By Nick Couture — Family Tree #3 — from Jeff Lemire, Phil Hester, Eric Gapstur, Ryan Cody, Steve Wands, and Will Dennis — continues the journey of a young girl who is literally turning into a tree. This issue adds new threads, villains, and mystery to a book already stacked with intrigue. The warm hug of a Jeff Lemire book feels nice (as always), and this is another solid entry to the beginning of a new book, but part of me wishes that a few more risks were being taken.

This issue introduces us to an idea similar to the “the green” or “the red” from Swamp Thing and Animal Man. It introduces us, essentially, to a place Megan can retreat and talk with other individuals who have shared her tree person affliction. We are also introduced to a group of axe wielding “lumberjacks”, who, after getting a phone call from an informant (in one of the coolest sequences in the book) are poised and ready to head to New York and chop down a tree. The axe-wielding bad guys are silly and menacing in all the right ways. They are a perfect example of Lemire’s greatness as a comics writer. He gives just enough to orient the audience, and then he lets readers minds ruminate on what is to come. When Megan and her family get to New York, they are introduced to a doctor who may be able to help treat her. She can’t completely heal her, she can only slow down the process.

I love the dynamic of the family unit as they struggle to deal with what is happening to Megan. Lemire, who is a noted comic book Dad, really knows how to write a good parent/child relationship. The Mom in Family Tree is appropriately freaked out, racked with fear, and as a result she is unable to be completely honest with Megan. The grandfather continues to be quiet and mysterious, offering a nice confident calm to this absurd situation that the family has to deal with. I can imagine this book to be quite personal for anyone who has dealt with a sick child. Everything is handled with care and the emotions feel real and honest. As relatable as the family dynamics might be, however, we still don’t know too much about the characters. At this point the brother isn't much more than an angsty teen, and the mom doesn't have much of a character outside of being worried for her daughter.

The art by Phil Hester is dense, while remaining loose and sketchy. It’s a tough balance but Hester, a comics veteran, nails the look. I love how he uses shapes. Each character has a unique shape to their body, with a distinct hairstyle as well. They are all very chunky and angular which gives the art a feel of it’s own. Phil is assisted by Ryan Cody on colors and Eric Gapstur on inks, a team that beautifully highlights Hester’s use of shadow with deep blacks. The faces look chiseled from rock, with every line and wrinkle being a dark crevasse. 

Family Tree is a book so competently made and full of untapped potential. Still, as a single issue, Family Tree #3 feels very safe. Some of that might be due to the nature of the beast that is monthly comics. Not every issue is going to be action packed. This issue functions as a means to get us somewhere and Lemire is clearly playing the long game. Readers willing to stick with it will likely be rewarded, just don’t expect to get anywhere too quickly.

Overall: Family Tree remains a great and intriguing series, with a fantastic creative team, but this third issue might just be a bit too slow and safe. 7.0/10

Family Tree #3
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Phil Hester
Inker: Eric Gapstur
Colors: Ryan Cody
Letters: Steve Wands
Publisher: Image
Price: $3.99

Read more great comic book reviews here!

Nick Couture is a video producer living in Lansing, Michigan with his wife and daughter. His first love is film but comics have been a constant source of creative fuel for him for many years. He loves drinking coffee and long-distance running.