The Woods, Volume 3: New London

In the first volume, a handful of students from Bay Point Prep decided to explore their new surroundings in hopes of finding a way of returning back to earth. Now those students find themselves guests of earlier inhabitants.

Residing in a township called New London, some of these citizens can trace their lineage back hundreds of years. With over 400 young people newly arrived on this mysterious planet, the ruler of New London, The Duke, sees new recruits to conscript in the town's dwindling army used to defend his lands from a malicious force. Now it's a race back to Bay Point in hopes of warning the students of the coming army of conscriptors. But a new player has taken a leadership role at Bay Point and the stakes have never been more deadlier!

James Tynion IV continues to take this amazing series into new realms. I don't feel like the Woods ever gets stale. Tynion isn't afraid to kill off beloved characters or place them in impossible situations. The author also puts as much of himself into the flashback sequences as the action packed scenes on the forbidden planet. So much that I feel like the Woods is one of the most perfectly balanced comics ever.

The art of Michael Dialynas is also very well crafted. He creates some wondrous alien creatures that are whimsical, terrifying, or both at the same time. I don't give it as much praises as I should because of the amazing story. But Dialynas’ art is just as vital to this series as Tynion’s writing.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Woods, Volume 2: The Swarm

   Still stranded on a planet God knows where, the students of Bay Point Prep continue their fight to survive. A group of several students went to explore the woods that surround the school and run into inhabitants. But can these fellow displaced earthlings be trusted? Meanwhile, back at the school, things have turned deadly as one of the instructors has declared martial law. Yeah, putting the football team in charge of law and order- that's a great idea! It's another example of how humans can sometimes be the worse monsters of all.

       Batman Eternal's James Tynion IV digs deeper into the backstory of the students of Bay Point. These scenes don't explain why the students got kidnapped. But the do offer layers of character development and provides motive for the character's actions in the wild.

      The art is by Michael Dialynas Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dimension X. It's a unique balance of modern American, colonial era British, and never-before-seen flora and fauna. A little rugged, it's engaging enough to be creepy without scaring the hell out of you.

      An unpredictable series that is very well executed and it's constantly getting better with each issue.

      Worth Consuming!

      Rating: 10 out 10 stars.

The Woods, Volume 1: The Arrow

    In 2013 over 500 over students and teachers from a Milwaukee high school disappear without a trace. Who am I kidding, the whole freakin' school vanished as well! The student body finds themselves light years away from earth with very little supplies and even less hope. 
      
    The planet the students find themselves on is full of unusual plant life, deadly fauna, and a glowing mysterious rock. When one of the students claims to have communicated with the rock, a group forms in hopes of discovering a way home. 

     Meanwhile, back at the school, factions have developed in a horrible display of survival of the fittest. With a spineless principal being influenced by a very slimy football coach, there's worse monsters in the school than what is out in the woods.

    The Woods is one of the most compelling and interesting series that I have read in a very long time. Batman Eternal's James Tynion IV crafts a story that really tricks the reader. You think at first that this is going to be your typical youngsters surviving by any means possible adventure. I was ready for your normal normal teen-angst schlock. Thankfully, the Woods is anything but normal. 

    One part Degrassi Junior High. One part LOST. One part alien abduction tale. This Boom Studios series is an unpredictable of the forests that surround our mysterious planet's newest public school. 

     I've just got to get my hands on volume 2 quick!

    Worth Consuming!

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.