TREES, VOL. 1

Warren Ellis (Author), Jason Howard (Illustrator), Image Comics (Publisher)

> Review by JOE TELL

Trees is a science fiction story based on chaos and the fear of the unknown. In desperation as a bunch of criminals flee a futuristic police force in Rio de Janeiro. A tree interrupts the chase, spewing green slime, resulting in massive death and destruction. The story begins ten years after the trees landed on earth. The presence of the trees creates a global atmosphere of unpredictable, semi-controlled chaos. The trees are giant, stem-like space ships that do not emit any sound or move, just like an earth-bound tree. The story is told from several points of view, as all of the characters deal with the constant tension of the controlled chaos in their own special way. In arctic Norway, a team of scientists discovers a deadly new side effect the trees are having on the world. The most interesting location is Shu, China, which was built around the trees and walled off from the rest of the world. In this walled-off city, now a special cultural zone which allows a young transgendered female and her friends the freedom they desire. Since the premise of the story is like no other, Warren Ellis has free reign to create a great read full of unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader interested from the very first panel.