Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 resurfaces Woodbrook’s wild horror

Eight years after a blood‑thirsty brown bear terrorized Woodbrook, the sequel series returns with a fresh, internet‑age reckoning. Writer‑artist Patrick Horvath re‑imagines the chilling hunt, promising a blend of unsettling folklore and modern dread.

The debut of "Rite of Spring" marks the return of the six‑issue, Eisner‑nominated saga that first introduced a terrifyingly sentient brown bear. After a long lull, the series drops back into the quiet town of Woodbrook, where the shadows of past violence are finally forced into the light of today’s hyper‑connected world.

At the center of the story is Samantha Strong, the bear whose brutal spree left a young duck’s family desperate for answers. Their quest for justice stalled in the 1990s, but the digital age leaves no place to hide. As old secrets surface online, the community finds itself on the brink of a new, collective reckoning that could finally bring closure—or unleash something worse.

Creator Patrick Horvath handles both script and pencils, delivering a tightly woven narrative that feels both intimate and unsettling. His art captures the eerie calm of the woods while layering in a creeping dread that mirrors the internet’s all‑seeing gaze. The issue also offers a horror‑film homage cover by Tony Fleecs and a playful variant by veteran Skottie Young, adding two collectible angles for fans.

If you’re curious about how this tale evolved, the original "Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees" series provides a solid foundation. Reading it first gives extra weight to the bear’s legacy and the community’s lingering trauma, making the new volume’s stakes feel even more immediate.

Take a moment to flip through the first issue and see how Horvath blends classic horror with contemporary anxieties. It’s a quiet, unsettling invitation to watch Woodbrook’s secrets finally come to light.