by Kevin Gaussoin, Editor-in-Chief
Patrick Horvath is back to remind us that sometimes the scariest monsters seem the cuddliest. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rites of Spring #1 picks up right where we left our favorite small-town psychopath, Samantha the bear: a charming hardware store owner by day, meticulous murderer by night. Or day. Or whenever the mood strikes and she’s confident the other cute animals aren’t looking too closely. Anyway, it seems to be eight years later.
If you’re new to Woodbrook, picture Richard Scarry’s Busytown with a side of dismemberment. This first issue of the new arc doesn’t splatter the page with gore — not yet, anyway. Horvath paces this one slowly but purposefully. Horvath prefers the slow drip, letting you squirm, following a new character (the sister of that duck who was nothing more than example in the first volume) while all the while awaiting the impending Samantha jump scare.
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rites of Spring #1 does what a good first issue should: sets the table, pours you tea, and reminds you there’s probably still poison in it. While Volume 2: Rites of Spring starts off with very little Samantha, Horvath’s art still nails that perfect fairytale vibe, all gentle brushstrokes and soft colors that are sure to make the violence feel even nastier when it finally inevitably seeps through the trees.
So does this new arc start a bit slow? Sure, but that’s the point. It’s Spring in Woodbrook, which means the ground’s soft enough to dig new holes. Clearly Samantha’s just picking her spot.
If you’re not reading Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rites of Spring #1, you probably like your cute animals alive and your bedtime stories safe. For the rest of us, it’s spring cleaning time, and Samantha’s got a new duck to bury.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rites of Spring #1 – 4 out of 5 suspiciously missing white ducks.
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