Through the Woods

Emily Carroll’s collection brings together short horror comics rooted in forests, homes and unsettling encounters. Each tale establishes simple expectations, then lets what is seen and what is withheld work against them.

The anthology shows how short comics can make page turns and image placement part of a scare. Carroll’s restraint leaves readers to imagine more than any explicit explanation could supply.

Gothic and fairy-tale horror dominate the book. Its recurring concern is the moment a seemingly safe place reveals another meaning.

Carroll uses limited palettes, striking silhouettes and carefully timed reveals. Empty space and abrupt color can transform a scene before the story names the threat.