Thistlebone

Thistlebone made a chilling entrance into 2000 AD, infusing the pages with an air of malevolent folk horror and nightmares in its first installment. Now, in Thistlebone: Poisoned Roots, we return to the quaint English village of Harrowvale, where the echoes of past horrors still linger alongside the idyllic countryside. Rob Williams and Simon Davis have once again masterfully extended the terrifying atmosphere, sending shivers down your spine.

The events of the previous book have deeply affected journalist Seema Chaudry, who accompanied cult survivor Avril Eason into the heart of the nightmares. Despite a year passing since the events in Harrowvale, Seema remains haunted by the experiences she witnessed. To provide a glimpse of the incredible artwork by Simon Davis and to illustrate the profound impact on Seema, we need only refer to the first page and a half of this sequel.

Without revealing too much of the plot, it suffices to say that Thistlebone: Poisoned Roots is a superb continuation of the already outstanding first book. Williams adeptly expands and refines the horrors, maintaining the core essence of Thistlebone while weaving a tale of nature’s malevolence, madness, and obsession that will send a familiar chill down your spine.

As expected, Simon Davis’s artwork is stunning and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the dark folk horrors of the story. Once again, his moody and evocative visuals enhance the tension, utilizing his masterful pacing to great effect. Just like in the first book, Davis employs his visual techniques to create seamless and beautiful pages, with unconventional layouts, dominant horizontal, page-width panels, and creative use of characters and backgrounds as panel borders. The judicious use of white space draws readers instantly into each scene, deepening the immersion in the story.

Thistlebone: Poisoned Roots continues to deliver a captivating and chilling tale, supported by the powerful combination of Rob Williams’ storytelling and Simon Davis’ breathtaking artwork.