Something Is Killing the Children #3: When Things Go Bump in the Night
Something Is Killing the Children #3 brings us back to a world in which monsters are real. And they have a taste for children. Naturally, this is a dark and gory series, but isn’t without hope. Even if that hope rests on the shoulders of a gruff young woman.
When children suddenly go missing or turn up dead, those in the know understand that there’s a monster on the loose. And thus, people like Erica Slaughter are sent in to clean it up. And yet, it’s been three issues, and children are still dying.
This issue forces us to acknowledge that being a monster hunter isn’t as simple as tracking and killing. Not that any of that would actually be easy. Erica may be on the job, but every moment she wastes puts another child at risk.
Writing
James Tynion IV has woven a dark and disturbing tale within Something Is Killing the Children #3. This series may have, at first glance, appeared to be little more than a monster-hunting series. But it’s rapidly proving to be a complex series, full of social interactions, obligations, and complications from grieving and scared people.
This issue is a study in balance. The plot is steadily moving forward while also making a point to give us time to understand everything happening around it. That means we need to understand the town being affected, the people within it, Erica herself, and the politics of monster hunting. That’s a lot to fit into one issue, but they made it work.
Naturally, this issue didn’t lose that darker and more foreboding tone. Yes, it might have lessened a little bit in parts. But it was also building up a different sense of dread. It’s easy to forget that people can be just as horrible in a world full of monsters. Especially when in pain.
Something Is Killing the Children is proving to be a delightfully dark tale with many more surprises than expected. In the next issue, it will prove interesting to see what Erica finds during her hunt.
Art
Something Is Killing the Children #3 has some amazing artwork to support this dark and disturbing tale. The art style is slightly rougher, but it fits the graphic nature of the telling. And it certainly doesn’t pull any punches regarding what it shows us.
Werther Dell’Edera was the lead artist for this issue, and they’re responsible for the overall look of it all. And honestly? I adore the look and hope it doesn’t change anytime soon. Then there’s the coloring, which was provided by Miguel Muerto. They made even bright scenes look dangerous, which isn’t easy.
And finally, Andworld Design did the lettering for this issue. And they somehow managed to encompass all the raw emotions into their text. It was an impressive feat.
Conclusion
Something Is Killing the Children #3 was another chilling addition to this series. I’m glad they took the time to establish more of the world and plot before throwing us back into the deep end. Now we have a better understanding of what is wrong – and thus how dangerous this hunt will be.
This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.
Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat’s Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Quirky Cats Comics 
Leave a comment