Ms. Tree (Hard Case Crime)

Series · 6 books · 1989-2023

By Max Allan Collins, Terry Beatty

Books in series

Ms. Tree, Vol. 1

One Mean Mother

2019

“Despite the tragic scenarios, ruthless characterisations and high body count, this is a clever, funny affair steeped in the lore of detective fiction, dripping in the truly magical gratification that shows complete scum finally get what’s coming to them.” – Comics Review The collected casebooks of famed ‘80s private eye, Ms. Tree. When her private detective husband is murdered by the Muerta crime family, Ms. Tree takes over the business! Cold, calculating and tough as nails, no case is too small, no violence too extreme, so long as a mystery is solved… and Ms. Tree is paid. The creation of award-winning crime and comics writer Max Allan Collins (Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, Road to Perdition, Quarry’s War). Illustrated by co-creator and pulp legend Terry Beatty (Johnny Dynamite, Mike Danger, Rex Morgan M.D.) Collects five classic Ms. Tree stories for the first time since the ‘80s, plus the rare Ms. Tree prose story “Inconvenience Store”.

Ms. Tree, Vol. 2

Skeleton in the Closet

2020

From the minds of Road to Perdition author Max Allan Collins and artist Terry Beatty, comes the second collection of five classic Ms Tree comics. Follow the private investigator Ms. Michael Tree through even more thriling cases, as she races to solve crimes of passion, murder and intruige! Join Ms. Michael Tree, the 6ft, 9mm carrying private detective on her thrilling adventures as she solves crimes and fights to get her revenge for her murdered husband. No case is too small, no violence too extreme, just as long as it gets the job done. Collects: Ms. Tree Quarterly #2, #4-#6, #10

Ms. Tree, Vol. 3

The Cold Dish

2021

From the minds of Road to Perdition author Max Allan Collin and artist Terry Beatty, comes the third collection of five classic Ms Tree comics. Follow the private investigator Ms. Michael Tree through even more thrilling cases, as she races to solve crimes of passion, murder and intrigue! The black widow of detective fiction returns in this third volume of classic Ms Tree stories by the award-winning writer Max Allan Collins. Join Ms Michael Tree, the 6ft, 9mm-carrying private eye through her thrilling casebook following the death of her husband on their wedding night. No case is too small, no violence is too extreme - just as long as it gets the job done Collects: Ms. Tree's Thrilling Detective Adventures #1-9, The Files of Ms. Tree Volume 1

Ms. Tree, Vol. 4

Deadline

2022

The next incredible instalment in the case books of Ms Tree, private detective, from famed Hard Case Crime author Max Allan Collins! From the minds of author Max Allan Collins and artist Terry Beatty, comes the fourth collection of 5 classic Ms Tree stories. Join Michael Tree, the 6ft, 9mm carrying private detective on her thrilling adventures. No case is too small, no violence too extreme, just as long as it gets the job done. Fans of hard-boiled detective and crime fiction will get a thrill from these tales! Featuring the stories: "Deadline" "Skin Deep" "Runaway" "Runaway II" "Death, Danger and Diamonds" Collects Ms. Tree<>/i> #10-17 and The Files of Ms. Tree

Ms Tree Vol. 5

Heroine Withdrawal

2023

The next incredible instalment in the case books of Ms Tree, private detective, from famed Hard Case Crime author Max Allan Collins ( Road to Perdition )! Fans of pulp noir and hard-boiled detective crime fiction will love this seminal collection of classic comics. From the minds of award-winning author Max Allan Collins and artist Terry Beatty, comes the fifth collection of classic Ms Tree stories, collected together for the first time! Join Michael Tree, the 6ft, 9mm carrying private detective on her thrilling adventures. No case is too small, no violence too extreme, just as long as it gets the job done. Fans of hard-boiled detective and crime fiction will get a thrill from these tales! Collects Ms. Tree #18-27, #29-31

Ms. Tree Vol. 6

Fallen Tree

1989

The sixth sensational instalment in the Hard Case Crime books of Ms. Tree, private detective, from famed Hard Case Crime author Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition). Fans of pulp noir and hard-boiled detective crime fiction will love this seminal collection of classic comics. From the minds of award-winning author Max Allan Collins and artist Terry Beatty, comes the sixth collection of classic Ms. Tree stories, collected together for the first time! Join Michael Tree, the 6ft, 9mm carrying private detective on her thrilling adventures. No case is too small, no violence too extreme, just as long as it gets the job done. Fans of hard-boiled detective and crime fiction will get a thrill from these “Fallen Tree!”; “Like Father”; “Murder Cruise”; “New Years Evil”; “Coming of Rage”; and more!

Authors

Terry is the artist of the Sunday episodes of King Feature's classic comic strip, The Phantom. His first strip appeared on 1/29/12, written by Tony DePaul and colored by Tom Smith. With writer, Max Allan Collins, Terry co-created the long-running private eye comic book series, Ms. Tree. Collaborations with Collins also include Mike Mist, Mickey Spillane's Mike Danger and Johnny Dynamite. Collins and Beatty recently created Return to Perdition, a graphic novel sequel to Road to Perdition, for DC's Vertigo Crime line. For over a decade, Beatty was the primary inker of DC Comics' "animated-style" Batman comics, including a four-year stint inking Chris Jones' pencils on The Batman Strikes. He ended his run as "Bat-inker" with several issues of the current cartoon-based title, Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Beatty's cover paintings appear regularly on Scary Monsters magazine, as well as its spin-off Monster Memories annual. His illustrations have appeared on covers for Berkeley Books and Hard Case Crime. His drawings and sculptures have been featured in various gallery shows. Born and raised in Iowa, Terry, along with wife Erika and son Kirby, recently moved to the the Kansas City area after living for nearly a decade in Minneapolis. They are currently awaiting the arrival of Kirby's baby sister. Terry has a daughter, Elizabeth, from a previous marriage, who has presented him with two wonderful grandsons, Dawson and Tristin.