows Avril an Seema as they investigate the cult tha traumatised Avril as ah wean. Tis graws mair n mair sinister as the comic gaes on as Thistlebone's plans come the gether.

Wit really sells tis beuk is the art be Davis. He his a sorta dreamlik style, wae fowk no exactly leukin 'real', wurking wae the storie as wit's gaeing on aroond Avril seems tae become less n less 'real'. It's watercolour (dinnae ken if it wis painted or no) leuk is beautifu an well wurth a keek at least.

As fir the storie is a breath-ah-fresh air fae usual 2000AD, whilst I lik a bita Dredd or Anderson kicking arse and committin questionable acts is guid tae hiv ah different, slower paced n less action focused series. However, if yer familiar wae horror focusin on pagan cults n deities yeh'll maistly hiv ah fair clue is tae were the storie is headin which knocked the beuk doon fir me a wee bit. Still a fun read thae, wae sum guid 'creep' factor at play (helped alang further be the art).

Oeraw, great art fae Davis, guid, if predictable, storie fae Eglington. Recommended if yer wantin a fix ah pagan fowk horror wae sum bangin art.

Read in tha original progs (2135 - 2144)

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very, very good graphic novel with exceptional art. The story overall is not particularly groundbreaking - a fairly straightforward pagan cult with an interesting twist at the end - but is still quite good, finely written, and very well-paced. The atmosphere is wonderful due to both Eglington's writing and Davis's art. Davis' work is what really stands out - the art is really, really awesome. It captures the overall vibe of the story as it balances the real and the imagined. The cells overlapping works really well and blends fantastically, and the characters all look interesting and distinct (apart from one father-son duo which may be intentional). I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, as it's a teeny bit graphic and the setting is fairly specific, but I absolutely loved it and would encourage it to readers not sure if they'll pick it up. Looking forward to book two.

[Sophie Constable · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl who goes back to the location of the cult she escaped from 20 years ago in order to discover what exactly was going on and face her fears. I loved this book so much. The horror was wonderfully done and the tension was built up so well. I also loved the ending of this book and thought the payoff was done very well. I loved the art in this book and found it really added to the atmosphere of the story and there were some brilliant panels. I would definitely pick up more by either of these authors. I just loved this book so much and I would highly recommend it for any fans of horror!

[Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review not just for the first book, but all current three, as collected in the 2000AD Ultimate Collection Volume 191.

A remarkably solid story, that starts from well established cliches to then develop into (at least for me) new territory; I believe in the end the story is not as much about the characters as the place itself, that old forest developing into an entity of its own.

And if the story is good, the art is just superlative. We are most definitely witnessing a Simon Davis at his best. The nuance of colour, composition, texture... sublime. And then at a certain point a new art style is introduced, that if of childish flair, is perhaps all the creepier for it.

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Years after escaping a dangerous cult Avril is lured back to the very place she escaped.

What I liked -
The set up, cliche as it is, is fun. Everyone loves a good cult and this story delivers an interesting ‘God’ for the people to worship. The art is good and consistent. Though why Avril is often presented as blue is something a bit lost on me.

What I disliked -
Whilst the story does follow Avril I’d have enjoyed more of the cult. Seeing their motives or what they hoped to achieve would’ve gone a long way to elevating this story.

3/5.

[CopperMoonWitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big lover of folk horror so this was exactly my preferred flavour for another first into comics.

I did find the layout a little confusing at times, admittedly that may be due to me not being a big comics reader.

This would make an exceptional movie or TV series and there are several frames that I'd love as art on my walls.

The story feels a little more sparse than I would like. The authors have done such a great job creating this world that I'm left wanting more. It's also unmistakably British in tone, similar to the novel Cunning Folk by Adam Nevill is.

Bring on part 2!

[Mirko · Rating 5 out of 5]

An innovative piece of modern folk horror that stands up with anything from the cinema. Cults, trauma and deception in a modern setting of bucolic, village decay. This feels like a real 2020s Britain and like a genuinely contemporary hauntology. Simon Davis' characterisation is vivid and credible here with a natural use of photo reference and great colour palette. I found the ending somewhat rushed and for once I actually think the story could have benefited from being longer. But Thistlebone still deserves full credit for the intellectual engagement it provides.

[Horror DNA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary things can happen in small towns. That's just as true in the United States as it is in England, where Thistlebone is set. In fact, it's probably even more true on that side of the pond, as those roots go a bit deeper. Thistlebone explores some folk-horror in a way that really creeps up on you.

You can read James' full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Doktor Avalanche · Rating 4 out of 5]

simon davis rapidly becoming one of my favourite comic artists. story wise, its very typical folk horror - hits more of a manson cult vibe than I think these stories often do - but still very much hits some expected tropes/beats. I like the sort of ouroborus cyclical element, but for the most part its a fairly unremarkable (though still incredibly solid) folk horror tale. Davis' art absolutely changes that though, my god.

[Dan Coxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid and enjoyable folk horror comic, with some suitably gnarly art. If I had a complaint it's that the folk horror tropes are rather predictable, and the plot doesn't take us anywhere unexpected - but that's a problem I have with a lot of folk horror books and films. Intrigued to see where they take it next.

[Sam Whale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very creepy and foreboding tale which leans heavy on classic indie horror movies while still establishing an interesting folklore for itself. If you like stories about small towns where something ain't quite right this is a great one to read and the hand painted art is almost literally dripping with atmosphere.

[Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. found a panel on Pinterest and immediately had to dive into it. the color is the thing that hooked me in, the way the artist draws angles and faces with such saturation was enchanting. and what can I say about the story, not too shooting but a very good line of action and construction.

read it in like 30-40 minutes before bed

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this top notch graphic novel is perfect for anyone who likes films like Midsommar, The Wicker Man or The Witch, and the artwork is outstanding, its another beauty from 2000 AD, I'm looking forward to buy Thistlebone 2

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly over familiar story tropes, but I'm a sucker for anything involving folklore and cults. The artwork is stunning, some of my favourite in a graphic novel (admittedly I don't read tons of them) and crucially, I finished excited for the second volume.

[matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know why I didn’t like this more.
Maybe the pacing was too fast and I didn’t get a good sense of the characters motivations?
I’m not sure.
The art is beautiful - but I just didn’t find it very engaging overall.

[Heron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Atmospheric and interesting visuals. I'm a bit torn on the art - it often felt very stiff, like looking at still photos, but I liked the quality of the colors. The story was just okay. I find I like the idea of folk horror better than the execution, a lot of the time.

[Juan Fuentes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historia de terror en la estela de The Wicked man bastante lograda en su estilo gráfico.

[Vasilis Fotsinos · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Timo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good horror story with nice painted art. It has been a while since I have read horror this suffocating.

[alex :0 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so in love with Simon Davis’ paintings…

[jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

bloody brilliant.