TREES, VOLUME 1: IN SHADOW (Image Comics, February 2015) Trade paperback, 160 pages. Warren Ellis, writer. Jason Howard, illustrator. ISBN # 9781632152701
Summary from the Goodreads website . . . . .
Ten years after they landed. All over the world. And they did nothing, standing on the surface of the Earth like trees, exerting their silent pressure on the world, as if there were no-one here and nothing under foot.
Ten years since we learned that there is intelligent life in the universe, but that they did not recognize us as intelligent or alive. Beginning a new science fiction graphic novel by WARREN ELLIS and JASON HOWARD.
My review on the Goodreads website . . . . .
Trees is a near-future story (unspecified timeline) centered around some alien structures that suddenly land on Earth in various spots around the world. Like the towering monolithic observers in 2001:A Space Odyssey these skyscraper-sized pillars sit like sentinels in silent observation.
Are they judging human civilization, or have they already concluded that homo sapiens is beneath their notice and not worth communicating with? Ten years go by, and nothing changes - - - except some new developments among the Earthlings that seem to imply the influence of the visitors, whom they refer to as the "trees".
Trees is a big, ambitious saga that goes deep into character development, creates fascinating scenarios, and raises more questions than it answers.
The first volume collects the first eight issues of the series, which is the format in which I read it. I would finish one issue and pick up the next, pulled into the story by the incredible situations and intriguing characters, ably illustrated with good details. I've already ordered Volume 2, and just learned that the series is being revived after a long absence, with a third volume planned for release in 2020.
There are enough plot threads here to fill a print novel, but I'm glad Ellis chose this format to tell his story. The covers are simplistic in conception, but beautifully expressive and impressionistic.
The captivating plot lines revolve around a walled Chinese city built around the base of a Tree, an artist colony of sorts where sexual expression is uninhibited as a young bisexual budding artist discovers his inclinations; a Somalian warlord who uses the top of a Tree situated along a border to launch an attack against his richer neighbor country; an elderly philosophical/mystical gentleman who mentors a highly intelligent female rebel in the mystical arts as she contemplates revolt against the fascist bully who leads her gang; and an Arctic research station based near a Tree whose mission is to observe the observers and take readings and measurements. This is the most fascinating subplot as strange black poppies seem to grow near the base of the Tree, with odd metal filaments in their stalks that disrupt all communication systems on the station.
All these set-ups require further development and I trust that Ellis has some surprises in store for readers as this moves forward.
No comments:
Post a Comment