Cam's just been fired from a grueling office job that demanded too much of their time for too little pay. Good riddance. Their partner, Riley, thinks Cam could use some time away from the computer before they start searching for more work. A weekend getaway to a cabin in the woods of New England seems like a good bet— and between Riley's work as a union welder and Cam's soon-to-be-certified unemployment claim, they can totally swing it!!
After the couple arrives at the cabin, Riley goes for a run through the woods and encounters a well in the middle of the path. Perplexed by its placement, they throw a rock down the well to gauge its depth. In doing so, they attract the attention of the creature who calls the well and the surrounding forest home. The creature keeps watch on the couple through the 'eyes' of the birch trees that surround the cabin, attempting to lure them out into the woods whenever the opportunity strikes.
With the two staying about an hour from where Cam grew up, Riley is confused by Cam's decision not to tell anyone from home that they'd be back to visit. It's not a big deal, Cam just wants to spend time with their person! Time that might be limited, since escaping the cabin without being subjected to the creature's wrath means corralling a sleepwalking Riley, running on no sleep, and struggling through important relationship conversations on too-high a dose of edibles.
LEAF PEEPERS is a queer, romantic horror-comedy by comics-creating duo Shelby Criswell (artist, letterer, they/them) and Mark Bouchard (writer, they/them), with Emmett Nahil (editor, he/him). Tonally, this fresh take on cabin-in-the-woods horror stories takes inspiration from Ezra Claytan Daniels & Ben Passmore's BTTM FDRS and Caroline Cash's GIRL IN THE WORLD— interacting with complex issues through wit and excellent cartooning. LEAF PEEPERS pokes fun at contemporary queer culture from inside the house, combining the always-stoned, often-intimate relationship dynamic present in Simon Hanselmann's BAD GATEWAY with the over-the-top schlock of EVIL DEAD 2. Beneath this, LEAF PEEPERS tests the strength of Cam and Riley's relationship, asking the question— when is it too late to introduce your partner to your parents?