Reviews - Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite Of Spring #6 and TMNT: Casey Jones #5
From IDW Publishing
This week is the final issue of Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite Of Spring and the penultimate issue of TMNT: Casey Jones from IDW Publishing.
Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite Of Spring #6
The series finale of the critically acclaimed cozy-horror smash hit! Samantha Strong has made her choice…and Woodbrook will never be the same.
The events of the previous issue are so incredibly wild that we actually can’t type anything else here without it being a major spoiler. But you won’t want to miss the conclusion to Patrick Horvath’s epic follow-up to Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees.
Author and artist: Patrick Horvath
Wow. That’s really the only way to finish.
This series has always had a deeply unsettling core, but this issue leans fully into that darkness. What makes it so effective is the contrast: the cast looks soft, almost cuddly at first glance, yet beneath that warm, storybook surface lies something disturbingly cold. At the centre of it all is Sam—a character who, despite being one of the “fuzzy” faces in town, is also a calculating serial killer. Watching her navigate the final stages of her carefully constructed life here is both fascinating and chilling.
As Sam moves to close this chapter of her story, the choices she makes are bold, risky, and entirely in character. She’s built a life in this small town, blending in seamlessly, and now everything is on the brink of exposure. The final stretch of the issue is frantic in the best possible way—deaths, explosions, and long-buried truths all erupt at once. The town is forced to confront realities it never expected, and the chaos feels earned rather than excessive.
What I appreciated most is that Sam’s plan isn’t flawless. There are genuine surprises and a few sharp obstacles that threaten to derail everything. For a moment, it feels like the cracks might finally split everything apart. And yet, in a way that feels disturbingly appropriate, things ultimately work out for her. Not cleanly. Not comfortably. But effectively.
Meanwhile, the townsfolk aren’t just passive observers in the fallout. As they uncover more about who Sam really is, they each process the revelations differently. Some rise to the occasion in ways that are admirable and even heroic. Those moments give the story emotional weight and prevent it from becoming solely about Sam’s machinations. The town itself feels like a character here—wounded, shaken, but not entirely broken.
The pacing of this issue is exceptional. It flows with a relentless momentum that never lets up, pulling you from one shocking beat to the next without ever feeling rushed. I was completely gripped from start to finish. And the art style remains one of the book’s greatest strengths. The almost wholesome, woodland aesthetic makes the violence and adult themes hit even harder. That visual contrast amplifies the horror, turning moments that might otherwise feel standard into something genuinely jarring.
As a follow-up to the initial story arc, this instalment absolutely delivers. It escalates the stakes, deepens the themes, and leaves a lasting impression. If this is the end of this chapter, it’s a powerful one—but it also leaves just enough room to hope there’s more to come. This series deserves every bit of praise it’s getting.
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
TMNT: Casey Jones #5
Casey is ambushed by the Purple Dragons, before he and Ludovic have their final battle, he will have to deal with the Dragons and his past connection with them.
Ludovic’s becoming more beastly by the second…when he and Casey do face off…Casey is in for a rude and ferocious awakening outside of the Lodge!
Author: Alex Paknadel
Artist: Amancay Nahuelpan
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey Jones #5 from IDW Publishing is a relentless, action-heavy penultimate chapter that does exactly what it needs to do—raise the stakes and position everything for what promises to be an explosive finale.
The groundwork laid here is especially strong. Casey’s discovery of the drug's true origin is a pivotal moment. What initially seemed like a miracle cure is now fully exposed as something far more dangerous. Yes, it repaired his body, but the cost has been steep—his mindset, his judgment, even his personality have all been warped. The duality of that “gift” is handled really well, adding a tragic layer to everything that follows.
What stands out most in this issue is just how far gone Casey has become. You can see how deeply the drug has pushed him over the edge. His desperation isn’t subtle anymore—it’s raw, reckless, and at times uncomfortable to watch. The lengths he’s willing to go to in order to get another fix say everything about how much control he’s lost. It’s a sharp, unsettling portrayal of someone spiralling, and it feels authentic to the character while still being shocking.
The wake-up call he receives hits at exactly the right moment. It doesn’t feel forced or overly dramatic; instead, it lands with emotional weight. The connection back to the wider TMNT world is handled smoothly, too. The way the Turtles are woven into this turning point feels organic rather than obligatory fan service. It does make me wonder whether the fallout from this mini-series will ripple outward into the main Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title. There’s definite potential for lasting consequences.
The action sequences throughout the issue are clearly well-thought-out. They’re intense without being chaotic, and every fight scene pushes the story forward rather than simply filling pages. The artwork deserves a lot of credit here—not just for capturing the physicality of the combat, but for visually conveying Casey’s deteriorating mental state. His manic energy practically radiates off the page. You can feel the instability in his expressions and movements, which adds another layer to the storytelling.
Ludovic’s subplot also continues to simmer in the background. He’s dealing with his own internal struggles, and there’s a sense that he’s standing at a crossroads. I’m hoping the final issue gives him a moment of clarity—some kind of realisation that allows him to step back from the brink and find at least a small measure of peace. At the same time, there’s a strong desire to see the true architects of this chaos finally face consequences. Justice—of some form—feels overdue.
All in all, this issue does exactly what a penultimate chapter should: it escalates everything, sharpens the emotional stakes, and leaves you eager to see how it all concludes. I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing how this story wraps up and what kind of aftermath it leaves behind.
Get it from Forbidden Planet:
