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The Forest
The Forest is a graphic novella told via twenty-five singular illustrations, without words, of which only Swiss artist Thomas Ott is capable. A young boy sneaks away from a family funeral and sinks into the forest depths, where he confronts man's greatest fear and must choose his path. Drawing with a technique called scratchboard, where a white surface is covered with a black layer and scratched away, Ott creates images out of negative space to harrowing effect. In Ott's hands, the medium becomes the perfect vessel for his eerie, horror-imbued morality tales. This gorgeous volume will be printed on heavy art paper with Pantone Black ink to best showcase every exquisite detail of Ott's virtuosic talent.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2020
2 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Ott
37 books181 followers"Thomas Ott was born in Zürich in 1966. He received training as a graphic artist at the School of Design in Zürich and has been a free-lance comics artist and illustrator since 1987. From 1998-2001 Ott attended film studies at the University of Art and Design (HGK), Zürich. He currently lives and works in Zürich and Paris. Ott is also the lead singer of The Playboys." -Fantagraphics Books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
July 5, 2022
I was thrilled when I just went to the library to find a new book by Thomas Ott, the musician and illustrator/comics artist. As with most of his work, it is dark, brooding and wordless. 25 scratchboard images tell the tale. If you don'r want to know this poetically short story, spoiler alert. Ott mostly does horror comics.
The Forest opens with a boy sitting quietly in a funeral home. He leaves to go out in the forest, a place of symbolic fears: Monsters, death in the shadows. There he finds such images as a huge hairy figure, a floating naked woman. He has to cross some bones to see an old man he seems to know sitting on a bench, and is pleased to talk with him. He returns to the funeral home to see his grandfather in the coffin. He places a small pine branch in his grandfather's hands, crossed at his chest.
Ot grew up in Zurich at the edge of a forest.
A simple story, and not surprising, though I have to say I know many people (including me, and I am otherwise not the least bit psychic!) who feel they have visited recently departed family members at funerals, in the form of at least some kind of felt presence. I thought of those memories as I read. Sweeter than it was creepy for the horror cartoonist!
Here's the book at the Fantagraphics site, with two of the first pages:
https://www.fantagraphics.com/product...
The Forest opens with a boy sitting quietly in a funeral home. He leaves to go out in the forest, a place of symbolic fears: Monsters, death in the shadows. There he finds such images as a huge hairy figure, a floating naked woman. He has to cross some bones to see an old man he seems to know sitting on a bench, and is pleased to talk with him. He returns to the funeral home to see his grandfather in the coffin. He places a small pine branch in his grandfather's hands, crossed at his chest.
Ot grew up in Zurich at the edge of a forest.
A simple story, and not surprising, though I have to say I know many people (including me, and I am otherwise not the least bit psychic!) who feel they have visited recently departed family members at funerals, in the form of at least some kind of felt presence. I thought of those memories as I read. Sweeter than it was creepy for the horror cartoonist!
Here's the book at the Fantagraphics site, with two of the first pages:
https://www.fantagraphics.com/product...
October 9, 2023
Mais uma leitura, sendo que este livro não tem texto. É uma BD silenciosa, dizem os especialistas da arte dos quadradinhos. :D
Tinha gostado bastante do livro anterior que li do Senhor Thomas. A arte é irrepreensível, mas a história parece pouco desenvolvida. É mais como um pequeno conto em BD. Há autores que em poucas páginas conseguem dizer muito, talvez por isso, mesmo esta obra sendo muito curta, consegue dizer-nos que as adversidades da vida vão ser ultrapassadas. Que os períodos negros não deixarão de existir, mas irão passar, apesar de, para isso, termos de sofrer e passar por uma floresta em que não se veem flores nem se ouvem passarinhos felizes a chilrear.
Tinha gostado bastante do livro anterior que li do Senhor Thomas. A arte é irrepreensível, mas a história parece pouco desenvolvida. É mais como um pequeno conto em BD. Há autores que em poucas páginas conseguem dizer muito, talvez por isso, mesmo esta obra sendo muito curta, consegue dizer-nos que as adversidades da vida vão ser ultrapassadas. Que os períodos negros não deixarão de existir, mas irão passar, apesar de, para isso, termos de sofrer e passar por uma floresta em que não se veem flores nem se ouvem passarinhos felizes a chilrear.
April 25, 2022
A young boy leaves the funeral of his grandpa to walk through some menacing woods… to visit his grandpa??
Thomas Ott is back after a decade and, while it’s good to see he’s still producing his unique brand of indie horror comics, his latest, The Forest, is a weak return.
The book is literally 25 pages long so you’re basically paying for a fancy hardcover edition of a single issue comic! It is well-produced at least. It’s also wordless so you’ll “read” it in no time, though I’m sure most people will go back and linger over the detailed art.
And Ott’s scratchboard art (an explanation of his process is included at the back) remains impressive - there are some haunting images in this allegorical tale of Life, or something. But the story, such as it is, is underwhelming, not least for its shortness but also for its rather vague meaning.
I’m glad Ott is making new comics again and I hope we don’t have to wait ten years to see more, but I also hope they’re a bit more substantive than The Forest was - an unimpressive book for fans of this creator only, and even to them, don’t expect much from this one.
Thomas Ott is back after a decade and, while it’s good to see he’s still producing his unique brand of indie horror comics, his latest, The Forest, is a weak return.
The book is literally 25 pages long so you’re basically paying for a fancy hardcover edition of a single issue comic! It is well-produced at least. It’s also wordless so you’ll “read” it in no time, though I’m sure most people will go back and linger over the detailed art.
And Ott’s scratchboard art (an explanation of his process is included at the back) remains impressive - there are some haunting images in this allegorical tale of Life, or something. But the story, such as it is, is underwhelming, not least for its shortness but also for its rather vague meaning.
I’m glad Ott is making new comics again and I hope we don’t have to wait ten years to see more, but I also hope they’re a bit more substantive than The Forest was - an unimpressive book for fans of this creator only, and even to them, don’t expect much from this one.
August 29, 2025
PT Esta não é a minha história favorita de Thomas Ott. Embora a sua assinatura artística continue a ser impressionante, a narrativa aqui parece um pouco demasiado simples e direta—até para uma banda desenhada silenciosa.
Dito isto, a mensagem que quer transmitir é clara e impactante, provavelmente a tocar diferentes pessoas de maneiras distintas.
Pessoalmente, também já encontrei uma floresta assim—entrei nas suas profundezas mais sombrias e demorei bastante tempo a encontrar o caminho para sair. Felizmente, encontrei algo que me iluminou o percurso.
No geral, é um livro sólido, especialmente para os fãs do trabalho de Thomas Ott.
--
EN This isn’t my favorite Thomas Ott story. While his signature art remains stunning, the narrative here feels somewhat too simple and direct—even for a silent graphic novel.
That said, the message he’s conveying is clear and impactful, likely resonating differently with each reader.
On a personal note, I’ve also encountered a forest like this—ventured into its darkest depths and taken a long time to find my way out. Luckily, I found something that illuminated the path forward.
Overall, this is a solid book, especially for fans of Thomas Ott’s work.
Dito isto, a mensagem que quer transmitir é clara e impactante, provavelmente a tocar diferentes pessoas de maneiras distintas.
Pessoalmente, também já encontrei uma floresta assim—entrei nas suas profundezas mais sombrias e demorei bastante tempo a encontrar o caminho para sair. Felizmente, encontrei algo que me iluminou o percurso.
No geral, é um livro sólido, especialmente para os fãs do trabalho de Thomas Ott.
--
EN This isn’t my favorite Thomas Ott story. While his signature art remains stunning, the narrative here feels somewhat too simple and direct—even for a silent graphic novel.
That said, the message he’s conveying is clear and impactful, likely resonating differently with each reader.
On a personal note, I’ve also encountered a forest like this—ventured into its darkest depths and taken a long time to find my way out. Luckily, I found something that illuminated the path forward.
Overall, this is a solid book, especially for fans of Thomas Ott’s work.
October 3, 2022
A super-short book, it's great but man, that cover price is super steep for this.
Thomas Ott returns with perhaps his best looking book to date. The story is told across just 25 full-page illustrations.
I'd give this 6 stars if I could get 200 pages of it!
Thomas Ott returns with perhaps his best looking book to date. The story is told across just 25 full-page illustrations.
I'd give this 6 stars if I could get 200 pages of it!
April 18, 2023
Jestem pod dużym wrażeniem! Za pomocą dwudziestu pięciu niemych ilustracji autor dał mi wiele emocji, a klimat całości... Ach!
January 26, 2024
I’m so happy that my library had a copy of this, because otherwise I would be shelling out a considerable sum of money for 25 images. Granted, the images are beautiful. The story is archetypal, drawing on our deepest fears and inclinations towards the grim. This is the second work of Ott’s that I have “read”, and so far, so good. Might hold the record for the fastest read of the year too.
December 23, 2025
Excelente técnica de criação artística.
História simples e vagamente contraditória (por que razão tem a rapaz de ir para a floresta para encontrar o avô?). Os entes sobrenaturais da floresta não criam nenhuma consequència no desenvolvimento da acção, pelo que, como leitor, fiquei algo baralhado com a sua existência.
Vale a pena ler este livro, mas acho que apreciei mais a forma do que pelo conteúdo.
História simples e vagamente contraditória (por que razão tem a rapaz de ir para a floresta para encontrar o avô?). Os entes sobrenaturais da floresta não criam nenhuma consequència no desenvolvimento da acção, pelo que, como leitor, fiquei algo baralhado com a sua existência.
Vale a pena ler este livro, mas acho que apreciei mais a forma do que pelo conteúdo.
January 5, 2023
A short soulful story. Beautiful....
March 11, 2023
মাত্র ২৫ পাতার গ্রাফিক নভেল। কিন্তু ভীষণ চমৎকার ছবিতে পূর্ণ। আর ছবি থেকে ছবিতেই পুরো গল্পটা জানা হয়ে যায়। জানা হয়ে যায়; একটা ছোট্ট ছেলে কেন তার দাদার মৃত্যুর দিনে চলে যায় অরণ্যের গহীনে...
January 26, 2024
A boy wanders off to a forest and is confronted with his fears. A Dark and atmospheric silent graphic novel.
The Forest is one of the shortest (silent) graphic novels I have ever read. The story is presented in twenty-five singular illustrations, without words. Silent graphic novels usually need more illustrations to present the story, so I think this is an astonishing achievement from Swiss illustrator Thomas Ott.
The Forest is one of the shortest (silent) graphic novels I have ever read. The story is presented in twenty-five singular illustrations, without words. Silent graphic novels usually need more illustrations to present the story, so I think this is an astonishing achievement from Swiss illustrator Thomas Ott.
December 25, 2020
Excellent and effective wordless comics narrative composed solely of 25 images as per the challenge of the series to emulate the woodcut comics work of Frans Masreel. This format and its rhythms totally suit Ott and La Forêt offers him a canvas to pull a bait-and-switch story that may be his most touching story yet.
November 26, 2022
A quiet, gorgeously illustrated picture book for adults that should devastate every reader. Despite this, you’ll long to go back through the forest again, wandering into its depth and darkness, searching for a light to make grief more bearable.
It is amazing how much can be said without words.
It is amazing how much can be said without words.
Read
April 15, 2023Gdy tylko zobaczyłam, że LAS ma zostać wydany przez KULTURĘ GNIEWU, to zaraz wiedziałam, że muszę mieć tę książkę. Przeczuwałam, że to będzie coś wyjątkowego, pięknego, oryginalnego, nietypowego i że będzie dokładnie takie, jakie oczekuję, by było - mroczne i mądre. Cóż... nie zawiodłam się.
Thomas Ott jest wyjątkowym artystą. Jak możemy przeczytać w krótkiej notce o autorze, "pracuje głównie w technice zwanej stratchboardingiem" i faktycznie, ten niepowtarzalny styl jest widoczny już z okładki. Pełne szczegółów, charakterystycznych "zadrapań" płótno daje widzowi wstrząsający realizm. Patrzymy na drzewo i widzimy, że ono żyje, choć paradoksalnie w przypadku TYCH DRZEW, w TYM LESIE, jest wiele śmieci.
LAS opowiada w obrazach historię chłopca, który postanawia opuścić stypę i ruszyć w mroczną gęstwinę. Ta odważna decyzja zaowocuje zrozumieniem cyklu życia, pogodzeniem się z ostatecznym i przezwyciężeniem najgorszych ludzkich lęków.
Thomas Ott w paru kadrach zamyka wielką historię i przenosi czytelnika do świata smutku, świata śmierci, ale i świata odrodzenia, życia i nadziei. Są w tej opowieści momenty bardzo mroczne, groźne, niepokojące. Nad niektórymi z tych obrazów nadal rozmyślam i próbuję wyłuskać z nich więcej znaczeń. LAS jednak nie jest tylko horrorem - jest także, am może przede wszystkim historią o każdym z nas, bo każdy w obliczu śmierci jest dzieckiem, które wyrusza w LAS.
Przepiękna, krótka opowieść, która pozostanie w czytelniku na długo i do której będzie się wracać. Prezentuje dzikość życia i jego niepowtarzalność w zaskakujący, drobiazgowy sposób. Fascynujące ilustracje Otta nie pozwalają przejść obojętnie obok tej pozycji i choć LAS nie jest typem "pocieszyciela", to warto go mieć przy sobie w trudnych chwilach.
Książka została znakomicie wydana, na eleganckim papierze, z dbałością o każdy szczegół. Format jest świetnie dopasowany do drobiazgowości prezentowanych ilustracji. Jest to niezwykle interesująca lektura, która i zachwyca i straszy i smuci i raduje - pełna paradoksów... zupełnie jak życia i śmierć.
do tego lasu każdy czasem chodzi
Wydawnictwo Kultura Gniewu
Thomas Ott jest wyjątkowym artystą. Jak możemy przeczytać w krótkiej notce o autorze, "pracuje głównie w technice zwanej stratchboardingiem" i faktycznie, ten niepowtarzalny styl jest widoczny już z okładki. Pełne szczegółów, charakterystycznych "zadrapań" płótno daje widzowi wstrząsający realizm. Patrzymy na drzewo i widzimy, że ono żyje, choć paradoksalnie w przypadku TYCH DRZEW, w TYM LESIE, jest wiele śmieci.
LAS opowiada w obrazach historię chłopca, który postanawia opuścić stypę i ruszyć w mroczną gęstwinę. Ta odważna decyzja zaowocuje zrozumieniem cyklu życia, pogodzeniem się z ostatecznym i przezwyciężeniem najgorszych ludzkich lęków.
Thomas Ott w paru kadrach zamyka wielką historię i przenosi czytelnika do świata smutku, świata śmierci, ale i świata odrodzenia, życia i nadziei. Są w tej opowieści momenty bardzo mroczne, groźne, niepokojące. Nad niektórymi z tych obrazów nadal rozmyślam i próbuję wyłuskać z nich więcej znaczeń. LAS jednak nie jest tylko horrorem - jest także, am może przede wszystkim historią o każdym z nas, bo każdy w obliczu śmierci jest dzieckiem, które wyrusza w LAS.
Przepiękna, krótka opowieść, która pozostanie w czytelniku na długo i do której będzie się wracać. Prezentuje dzikość życia i jego niepowtarzalność w zaskakujący, drobiazgowy sposób. Fascynujące ilustracje Otta nie pozwalają przejść obojętnie obok tej pozycji i choć LAS nie jest typem "pocieszyciela", to warto go mieć przy sobie w trudnych chwilach.
Książka została znakomicie wydana, na eleganckim papierze, z dbałością o każdy szczegół. Format jest świetnie dopasowany do drobiazgowości prezentowanych ilustracji. Jest to niezwykle interesująca lektura, która i zachwyca i straszy i smuci i raduje - pełna paradoksów... zupełnie jak życia i śmierć.
do tego lasu każdy czasem chodzi
Wydawnictwo Kultura Gniewu
September 27, 2025
A short but really beautiful silent comic about a young boy who sneaks away from his grandfather’s funeral and into the woods. There he encounters some of his greatest fears, but also reconciles with his grief over losing his grandfather, and finds peace with his passing. At least, that’s how I interpreted the story. I’ll definitely be looking at more of Ott’s work soon!
May 17, 2022
Gorgeous artwork and a pithy -- albiet perhaps too simple -- story about experiencing grief and loss as a child. While it's very short, you can spend a lot of time with each page appreciating Ott's detailed scratch work and the fantastical world he creates through it.
December 16, 2023
I guess this wasn't his best work. Still, the artwork is marvelous.
May 16, 2023
Bu kitabı çizgi roman kategorisinde değerlendirmeye maalesef elim varmıyor. (bu olumsuz bir yorum değil.) Bu daha ziyade bir artbook. Baştan belirtmekte fayda var. Kitabın Türkçe baskısı ya da çevirisi yok. Zaten hali hazırda bu kitapta çevrilebilecek bir metin de yok.
Thomas Ott ile ilk tanışmam ve kendisinin yoldaşı, yareni, hayranı olma sürecim Flaneur'un evvel zamanda bastığı limitli edisyonlarla başladı. Olur da denk gelirseniz o kitapları da muhakkak edinin. Çeyrek altından, dövizden daha da hızlı kıymetleniyor. Ha bulamazsanız da dert etmeyin. Flaneur'un yakın gelecekte tekrar basmayı düşündüğünü biliyorum.
Ne diyorduk? Hah The Forest. Thomas Ott'un diğer kitaplarına aşina bireyler için bir miktar hayal kırıklığı olabilir. Ott, yaklaşık 7-8 yıllık kişisel proje sessizliğinden sonra bu kitabı tadımlık kıvamında yayınladı. Ve beklenenden daha karanlık, beklenenden daha gizemli olarak döndü.
Hikaye bir cenaze ve o cenazedeki bir çocuğun keder ve korku ile yüzleşme serüvenini anlatıyor. Muhtemelen kendi karanlık geçmişini resmediyor ya da çocukluğundaki hayallerinin tezahürü. Zira kendisinin de bir orman kıyısında büyüdüğünü ve röportajlarında sıklıkla oradan, o karanlıktan beslendiğini söylediğini biliyoruz. Kısa, derin, gizemli ve tekinsiz hikayeler seviyorsanız hoşunuza gidecektir.
Kitap toplamda 25 resimden oluşuyor. Her sayfa tek panel şeklinde. Yine kazıma tekniği ve muhteşem detaylarla üstelik. Her bir resmi taratıp duvarına assan kimse "bu ne kardeşim" demez. O derece yüksek kalibrede.
Ben Gerekli Şeyler'den 2023 Nisan Ayı için yaklaşık 390 tl'ye satın aldım. Amazon.com.tr üzerinden de 550tl civarına satın alınabiliyor. Şayet ben bu parayı vermem ama kitabı da merak ediyorum diyen olursa haberleşelim :)
Thomas Ott ile ilk tanışmam ve kendisinin yoldaşı, yareni, hayranı olma sürecim Flaneur'un evvel zamanda bastığı limitli edisyonlarla başladı. Olur da denk gelirseniz o kitapları da muhakkak edinin. Çeyrek altından, dövizden daha da hızlı kıymetleniyor. Ha bulamazsanız da dert etmeyin. Flaneur'un yakın gelecekte tekrar basmayı düşündüğünü biliyorum.
Ne diyorduk? Hah The Forest. Thomas Ott'un diğer kitaplarına aşina bireyler için bir miktar hayal kırıklığı olabilir. Ott, yaklaşık 7-8 yıllık kişisel proje sessizliğinden sonra bu kitabı tadımlık kıvamında yayınladı. Ve beklenenden daha karanlık, beklenenden daha gizemli olarak döndü.
Hikaye bir cenaze ve o cenazedeki bir çocuğun keder ve korku ile yüzleşme serüvenini anlatıyor. Muhtemelen kendi karanlık geçmişini resmediyor ya da çocukluğundaki hayallerinin tezahürü. Zira kendisinin de bir orman kıyısında büyüdüğünü ve röportajlarında sıklıkla oradan, o karanlıktan beslendiğini söylediğini biliyoruz. Kısa, derin, gizemli ve tekinsiz hikayeler seviyorsanız hoşunuza gidecektir.
Kitap toplamda 25 resimden oluşuyor. Her sayfa tek panel şeklinde. Yine kazıma tekniği ve muhteşem detaylarla üstelik. Her bir resmi taratıp duvarına assan kimse "bu ne kardeşim" demez. O derece yüksek kalibrede.
Ben Gerekli Şeyler'den 2023 Nisan Ayı için yaklaşık 390 tl'ye satın aldım. Amazon.com.tr üzerinden de 550tl civarına satın alınabiliyor. Şayet ben bu parayı vermem ama kitabı da merak ediyorum diyen olursa haberleşelim :)
April 22, 2024
Gal kas nors pasakys, kad komiksai nėra rimtos knygos, bet man komiksai visuomet yra knygos - tokios pačios ir niekuo nenusileidžiančios kitoms. O čia labai gražiai papasakojama jauno vaikinuko draugystė su mišku, perprantant savo baimes bei jas įveikiant. Istorija papasakota be žodžių, tačiau nepriekaištingas scratchboard technikos išdirbimas negali palikti abejingu.
July 18, 2022
Thomas Ott’s incredible, wordless graphic novels are really something. This is a beautiful meditation, such exquisite artwork. Loved it. Reminded me of first discovering Shaun Tan. I think these cut even deeper though.
January 20, 2025
A beautiful little allegorical tale of a young boy journeying through the woods, lovely, deep, and dark, to have one final conversation with his grandfather, before returning home for a funeral. No words, just stunning pictures.
January 5, 2021
Livre superbe par l'artiste suisse Thomas Ott, reconnu pour sa technique de grattage sur carte noire. Les dessins sont denses et cette histoire poignante. La technique en soi est très impressionante.
April 28, 2022
Wordless story about a child but not for children (nudity). It was pretty simple and more weird than spooky.
June 13, 2023
SCRATCHBOARD
February 25, 2025
Admito que inicialmente estranhei a leitura dessa obra, até porque não é uma leitura convencional, ela é feita inteirinha através de ilustrações magníficas. Nessa história acompanhamos um garoto que escapa de um velório e entra na floresta, sabe aquele ditado sobre encarar o abismo e ele te encarar de volta? É mais ou menos o que vemos aqui, nesse caso encarar a floresta, encarar seus medos, encarar seu luto, encontrar um alento e superar suas perdas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2023
Hier kan ik echt van genieten.. het doet me aan Selznick denken.
May 11, 2024
extremamente curto e simples. Total menos de 10 min de “leitura”
June 28, 2024
artes lindas, mas sem história nenhuma
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews