Something Is Killing the Children Review: Modern Horror Comics at Their Best
A review of Something Is Killing the Children — James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'Edera's monster-hunter horror hit, and one of the best comics of its era.
By Web Admin
Every so often a horror comic breaks out of the specialty shops and becomes a genuine phenomenon. Something Is Killing the Children is that comic for this era. Written by James Tynion IV and drawn by Werther Dell’Edera, this BOOM! Studios series launched in 2019 and rapidly became one of the best-selling creator-owned titles on the stands, spawning spin-offs, a growing collected library and an in-development screen adaptation. It is scary, propulsive and surprisingly emotional. This is our full review — with clear content warnings, because this one earns its title.
Up front: this is a horror book about the deaths of children, and it does not flinch. We will be specific about that below so you can decide whether it is for you.
What is Something Is Killing the Children?
Something Is Killing the Children is an ongoing horror comic written by James Tynion IV — a prolific writer known for The Nice House on the Lake, The Department of Truth and a celebrated run on Batman — with art by Werther Dell’Edera and moody colors by Miquel Muerto. Published by BOOM! Studios, it debuted in 2019 and quickly became a runaway hit, collected into volumes that each gather roughly five issues.
The premise is grim and gripping. In the town of Archer’s Peak, children are disappearing and dying, and the survivors speak of monsters the adults cannot see. Into this arrives Erica Slaughter, a foul-mouthed, machete-wielding monster hunter who can see the creatures — and who works for a secretive order called the House of Slaughter. Erica is the reason the book works: a magnetic, damaged, instantly iconic protagonist.
The story: a monster hunter with a code
What elevates Something Is Killing the Children above standard creature-feature fare is the mythology Tynion builds around Erica. She is not a lone wolf by choice; she belongs to a vast, ritualistic organization with its own rules, hierarchies and secrets, and much of the series’ tension comes from Erica’s fraught relationship with that order. The monsters are terrifying, but the human institutions around them are just as unsettling.
The first arc is a tight, self-contained nightmare set in Archer’s Peak, and it works beautifully as a jumping-on point. Later arcs expand the world, dig into Erica’s origins and introduce the wider House of Slaughter, which spun off into its own companion series. The overarching mystery unspools patiently, rewarding readers who stick with it.
The art: Werther Dell’Edera and Miquel Muerto
Dell’Edera’s artwork is scratchy, expressive and perfectly suited to horror. He draws violence and dread with equal skill, and his loose, almost sketch-like linework gives the monsters a nightmarish instability — they never quite resolve into something you can feel safe looking at. Miquel Muerto’s coloring is the other half of the equation, drenching the book in sickly greens and blood reds and using color to control the mood scene by scene. Together they have crafted one of the most distinctive visual identities in modern comics.
Content warning: this is serious horror
Take the title literally. Something Is Killing the Children features graphic violence, gore, body horror and, as the name promises, the on-page deaths of children. It is emotionally heavy and genuinely disturbing at times, and it is strictly for adult readers who are comfortable with the horror genre. There is also strong language throughout. If depictions of harm to children are a hard line for you, this is a book to skip — and that is a completely reasonable choice.
Pros and cons
Pros
- An instantly iconic lead in Erica Slaughter
- Genuinely scary, with striking, moody artwork
- Rich, expanding monster-hunter mythology
- A tight, self-contained first arc
Cons
- Extremely dark subject matter and gore
- Ongoing, so the biggest mysteries are unresolved
- The mythology can feel like it is being doled out slowly
How it compares to other modern horror comics
Horror comics are having a golden age, and Tynion is at the center of much of it. Here is how this book sits among the current best.
| Series | Creator(s) | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Something Is Killing the Children | Tynion & Dell’Edera | Monster-hunter horror | Action-horror fans |
| The Nice House on the Lake | Tynion & Bueno | Apocalyptic mystery | Slow-burn dread |
| Wytches | Snyder & Jock | Folk horror | Family terror |
| The Department of Truth | Tynion & Simmonds | Conspiracy horror | Paranoia and ideas |
For the full field, see our best horror comics guide and our best indie graphic novels roundup. If you want more Tynion, our Department of Truth review and Nice House on the Lake review are the natural next reads, and folk-horror fans should try our Wytches review.
Which edition should you buy?
The series is collected in a few formats, and how you buy depends on how deep you want to go.
| Edition | Collects | Approx. price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume 1 paperback | Issues 1 through 5 | ~US$15 | Trying it out |
| Standard trade volumes | ~5 issues each | ~US$15 each | Following the story |
| Deluxe / Book editions | Multiple arcs | ~US$30 to 40 | Bingeing and collecting |
Start with the Volume 1 paperback — it collects the complete first arc for around US$15 and tells you immediately whether the book is for you. If you get hooked (you probably will), the larger deluxe hardcover collections are the better value for catching up.
AmazonCheck price on AmazonWhere to start reading
- Read Volume 1 first — it is a complete, self-contained horror story.
- Continue with the numbered volumes in order as the mythology expands.
- Once you are invested, pick up the spin-off House of Slaughter for more of the order’s backstory.
- Follow the ongoing series if you want to be current as new arcs release.
The verdict
Something Is Killing the Children is modern horror comics at their sharpest — a lean, terrifying, beautifully illustrated series anchored by one of the best new characters the medium has produced in years. It is not for the faint of heart, and its subject matter demands a strong stomach, but for horror fans it is essential reading and a highlight of our best horror comics shelf. It is also a cornerstone of the current Indie hub boom. Buy Volume 1, turn on all the lights, and meet Erica Slaughter.
Frequently asked questions
Is Something Is Killing the Children finished?
No. It is an ongoing series, so the overarching mysteries are still unfolding. The first arc, however, is fully self-contained and satisfying on its own.
Is it too disturbing to read?
It is serious horror with graphic violence, gore and the on-page deaths of children. If that is a hard line for you, skip it. For seasoned horror readers, it is intense but purposeful rather than gratuitous.
Do I need to read House of Slaughter too?
No. House of Slaughter is an optional companion series that expands the mythology, but the main title stands on its own. Start with the core series first.
Where does it rank among modern horror comics?
Very highly. Alongside Tynion’s other work, it sits near the top of our best horror comics and best indie graphic novels guides.
Want more scares? Read our Nice House on the Lake review, or dig into conspiracy horror with our Department of Truth review.
