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jexjthomas's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
ashanderson's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Violence, and Blood
billyjepma's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very solid series continues to be a very, very solid series. Despite being one of the less "big push" books that Tynion has/is putting out, I think it's becoming his best ongoing work. The plotting is so strong, the worldbuilding is growing at the perfect tempo, and I'm surprisingly into Erica Slaughter as a character despite starting the series ambivalent toward her. This particular arc having a slightly larger ensemble also works for me, especially since it gives an intentionally obtuse character like Erica some other personalities to play off of. I know Tynion likes his large casts, but I think he's at his best when they're on a smaller scale like this. My one gripe is how abruptly each volume ends—the 15-issue story arc structure works narratively, but as a release strategy, it chops up the pacing. I'm not sure what the solution is, but right now, I usually wait over a year for all the issues in an arc to come out before I read any of them.
But hey, I'm not opposed to the series being a yearly treat I can look forward to because it really is a fun, pulpy, exciting book to pick up. Dell'Edera's art is only getting better, too. He's doing some of my favorite layouts in an ongoing series right now, and I love how cinematic he frames each scene. Everything from action to horror to dialogue has a visual tempo that makes the pages fly by. I feel similarly about Muerto's colors, which have received a major boost from the daytime setting of these last several volumes. The darker pages are good, but I love some sunlit horror, and this book has the goods in that category.
But hey, I'm not opposed to the series being a yearly treat I can look forward to because it really is a fun, pulpy, exciting book to pick up. Dell'Edera's art is only getting better, too. He's doing some of my favorite layouts in an ongoing series right now, and I love how cinematic he frames each scene. Everything from action to horror to dialogue has a visual tempo that makes the pages fly by. I feel similarly about Muerto's colors, which have received a major boost from the daytime setting of these last several volumes. The darker pages are good, but I love some sunlit horror, and this book has the goods in that category.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Lesbophobia
robinks's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Animal death, Racism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
chelseazhao's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This was my least favorite volume, and I think it is because it definitely felt like a middle book. Considering the arc is only 3 volumes, there was too much extra space here. But I'm still enjoying it, and had to pick up the next volume immediately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
hagwife's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Something is Killing the Children is a 5-Star series all around, even if this volume isn't my favourite (story-wise its excellent, just not as expressive in the paneling since its more conversation than action).
Volume 6 does not disappoint and I can't wait for Volume 7!
Volume 6 does not disappoint and I can't wait for Volume 7!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
steveatwaywords's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
First, this review is actually about Volumes 4-7 which track the entire Trepidation story cycle. I wanted to complete this series before completing the review. And this review is repeated on all four Volumes, 4-7.
I should say, too, that I generally like Tynion's works, especially his horror stuff, for its original conception and decent character design. So in some ways, I am comparing Something is Killing the Children to his darker DC stuff, The Woods, Nice House on the Lake, and The Department of Truth.
I know that this series is routinely given great praise by critics and fans. Even so, my strengths and flaws from the first three volumes are here in these works with minor variations: largely, the stories are quite gory (and since many victims are children, not for the meek) and, unfortunately, this is the focus of the horror, kind of a one-trick pony. Because this is not wholly sustainable across the series, then, Tynion offers us the major sub-plot (really enhanced in this series) of a secret cabal of monster hunters and the amoral politics which drives it. Our hero, Erica, of course, sits apart from its corruption, which makes her a kind of horror-noir lone gunman for America monster-hunting. It's an interesting idea (especially since she is not emotionally whole, either). Like King's Gunslinger series, a lot of the best action in Tynion mirrors the duller sequences of storytelling in King. And, like a decent George R R Martin, Tynion makes no promises which characters will survive any scene. I should note, too, that the artwork by Dell'Edera and Muerto is startlingly good.
Overall, this storyline is more developed in the political intrigue, but often at the cost of the monster lore. Our most terrifying monster yet, especially in its last incarnation, is given precious few frames of development or interest. Mindless and ruthless, it appears in order to squash or be squashed. Tynion allows the artwork to carry this horror. So much for the monster-hunting. And this will explain why the entire Volume 7 is mostly given to action-based silent boss-battles.
Even so, Tynion's best volume is probably the 4th, the "interim" series which looks back at Erica's backstory and initiation and helps us see the relationships she has built and will grow. We learn more, too, about the toy totems the hunters carry and some of the motivations between competing schools in the secret society. But . . . and this is a big but for me, a lot of it has all the import of learning why Han Solo has fuzzy dice on the Millennium Falcon. Just because we can create back stories and answer plot-level questions about the "How-did-this-happen?" and "What-happens-to-character-x?" doesn't mean that we automatically have good story or good writing. At its base, and at its summit, the "Something is Killing" series is a solid horror-action story with visually fascinating characters. And if that's all you're looking for--you don't want to ask questions about child death, about the nature of horror, or even the lore of psychological projection and daemon/demon guides, all within easy reach of the storyteller--you will be satisfied.
I should say, too, that I generally like Tynion's works, especially his horror stuff, for its original conception and decent character design. So in some ways, I am comparing Something is Killing the Children to his darker DC stuff, The Woods, Nice House on the Lake, and The Department of Truth.
I know that this series is routinely given great praise by critics and fans. Even so, my strengths and flaws from the first three volumes are here in these works with minor variations: largely, the stories are quite gory (and since many victims are children, not for the meek) and, unfortunately, this is the focus of the horror, kind of a one-trick pony. Because this is not wholly sustainable across the series, then, Tynion offers us the major sub-plot (really enhanced in this series) of a secret cabal of monster hunters and the amoral politics which drives it. Our hero, Erica, of course, sits apart from its corruption, which makes her a kind of horror-noir lone gunman for America monster-hunting. It's an interesting idea (especially since she is not emotionally whole, either). Like King's Gunslinger series, a lot of the best action in Tynion mirrors the duller sequences of storytelling in King. And, like a decent George R R Martin, Tynion makes no promises which characters will survive any scene. I should note, too, that the artwork by Dell'Edera and Muerto is startlingly good.
Overall, this storyline is more developed in the political intrigue, but often at the cost of the monster lore. Our most terrifying monster yet, especially in its last incarnation, is given precious few frames of development or interest. Mindless and ruthless, it appears in order to squash or be squashed. Tynion allows the artwork to carry this horror. So much for the monster-hunting. And this will explain why the entire Volume 7 is mostly given to action-based silent boss-battles.
Even so, Tynion's best volume is probably the 4th, the "interim" series which looks back at Erica's backstory and initiation and helps us see the relationships she has built and will grow. We learn more, too, about the toy totems the hunters carry and some of the motivations between competing schools in the secret society. But . . . and this is a big but for me, a lot of it has all the import of learning why Han Solo has fuzzy dice on the Millennium Falcon. Just because we can create back stories and answer plot-level questions about the "How-did-this-happen?" and "What-happens-to-character-x?" doesn't mean that we automatically have good story or good writing. At its base, and at its summit, the "Something is Killing" series is a solid horror-action story with visually fascinating characters. And if that's all you're looking for--you don't want to ask questions about child death, about the nature of horror, or even the lore of psychological projection and daemon/demon guides, all within easy reach of the storyteller--you will be satisfied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
ellornaslibrary's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Terminal illness, Grief, and Pregnancy
beltaine76's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Blood
swimfast724's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Good but not much happened in this issue. Just exactly what I thought would happen next. It went by really quickly and seemed shorter than any of the other ones.
I definitely liked the previous setting and story arc better than this one.
I definitely liked the previous setting and story arc better than this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Cannibalism, and Medical trauma