Few indie comics in the last decade have hit with the force of Patrick Horvath’s Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, and now fans are getting the ultimate way to experience it.
AIPT can exclusively reveal the cover and full details for Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Artist’s Edition, a premium oversized collection coming July 28. 2026 that presents every single page of the breakout horror series exactly as Horvath painted them — no digital tweaks, no filters, no compromises.
Originally released by IDW Publishing in fall 2023, Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees became an instant sensation thanks to its unforgettable contrast: beautiful watercolor art paired with deeply unsettling psychological horror. Readers were drawn into the quiet town of Woodbrook and the chilling inner life of Samantha Strong, an anthropomorphic bear whose calm demeanor masks a compulsive need to kill. The result was one of the most talked-about original comics in years, and now, it’s being celebrated in the most definitive format possible.
A True Artist’s Edition Experience
This deluxe volume collects every page from the entire first series, plus the 10-page short story “Praludium,” all scanned directly from Patrick Horvath’s original paintings.
That means:
- Full-size presentation at an oversized 12 x 17 trim
- Zero digital alterations
- Pure original art, exactly as it left Horvath’s desk
Adding to the behind-the-scenes appeal, the collection also includes four clear overlay pages that reveal patch panels, letting readers compare the untouched art with the final published versions — a rare look into the creative process behind one of modern comics’ most striking visual styles.
Why This Matters
Since its debut, Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees has become one of IDW’s biggest original hits, selling tens of thousands of copies and earning over a million reads on Webtoon. Its success wasn’t just commercial — it was critical. The series carved out a unique place in horror comics by using gentle, storybook-style visuals to heighten the discomfort of its subject matter, making each act of violence feel more shocking rather than less.
In my review of issue #1, I called the series a 10/10, writing that it was:
“A breath of fresh air… a layered psychological horror that uses its anthropomorphic look to say something new about violence and obsession. Horvath and Otsmane-Elhaou create a truly unique experience — the kind that rockets straight to the top of comics fans’ must-read lists.”
That contrast — pastel charm against cold, methodical evil — is exactly what makes this Artist’s Edition so compelling. Seeing Horvath’s watercolors in their original form only deepens that effect, revealing the subtle choices in color, texture, and expression that make Samantha Strong such an unforgettable character.
What’s Inside the Artist’s Edition
- Every page from the original Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees series
- The complete 10-page short story “Praludium”
- Four clear overlay pages showing patch panels
- Scans from Patrick Horvath’s original painted art
- No digital adjustments — art as it was truly created
Page Count: 168
Trim Size: 12 x 17
For longtime fans, this is the definitive way to revisit Woodbrook. For newcomers, it’s a chance to experience one of the most unsettling and acclaimed indie horror comics of the decade in its purest, most powerful form. It comes at an opportune time as well with the sequel, Right of Spring, likely collected and available by the time this artist edition hits store shelves.
If Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees proved anything in 2023, it’s that the cutest art can sometimes hide the darkest stories — and this Artist’s Edition makes sure none of that beauty or terror gets lost in translation.
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