Boom! Studios Reviews: Something is Killing the Children #10
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Werther Dell’edera
Colorist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Andworld Design
Reviewer: Tony Farina
Summary
When Erica’s Handler forces a confrontation on the street of Archer’s Peak, Erica must decide where her loyalties lie-to her employers, or to the people who need her?
Positives
Something is Killing the Children #10 is simply stunning. There are a few pages in this issue with no words where the focus is a little girl. These pages are then cut with a page that has a ton of adults talking. We go back to the girl and her perspective only to see the unthinkable. The sheriff utters one expletive. These few pages do the heavy lifting for the whole story. There is blood and death and horror, but then there is what happens on these pages. The way Tynion and Dell’Edera ratchet up the tension in such a simply way is magnificent. They also know when to dial it down.
I can’t every get enough of Dell’Edera’s art. Want to take a look at some more? I do too.
There is a scene where a woman runs up the stairs to talk to Erica and she has to catch her breath. It is so realistic and funny. In a book full of monsters, a little levity goes a long way. This moment also roots the series in reality. As we have learned over the past few issues, the world of Erica Slaughter is our world. This isn’t somewhere else. Monsters are real and we choose to ignore them AND there is a group, the House of Slaughter, who deliberately stops us from seeing things. We are left to wonder about the groups of people in our lives now who are covering up the monsters.
Negatives
Something is Killing the Children #10 is everything it should be and nothing it isn’t. If you are squeamish or if you don’t want to see the title of the book come to reality, you will not like this, or any issue of this series.
Verdict
Something is Killing the Children #10 is, as the nine issues before it, spectacular. That last page is such a kick in the gut in both a horrific and excellent way. This book is not for the faint of heart. NO one would ever describe this series as something for kids so don’t give it to them. However, if you love horror, brilliant writing and art that haunts you for days, you should really pick this up.
