When an eight-year-old girl literally begins to transform into a tree, her single mom, troubled brother, and possibly insane grandfather embark on a bizarre and heart-wrenching odyssey across the back roads of America in a desperate search for a way to cure her horrifying transformation before it’s too late. But the farther they get from home, the more forces threaten to tear the family apart as fanatical cults, mercenaries, and tabloid Paparazzi close in, determined to destroy the girl—or use her for their own ends. A new genre-defying series written by New York Times bestselling author JEFF LEMIRE (GIDEON FALLS, ASCENDER) and illustrated by acclaimed artist PHIL HESTER (Shipwreck, Green Arrow), FAMILY TREE combines mystery, action, and horror into an epic story about the lengths a mother will go to in order to keep her children safe.

This comic book offers a unique blend of horror and family drama. At the same time this comic book sets up an intriguing premise, though it occasionally struggles with pacing and character depth.

The story in this comic book follows Loretta Hayes, a single mother dealing with the challenges of raising her children while working at a grocery store. Her life takes a bizarre turn when her daughter, Meg, begins to transform into a tree. The creators of this comic book creates a narrative that weaves together elements of suspense and emotion, exploring themes of family, transformation, and survival.

The writing in this comic book excels in capturing the everyday struggles of the Hayes family, making their dynamics relatable and grounded. The dialogue is authentic and reflects the tension and love within the family. However, this comic book sometimes lacks depth in character development, with certain motivations and backstories feeling underexplored. This can make it challenging for me personally to fully connect with the characters and their plight.

The artwork in this comic book is a standout feature of this comic book, because it is bringing the eerie and unsettling world of “Family Tree” to life with bold lines and expressive character designs. The illustrations we get in this comic book effectively convey both the ordinary and the extraordinary, capturing the contrast between the normalcy of small-town life and the surreal nature of Meg’s transformation. In a way the artwork in this comic book has the ability to depict emotion through facial expressions adds depth to the storytelling, making each panel engaging.

The pacing of this comic book is a pretty mixed bag. While this comic book effectively introduces key plot elements and sets up the central mystery, some scenes feel rushed, impacting the overall flow. This inconsistency has left me personally wanting more immediate clarity and deeper exploration of the characters’ motivations and the story’s intricacies.

Despite its shortcomings, the concept of blending horror with a family drama holds potential for future development. With more focused storytelling and character exploration, subsequent issues could delve deeper into the themes and offer more satisfying narrative arcs.

I Give This Book 3 / 5