Ten years ago, colossal alien trees descended from space and took root all over the planet. The story of Trees follows a group of different people all over the world, all of whom have been affected by this strange event.
In the story, a group of scientists in Svalbard work hard to discover the origin of the trees, while a corrupt dictator in Somalia sees them as an opportunity to seize power. In China, two unlikely lovers meet in a special cultural zone built around one of the alien trees, and in Italy a woman seeks the advice of an old man to usurp a fascist gang running the country.
The world of Trees is populated with a very diverse cast of characters. Two in particular who stand out are a young artist and a transgender woman who live in a culture zone in China. This is one of the few stories I’ve ever read that actually delves into a transgender relationship in an accessible but non-gimmicky way. It provides readers with a romantic story the likes of which we rarely see in comics, not to mention mainstream television and movies.
The story shifts constantly between four main plots. Writer Warren Ellis weaves the stories seamlessly together throughout the whole volume. Unlike most graphic novel collections, Ellis chose to forgo separating each issue in this eight-volume saga with its original cover; the story is told as one continuous tale. This presentation adds a great level of suspense, and makes the reader want to keep turning the page.
Jason Howard’s art is spot-on from start to finish. His panels are dynamic and gritty, and bring to life a chaotic world searching for answers. Every page is filled with intricate detail; the scenery takes on life of its own alongside its characters. Howard’s designs of the trees are chilling, and cast an ominous tone on each panel appear they in.
Trees contains science, politics, crime, and love; it has a little something for everybody. The only drawback is that readers will likely prefer certain storylines over others. Some plotlines progress faster than others, and some are just more interesting. As such, parts of the story do slow down at times and can begin to feel like work.
Still, Trees is the most provocative science fiction comic of 2015 so far. While the story leaves readers with more questions than answers, it never once takes away from the overall experience. Part of what makes Trees special is, in fact, its unpredictability; it is hard to guess where the story will go from page to page.
Tied all together with breathtaking artwork and a richly diverse cast of characters spanning the globe, Trees is an alien invasion story finally worth rooting for.
