Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 2

Something is Killing the Children #2

by James Tynion IV (Writer), Werther Dell'Edera (Illustrator)

Erica Slaughter may have slain the monster terrorizing the small Wisconsin town of Archer’s Peak, but now she sets off deeper into the woods -- because the monster she killed was a mother… and now she needs to kill its children.

EVIL NEVER DIES...UNLESS ERICA SLAUGHTER KILLS IT.

Erica Slaughter may have slain the monster terrorizing the small Wisconsin town of Archer’s Peak, but the horror is far from over. As her mysterious handler arrives in town to clean up her mess and quarantine the townsfolk, Erica sets off deeper into the woods -- because the monster she killed was a mother… and now she needs to kill its children.

GLAAD Award-winning writer James Tynion IV (Batman, The Woods) and artist Werther Dell’Edera (Briggs Land) present the next chapter of the critically acclaimed series that showed the world a new kind of horror.

Collects Something is Killing the Children #6-10.

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Adult

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2020

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 82% | Very Good
Notes: Underscores, more lore explored, more polished art, more tension in its talky parts, all cuts much deeper than before.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something is still killing all these goddamn children!



Which means our creepy-eyed little monster hunter is going to need to up her game and (probably) toss a kid or two out as bait to lure whatever remains in the woods into a trap. Preferably one that involves Erica and a chainsaw.
I'm sure the kids will come out of it just fiiine...



Ok. So the cool thing about this volume is that you find out more about this mysterious monster-killing organization that Eric Slaughter belongs to, and apparently, they're a whole lotta shady.
More concerned with keeping the existence of monsters a secret than they are with the well being of your average Joe Schmo, they don't mind getting a little bit of (human) blood on their hands if it will ensure silence. You also find out how (ish) Erica came to be a part of their organization and that she's somewhat of an outlier and rebel.



The story is definitely getting more interesting as it goes and that's saying something because I was already really fucking interested.
Highly Recommended!

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each issue amps up the tension as things get worse and worse. Now there's 5 little monsters running around hungry to kill more children. We also learn some about the Order of St. George (Great name BTW!). Dell'Edera's art remains incredibly spooky with some Tim Sale influences thrown in for good measure. Damn, I love this book!

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m so excited to be diving back into this series. This volume was okay for me! It felt a little slower paced in the beginning, but the second half really picked up and it has me excited to read the next volume!

[s.penkevich [mental health hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Next verse, better than the first. And bloodier…
By the time you are reading this, I’ll be plowing through volume 3 because Something Is Killing the Children is as gripping as it is violent and fucked up. This second volume gives us a bit more context to everything going on, such as snippets of Erica’s past and the House of Slaughter for whom she works starts to come into focus here. But the gore fest continues as now there are more monsters on the loose and, as everything is starting to unravel even more, the death toll only continues to climb. This has some great creepy vibes and a small town dynamic that gives vibes of Stranger Things and not just because the local sheriff is starting to become a sympathetic and important character of that volume one is a single monster while 2 is monsters, and this succeeds by being a really great balance of action and horror alongside character and worldbuilding.

Volume two starts slowly like catching our breath after volume one, giving us a better look at the characters and orienting ourselves in this cool monster hunting world James Tynion IV is creating. I enjoy the characters here a lot, especially some of the side ones like the new principal and half-drunk coroner, both in way over their heads and comfort levels.

We start to meet to House of Slaughter as well, especially when they send her superior to ‘clean up’ and we realize they are more about keeping things quiet than keeping things safe. After some set-up, this one really takes off and shit is hitting the fan. I can’t wait to see where this series is heading. I love the art style in this series so much too.

To be continued…

Review of Vol 1 here

[La loca de los libros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esta serie de cómics son un total disfrute visual.
Seguimos teniendo a un puñado de personajes muy bien perfilados, con sus luces y sombras, aunque más de lo segundo, y con los que tenemos la sensación continua de no conocerlos realmente. Sobre todo en lo que respecta a su personaje femenino principal; Erica Slaughter. Los problemas a los que tuvo que enfrentarse en el primer volumen de esta serie, no son más que la punta de un iceberg de proporciones gigantescas.
La cantidad de interrogantes que se nos plantean con Erica son múltiples; ¿Qué sabe?, ¿qué oculta?, ¿cuál es su pasado y de dónde ha salido?.
Y ya no digamos de ese peluche de pulpo 🐙 del que no se separa...

Erica es un misterio en sí mismo.
Una rubia directa, una valiente cazadora de monstruos con carácter y con un lenguaje soez con la que empatizarás rápidamente. Ella es mucho más que un personaje; es la puerta hacia un mundo totalmente nuevo que se nos irá revelando a cuentagotas para seguir manteniendo el tirón del éxito y quitarnos horas de sueño 😂
Y es que sentimos en todo momento que estamos ante una historia pausada pero bien contada que esconde algo grande y de lo que se nos muestra muy poco.

Por otro lado, tenemos un mundo paralelo formado por una sociedad secreta con acceso a un plano de la realidad ignorado por el resto de mortales. Un selecto grupo de extraños individuos cuya misión nos es en parte desconocida, por ahora...
Tendremos que seguir leyendo para solventar todas las dudas que aquí se nos plantean. El origen y los propósitos de esta especie de escuela de magia macabra o secta, son datos que, como digo, aún no conocemos del todo pero que solo hacen aumentar nuestra curiosidad y con ello leamos más y más.

No me puedo ir sin mencionar el estilo de dibujo de Werther Dell'edera y el color que le aporta Miquel Muerto, con ese trazo muy marcado fijando el énfasis en las expresiones de terror y desasosiego de los protagonistas en las situaciones más angustiosas. Los seres de pesadilla y las escenas que estos protagonizan vuelven a ser traumáticas, impactantes.
Aunque sí debo recalcar una pequeña molestia y es el hecho de pasar de la lectura clásica del cómic a página doble sin que nos percatemos de ello hasta bien avanzada la escena lo que lastra un poco el ritmo de lectura.

🔝🤘🏼 Esta historia sigue perfilándose como una gran historia de terror, misterio y mucho gore, bastante gráfico y cruel al ser los niños el foco principal del ataque de los monstruos.
Por mi parte, me ha gustado mucho más que el primero así que no puedo hacer otra cosa que seguir leyéndolos y recomendarles que se aventuren en esta sangrienta historia.

¡Ah! Y por lo que he leído, los creadores de la serie "Dark" están planeando una adaptación 🤩
Por supuesto, no pienso perdérmela 🔝

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?i... 🖤📚

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you think Tynion disappointed me with this book?!? Absolutley not!

Something is Killing the Children is quickly becoming one of those comic series that I think that everyone should try at least once. Tynion is one of those gifted comic writers that I'll read anything from and this series is not disappointing me. This volume picks up right where volume one left off, but readers get a little more complex taste of Erica's background as it relates to the Order of St. George. It's extremely twisted, yet so engaging I couldn't put this volume down. This series isn't for the faint of heart. I thought that volume one was pretty intense with the gore and violence particularly as it relates to the children, but this one is even more intense. There are now 5 babies of this monster roaming around and they are out for blood (literally). The artwork is STUNNING as usual. Dell’Edera killed it again with the atmospheric drawing and coloring that never ceases to amaze. If you haven't picked up this series yet I don't know what you're waiting for. Definitely check it out!

[Tina Haigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is so epic! This was another great volume; Tynion, Dell'Edera, and Muerto make an amazing team. I seriously didn't want to put this down. I was forced to because it was late and my eyes wouldn't stay open--which was rude of my body to betray me like that--but I digress. The story is getting better and better, the art was gorgeous yet again, and the coloring--oh how I loved the coloring. I especially appreciate how it's just the right amount of gory--not too much, not too little, but a perfect balance. I'm so excited to read the third volume, and even more excited for Volume 4 to come out in January. Ugh, why is it taking so long? I needed to read it like yesterday. Sigh, I guess I'll have to make due in the meantime. I highly recommend this to horror lovers, especially if you like monsters and/or slashers. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up, wherever you can find it.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m down for this. So down. I like a good slasher film and this one ticks all the right boxes. Of course, it’s a bit more gruesome, emotionally, because most of the dead are just kids, but at least there are a few people trying to do the right thing — against some pretty steep odds.

I wasn’t quite sure about where this was headed in the first volume but I’m enjoying it all now for exactly what it is. Nothing more, nothing less. I’d be even more amazed if this ever got made into an actual tv show.

I’m sure the kids would get a KICK out of this. Muahahahahahaha

[Sean Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is horrifying and I very much want to read more.

Let's not overanalyze what that says about me, mmmkay?

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

As compulsively readable as the first volume, I'm really enjoying this dark riff on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's even better read as an e-book so I don't get lost in the annoying double-page spreads with all their horizontally-read panels. There is a good balance in the story between the immediate threat and the slow reveal of the bigger mythology, though maybe there was a little too much standing around and talking this time.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welp, this series is still amazing.

With the events of the last volume behind us we enter a new problem. Little monsters are now roaming the forest needing to eat. What happens when they can't find food? They go hunting. This leaves Tommy trying to be a decent human being, a new hunter is in town, Erica trying to fix things, and James is in the hospital. Nothing is going right of course, everyone is on edge, and so many more kids/people are dying. This is pure chaos and there's no solution in sight.

I think the best thing about this volume is the pacing. So fast, everything feels like it'll collapse at any moment, and death lingers everywhere. The gorgeous artwork by Dell'Dera is goddamn gorgeous and so spooky. I love the style so much. All the characters feel like they're making rash decisions but it makes sense seeing the position they are in. I also enjoy the ending as it leaves it in a very realistic, and fucked up way.

A nice high 4.5 out of 5.

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 1 ★★★★★
Volume 2 ★★★★★
Volume 3 ★★★★★
Volume 4 ★★★★★
Volume 5 ★★★★★

Goddamn, this series is so good but it's so painful. Given that child death is my single biggest trigger - in fact, I would say it's probably my only major trigger - you really wouldn't think I'd be drawn to a graphic novel series that solely revolves around child-eating monsters, but here we are.

Seriously, though, if you're not turned off by the innate content of the plot, this series is a gem. It's truly creepy and unsettling, but it also has incredible characters that are immensely flawed, yet impossible not to care about. I can't wait for Volume 3 so I can see what sort of pain James Tynion IV is going to inflict upon me next.

[Kadi P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every issue was full to the brim with high intensity, fast-paced unexpected action. And it was perfectly balanced with some tearful moments and glorious glimpses at backstory.

Every character, no matter how little page time they were given, were well-written and complex. It was very easy to make attachments to the characters and this only heightened the buzzing fear I felt in the background as I read this because there’s five little devil monsters running around ripping people apart so it’s only too right to question how long my fave characters are going to live for.

I found it really interesting how both Octo and Bian showed some kind of empathy towards the monster babies. That was a clever surprise from Tynion leading to a confusing moment for me (even for just a second) in which I had to question the morality of killing a child despite the child being a killer that can’t help what they do.

Above all I loved that amongst all of the unbelievable craziness of killer monsters and (supernatural?) hunter people like Erica, there’s still bags of reminders that the core of this story is not so much about monster-hunting but much more about the importance of family and the fight to save people.

My only qualm was that this was too short. Or rather it was the right length but I just want more. I was annoyed when I reached the end because 1. Cliffhanger and 2. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?! I’m going to be waiting so impatiently for Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 3...

[myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ *]

these read like a tv show, im hoping for found family vibes from these characters tbh. that would make the books more interesting for me at least.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another hit!

It starts with them recovering after the attacks but Erica's mentor Aaron is asked to find her and bring her to Chicago but then the thing happens when revelations are made and people including the officers find out what's happening. Monsters are involved and we learn they are called "Oscuratype" and they are hungry. Erica is on the hunt and is sort of battling Aaron as he has insane plans. More children die, Tommy in trouble and until the gymnasium where the parents and children are becomes the target. Can Erica save them? Will this town survive? Whose Aaron and whats his real motive?

This was a great volume and continues the mysterious nature and carnage and mayhem of the last volume and its awesome to see the writer not hold anything back as he continues to explore the monsters and how deadly they are and then also slowly revealing things about their nature. Great to see some insane action scenes like the fight or Erica killing monsters but there's too much dialogue at times. I also love the slow build up to tension in the end and so much going on and its perfect to see. Mysteries being build, false accusations, nature of the monsters and whatever is going on with so many characters involved. Just a fantastic and gripping read throughout.

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

After Erika gets to the sleepy little town of nobodyremembersthename and has killed the monster, she discovers that it was a mother. Thanks to Bian, the little girl she managed to get out alive, we know that there are 5 babies - and they are HUNGRY.
So while the parents have to go to the school's gym to identify what's left of their respective child, things escalate. Not least because the Order of St. George has sent someone to "supervise" Erika and clean things up (aka kill witnesses).




What really irks me about this is that there is no tension. Sacrifices don't mean anything, I can't root for anyone and therefore don't care if they live or die, and even the spilling of blood is kinda meh. *sighs*

Still, I'll stick with it in the hope of learning more about the order since I usually like stories about secret organizations and monster hunters. So far, though, it had exactly the problem I was afraid it would have when reading volume 1 (that we know the answer to the riddle too early and that there isn't enough substance to the rest of the story).

[Jim Ef · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.8/10

Things were bad, very bad... and somehow they got worse.
In this vol. We have
- A bit more information about the mysterious organisation Erica is part of.
- A glimpse of Erica's past
- A ton of nerve-wracking scenes.

I imagine you already dropped your phone and went to the comic book store to start the series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 Stars Volume 2 collects issues #6-10 of the comic. The movie Alien is amazing. James Cameron came along and said, "One Alien was great. But you know what would be better? Aliens" I don't know if he actually said that. I like to think he did. And if he did he was right. Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 2 takes a similar approach. One monster was good but five monsters is better.


At the end of volume 1, Erica Slaughter killed the monster only to realize that monster was a mom, and she has 5 babies that are still very much alive. The children of Archer's Peak cannot and will not catch a break.

This volume takes some time to focus on the Order Erica Slaughter works for. It's called the Order of St. George and they don't actually really care about the kids dying, they just don't want the word getting out. Erica does the dirty work, they keep things quiet. That's going to be much harder for them to do at the end of this volume...

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might by far be the best series written by James Tynion IV. The tension is fantastic. The banter is perfect. The artwork is peculiar and engrossing. What really takes it away is how he slowly builds this world into something truly impressive and scary. I love how there's nothing safe out there and that there's always something insane bound to happen.

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Roman Zarichnyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Уже аж на другому томі я нарешті призвичаївся до малюнку італійця Вертера Делл‘Едера. До цього часу деякі кадри були не зовсім зрозумілі для мене, а ще й до того постійно плутав порядок читання на певних розворотах. Але все добре, коли добре закінчується. Тільки не для дітей у цьому коміксі...

У цьому томі «Щось вбиває дітей» #5-10 Джеймс Тиніона IV піднімає напругу у містечку, де якісь тварюки, невидимі для дорослих, вбивають дітей, на кілька щаблів вище.

Події останнього тому залишили кілька нових проблем, маленьких монстрів, які зараз блукають лісом, та з пустими животами, які потрібно наповнити смачними дітьми. Це створює ще більше складнішу ситуацію, адже дорос��і не до кінця вірять у свідчення окремих дітей та головної героїні, хоча підсвідомо розуміють, що тут відбувається повне лайно, яке вони контролювати не можуть. А в той же час, маленькі монстрики знаходять собі нові жертви.

Хоча кінець через тупість одного героя вибиває з колії, але напруга й темп в історії добре роблять свою справу. Це і надалі досить хороший мальопис, який раджу почитати, якщо шукаєте досить просту історію у жанрі горор із трилерними та детективними елементами, яка зможе здивувати у певні моменти та тримати напругу навколо.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cada vez se pone mejor y mejor.
Un segundo tomo dónde se van ya explicando varias cosas y dando a conocer detalles importantes de la trama.

[CS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bullet Review:

Another great entry into this series/world. Erica defeated the main villain from the previous volume, but that was only the tip of the iceberg - here, she's facing off the 5 offspring. More death, more murder and more one-eyed crazy blondes. It's a good volume, but I've come to kinda expect that from James Tynion at this point.

[Emma Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is going in a slightly different direction than I expected, but I’m hooked.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, OK, I'm hooked ... I'm in, I've already bought the entire run (which, fortunately, from an investment standpoint, is only four volumes), and now I'm halfway through....

More of the same (and no one, and I mean, no one ... , should think about starting with volume 2 - this is very much a start at/from the beginning kind of thing... ), although possibly with the volume turned up just a bit. And, like the first round, once I started, I couldn't stop reading and turning the pages....

Didn't see the ending (of this installment) or the setup for the next volume coming.... And that bodes well, I'm guessing, in that there should be more surprises and twists and turns ahead.

And, yeah, as noted above, to the extent I've bought the rest, I'll return to the series soon enough...

[Anna Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Direct continuation from Vol 1...as the mess in Archers Peak continues..
Despite one threat being eliminated ..there's still five to worry about..
Erica gets some 'help'

There is a fine line between being realistic.....too crazy to relate to..and this does a great job in keeping things disturbing..graphic yet relatable.

(Original comments from 2021)

A great series..and I'm enjoying the fact we have a number of volumes..as often it's one and gone..Great atmosphere in the writing/art and a fair smattering of shock and awe.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good continuation of the first volume. I'm really not liking the Order of St. George. Politics and "the greater good". What a cop out.

[ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a solid horror series. One of the things I think it does really well is capturing just how horrific it all is. I think it's easy to watch a show or slasher and people die, and you don't feel as much when it happens. It's expected and you brace for it. There is a degree of separation due to its fictitiousness and that can shield you from how terrible it is. That's not the case with the series. Within a couple of panels, you will feel sick to your stomach and crushed at the brutal loss of these kids. They also present how passive people can be about a threat. What are protocols in the face of monsters?