REVIEW: ‘Something is Killing the Children’ Volume 3

Something is Killing the Children Volume 3 is published from BOOM! Studios, written by James Tynion IV, illustrated by Werther Dell’Edera, with colors by Miquel Muerto and letters from AndWorld Design. With the town on lockdown in the high school gym, and monsters roaming the parking lot, Erica is in a race against time to fix things before the House of Slaughter descends to clear the board.

Previously, the monster that was terrorizing a small American town was destroyed, but its five offspring escaped into the woods. Knowing the children’s appetite would be ravenous, Erica raced to get the townspeople to safety by locking them in the school gymnasium before it was too late. It was, however, too late. Now in Volume 3, Erica must construct a plan to protect the people from not only the remaining monsters that have doubled in size but from the House of Slaughter who is now intent on taking out everyone who has borne witness to this event.

Tynion wrote the hell out of these five issues, packing in an inordinate amount of plot points while still maintaining the heart-pounding pace. Erica had to fight a battle on two sides while having her hands tied behind her back just adds to the character’s ferocity and commitment to the goal of saving people. The parallels here that the House of Slaughter is just as dangerous and unforgiving as the monsters are, but as Erica points out, the monsters are just feeding, whereas the order chooses to be like this.

Tynion crafts some brilliant beats in the story such as the original visuals to what happened to James, bringing in the character of the Old Dragon, and ultimately the resolution of the entire story. The ending is something else, with two brilliant curve balls, I didn’t anticipate at all.

Dell’Edera’s art is so suited to this series, as he squeezes every ounce of messy, horror visual out of this comic that he can. The designs of the characters, especially those of the Order of St. George really stand above. Each of these monster hunters embodies a fierce and intimidating stature. The bandannas that they wear are just so bloody cool to behold, I seriously hope BOOM! Studios options these as merchandise because they are fantastically designed.

The colors from Muerto are perfectly aligned with Dell’Edera’s art. There are so many great ways to highlight the work he does throughout the series. Whether it be the darkened backgrounds contrasting with a murderous blood-red streak, or the poignant colors of the eyes of the House of Slaughter. Most noticeably for myself, it’s in the color designs of the fearsome monsters.

AndWorld Designs letters are spot on. They’re nicely balanced, so as not to detract from the art. While the constructs of the onomatopoeia are loud, bright, and really grabs your attention.

Overall, if you’re looking for a horror-based monster booked that is hunted by an ancient group order of trained hunters, then this series is for you. The conclusion of this current arc begs so many more unexplained questions, and it’s fantastic to see that Tynion and co. are excitedly answering them in the next arc.

Something is Killing the Children Volume 3 is available now wherever comics are sold.