Review: Something is Killing the Children #5

I find it a tad unfair when genres tend to mix it up and come up with something new.Â Taking the metaphor a bit further, I don’t understand why anyone considered breeding a cockerpoo or a labradoodle.Â What was wrong with cocker spaniels, poodles and labradors in the first place?Â Comics can be a little like that at times, with ideas from different influences merging to give a new whole.Â Something is Killing the Children, for me at least, certainly falls within the analogy.

By now, if you have been following this book, you will know what is going on.Â Kids from Archer’s Peak have been going missing.Â Some are gone forever; some return.Â Those that do make it back all tell the same horrific story.Â Along comes Erica Slaughter who does what her name suggests, she slaughters monsters.Â This issue is full of tension from the get go.Â Along the way, through a mostly fight issue,Â there comes an even darker revelation.

James Tynion IV, who has been sending chills down the DC universe with Justice League Dark and taking over the reins on Batman, after a strong run on Detective Comics, is the co-creator of this book that merges elements of Stranger Things, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and his own JLD book.Â Like Dark, there is a clear antagonist, like Stranger Things, there seems to be an almost other worldy element and of course, the Buffy comparison is there for all to see.Â TynionÂ sets his stall early in the book.Â As mentioned, it is a fight issue, though Tynion doesn’t miss a chance to progress the bigger picture.Â The dialogue is terse to say the least; expletives are used within context, which gives the book an element of realism.

Artist and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera’s, who has spent some time at DC amongst other publishers, style is creepy and yet also cartoony in places.Â Straight, scratchy edges go some way to balance the art.Â It’s this juxtaposition that probably creates the most horror as events are as distanced from some of the art as you can get.Â If I am honest, the art wasn’t working for me, though I can see why and how it is applied to create the tone of the book, until the third act, where Dell’Edera gets to deliver some strong facial elements.Â The horror vibe is further personified by colorist Miquel Muerto who uses a mix of blues, reds and black to great effect, muting some of the the other colors on show.Â Finally, letters are provided by AndWorld Design in an easy font, ensuring that you can spend more time immersed in the book and the goings on.

BOOM! Studios are using their version of the Dark Horse model extremely well.Â It may be the tie-in or licensed titles that ensure the most units per month, but that allows for the company to put out books like the excellent Faithless and of course Something is Killing the Kids, both of which are hugely popular.Â Whether it be the monsters under the perceived bed or the blonde Buffy type monster killer, this book is proving to be a breed apart.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 4 Stars

Written by; James Tynion IV
Art by; Werther Dell’Edera
Colors by; Miquel Muerto
Letters by;Â AndWorld Design
Created by; James Tynion IV & Werther Dell’Edera
Published by; BOOM! Studios

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network