Cuddly Serial Killer Comic Becomes Surprise Hit Franchise

As of October 3rd, 2025, the indie comic series Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees has become a surprise hit franchise for publisher IDW. The Eisner Award-nominated title, written and drawn by Patrick Horvath, is currently in the midst of its second story volume and has seen such strong sales that a third volume is now in development.

Horvath, who started out as an indie horror filmmaker before turning his attention to the comic, says he always knew there was more to explore in the world of Beneath the Trees. The series, which has a Dexter-meets-Richard Scarry tone, centers on a seemingly mild-mannered hardware store owner who is actually a serial killer bear living in the bucolic suburban town of Woodbrook.

In addition to the ongoing comic series, which has sold over 300,000 copies across its two volumes, Beneath the Trees is also expanding into other media. A tabletop RPG game and a card game are in the works, as well as various merchandise like plushies. Furthermore, several studios and production companies are reportedly circling the property for possible adaptation as a movie or TV series.

Horvath's background in indie horror and his recent work as a storyboard artist on the surprise box office hit Weapons have likely contributed to the growing interest in Beneath the Trees. The comic was also part of a select group of IDW titles reformatted for the Webtoon platform, where it has already garnered over 3 million views.