James Tynion IV

When the children of Archer's Peak begin to go missing, everything seems hopeless. The few children that return alive have terrible stories—impossible details of terrifying creatures that live in the shadows. Their only hope is the arrival of a mysterious stranger, one who believes the children and claims to be the only adult who sees what they can see. Her name is Erica Slaughter. She kills monsters. That is all she does, and she bears the cost because it must be done. GLAAD Award-winning writer James Tynion IV (The Woods, Batman: Detective Comics) teams with artist Werther Dell’Edera (Briggs Land) for a haunting series about staring into the abyss... and what happens when the abyss stares back. Collects issues #1-5.

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1

Seher Mohsin

When children begin to go missing in the town of Archer’s Peak, all hope seems lost until a mysterious woman arrives to reveal that terrifying creatures are behind the chaos - and that she alone will destroy them, no matter the cost. IT’S THE MONSTERS WHO SHOULD BE AFRAID. When the children of Archer's Peak—a sleepy town in the heart of America—begin to go missing, everything seems hopeless. Most children never return, but the ones that do have terrible stories—impossible details of terrifying creatures that live in the shadows. Their only hope of finding and eliminating the threat is the arrival of a mysterious stranger, one who believes the children and claims to be the only one who sees what they can see. Her name is Erica Slaughter. She kills monsters. That is all she does, and she bears the cost because it must be done. GLAAD Award-winning writer James Tynion IV (The Woods, Batman: Detective Comics) teams with artist Werther Dell’Edera (Briggs Land) for an all-new story about staring into the abyss. Collects Something is Killing the Children #1-5.

Excellent. Spooky and whimsical and I want MORE

Jonnie

Erica Slaughter may have slain the monster terrorizing the small Wisconsin town of Archer’s Peak, but now she sets off deeper into the woods -- because the monster she killed was a mother… and now she needs to kill its children. EVIL NEVER DIES...UNLESS ERICA SLAUGHTER KILLS IT. Erica Slaughter may have slain the monster terrorizing the small Wisconsin town of Archer’s Peak, but the horror is far from over. As her mysterious handler arrives in town to clean up her mess and quarantine the townsfolk, Erica sets off deeper into the woods -- because the monster she killed was a mother… and now she needs to kill its children. GLAAD Award-winning writer James Tynion IV (Batman, The Woods) and artist Werther Dell’Edera (Briggs Land) present the next chapter of the critically acclaimed series that showed the world a new kind of horror. Collects Something is Killing the Children #6-10.

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 2

tori 👻

John Manoogian III

Interesting concept, passable art, muddled visual flow, slow, dark without any particular point or humor, gory without art or poignancy. Hard to see what others saw in this one.

Very interesting 👌 Can't wait to read more! Erica is such a mysterious woman, I like her. The panels were a little confusing at times, but overall, I loved it

Izza

As the House of Slaughter arrives to clean up the situation by any means necessary, Erica will find that the true threat to those around her isn’t who - or what - she ever expected. And the cost of saving the day may be too high for anyone to pay... NOT ALL MONSTERS HIDE IN THE DARK. Archer’s Peak is in lockdown, as Erica Slaughter has lost control of the situation and news of the killings has spread outside the town. But as the House of Slaughter arrives to clean up the situation by any means necessary, Erica will find that the true threat to those around her isn’t who - or what - she ever expected. And the cost of saving the day may be too high for anyone to pay... GLAAD Award-winning writer James Tynion IV (Batman, The Woods) and artist Werther Dell’Edera (Briggs Land) present the next chapter of the Eisner Award-nominated and critically-acclaimed series that reveals the monsters hiding in plain sight. Collects Something is Killing The Children #11-15.

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 3

The origin of Erica Slaughter, monster hunter, is revealed in this volume of the Eisner Award-nominated horror series. Erica Slaughter went to hell and back in Archer’s Peak, but that may be nothing compared to the events that forged her at the House of Slaughter. What events brought Erica to the House of Slaughter? And what did she have to do to join the Order of St. George? Erica Slaughter’s origins are finally revealed in this volume of the Eisner Award-nominated series from GLAAD Award-winning author James Tynion IV (The Woods, Batman) and artist Werther Dell’Edera (Razorblades). Collects Something is Killing the Children #16-20.

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 4 SC

Camila

Eva Bailey

4.5 stars. Was in a comic book shop and googled 'best horror comics' and this came up and yep it was goooooood. Absolutely terrifying & Erica Slaughter is one of the coolest protaganists of all time. Epic epic epic, buying the next volume immediately.

Celeste Richardson

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

This is why I now try to wait until a comic run is completed before picking it up. I was left hanging by the ending of this volume. While I want to know what happens next, I’m not sure I’ll still care enough to actually pick it up when future bind-ups are published. The premise was interesting but not incredibly original. The art was more in the style of Gaiman’s Sandman comics or V for Vendetta, which I don’t connect with as quickly as the lush, highly detailed art of works like Locke & Key and Monstress. Overall, it was fine. I just wish I would’ve waited until there was more published material before I decided to read this.

Comixology is fantastic! I may not have ever been a comics girl before, but now I make sure to check out what I have as part of my subscription. Last year I was obsessed with Vampirella, and now I need more of Erica Slaughter.

When the children of a small town in America (it's always a small town in the states) start disappearing or are butchered, Erica arrives on the scene trying to figure out what it is before more children fall prey to the monster. While she has a vague idea of what it could be, we find out that she’s up against something much scarier by the end of the first book.

Something is Killing the Children may not be the most beautiful comic book I’ve ever seen, but the plot was pretty great and I loved that our main had her clothes on. I loved the way the writers depicted the reactions of the townspeople; they were angry and grieving, drinking to excess and falling apart. Some were attempting to regain control by lashing out at the one child who survived and the new woman in town. Erica also makes a great main because while she’s angry at the person she’s working with (who we never really see), she doesn’t get mad at the people around her in the town; she’s seen these reactions before and is used to dealing with them. She apologizes to the boy when she snaps because she recognizes how messed up all this is for him and is gentler than expected. She’s a great contrast to those heroes we see who demolish things in their way and act injured when no one loves them.

Something Is Killing the Children is part of a four-part series of the same name. The writer for the series is James Tynion (which autocorrect changed to Tyrion for a minute), with Werther Dell’Edera as the illustrator and Miquel Muerto as the colorist. While normally this e-comic is available in paperback for $13.49, it’s also part of my comiXology subscription which means I read it for free (the subscription is like $5.99 a month), but otherwise, the e-comic is $6.99. I mention this because I’m doing my best to keep track of all my subscriptions to see if they add value to my life. ComiXology always does!

Nickie Mohler

I enjoyed the graphics, and the story was pretty good, but this just wasn't my favorite. I'm pretty new to graphic novels and I just need to figure out what I like. I don't have anything bad to say about this, it just wasn't for me.

I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tayler Park

Fátima Martins

Summerween: Book #1

THIS WAS SO GOOD.
I'm an Erica Slaughter stan btw

Summerween: Book #2

I AM OBSESSED.

I enjoyed it even more than the first one.

The art style? Chef's kiss
The vibes? Chef's kiss
Erica Slaughter? Chef's kiss.

Trigger warnings: (view spoiler)[body gore, murder, loss of loved one, child death, homomisic slurs (hide spoiler)]

I loved the concept. I loved the art. But this was really missing something for me. 

After reading The Backstagers from Tynion IV, I was really curious to see what he would do with horror. And while I wasn't upset, I was a little disappointed. In The Backstagers I loved and adored the characters and their relationships and their subtly woven in backstories. And while this is a completely different genre, I wanted more of that. 

The characters in Something is Killing the Children, to me, felt like they just could have been a lot more. Because of this, I just didn't find myself as engaged in the story as I really wanted to be.

I'll be honest, while I think I would enjoy, I don't think I will seek out the sequel to this series. 


  Note: Review copy received via NetGalley. This does not impact opinions within this review.


blog •  trigger warning database • more links

Happy reading! ❤

Varun Khatri

As the finale of a three volume arc, it was a little predictable and anticlimactic, but still satisfying as a whole. This story excitingly sets up for the future. A big part of what makes this book interesting is the world and its history. With the House of Slaughter spin-off coming, I’m sure that works and history is about to be built on and I’m excited to see where it goes.

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1

Reviews

Highlights