Review: Trees Vol. 1- In the Shadow
Quick Summary
Pros: The concept behind the series is intriguing. The mystery is extremely compelling and will leave readers wanting more. The social commentary is executed well and is thought-provoking. The artwork captures the tone of the comic well.
Cons: The pacing may be slow for some readers.
Overall: With a satisfying mix between science fiction and societal criticism, the start of this new series proves to be very promising. It grabs the reader’s interest early on and holds it for the duration of the ride. This takes readers on an enjoyable trip where they are exposed to a number of interesting ideas and concepts. This book is a perfect match for anyone looking for social commentary approached through the lens of science fiction.
Story
Trees Vol. 1, by Warren Ellis, is about half compelling science fiction/mystery and half engaging social commentary. The science fiction half is centered around the mysterious appearance of alien “Trees” and the complete lack of information regarding their purpose. This launches a quest for answers that will hold the reader’s attention all the way through. The social commentary half of the book centers around examining fringe elements of society and showing what could happen to them if the rules were loosened. This leads to a unique look at LGBTQ+ issues, poverty, and war. As the book progresses, these two halves intersect in a way that is pleasing to see and keeps the reading experience compelling from start to finish.
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The core of Trees Vol. 1 is a compelling science fiction mystery. It involves alien beings or structures, Trees, landing on Earth for an unknown reason and doing almost nothing after arrival. The Trees scare the majority of the population away from them and the mass exodus of people, unintentionally, ends up creating a different social environment everywhere a Tree exists. One creates a society run by criminals, another creates a society run by artists, another creates a society centered around war, and one is researched by a team of scientists. The concept itself is novel and allows the narrative to stand out from an early point.
As the comic progresses, the mystery surrounding the Trees’ arrival becomes more significant and more relevant. One plotline closely follows the group of scientists and ends up mostly being about the search for answers. This plotline is almost entirely dedicated to building up intrigue by slowly revealing small pieces of information. Their exploration shows that the Trees are more active than initially believed and that they are working toward some sort of larger goal. This portion of the narrative is addictive and keeps the reader turning the pages, constantly guessing at the book’s big secret.
The rest of the narratives in Trees Vol. 1 reveal the book’s true purpose. Despite the comic’s billing as science fiction and the compelling nature of the comic’s mystery, Trees is really a book about people and how society treats them. The various communities created in the aftermath of the Trees’ arrival showcase the fringe elements of modern society. Their individual developments questions what would happen to these groups if the rules were changed and they were allowed to do what they wanted.
Each one of these separate communities gives Ellis a chance to explore a different aspect of society. The criminal community shows how poor economic conditions foster crime and create dangerous conditions for women. The artistic community digs into LGBTQ+ issues and questions what life would be like if prejudice didn’t force people to conform to society’s expectations. The war community shows how humans have the capacity to weaponize a disaster for political gain. All of it is social commentary done in a way that perfectly suits the narrative of this particular series.
The book’s only real problem is that the pacing seems a bit inconsistent at times. Most of the book, especially portions concerning the mystery of the Trees, is paced slowly, which I thought worked well. However, other places randomly speed up the pacing in odd ways. The relationship in Shu goes from nonexistent to loving in what feels like no time at all. In addition, the woman’s progress in Cefalu seems to go too quick considering how much time she was training.
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Art
The artwork in Trees Vol. 1 isn’t quite as incredibly positive as the story but it still looks good and properly matches what one would hope for from this series. Jason Howard’s work on the world of this comic is able to depict the diverse array of environments seen. This means that the harsh desolation of the artic stands in contrast to the more lively world of the city. This helps make the various societies stand out and makes the inanimate Trees they surround look as intimidating as the story requires, which is critical to the success of multiple themes. All of this helps make this a more enjoyable reading experience and is a definite benefit to the comic as a whole.
Continuity
Trees Vol. 1 is the first volume in a brand new comic series and has no connections to previously existing comics.
The story here continues in Trees Vol. 2 (Review).