Something is Killing the Children #4 // Review
Something is Killing the Children from Boom! Studios is a great horror comic, at a time when several really great horror comics are being published. One thing it has in common with all of those books is that it has a mastery of suspense and atmosphere, building up those things and ratcheting the tension even though not really all that much is happening.
In this issue, Erica Slaughter gets the right tools for the job of monster-hunting and then sets out to do just that. Tommy also finds a tool to do what he needs to do, putting him even more at cross purposes with Erica. The Sheriff gets a surprise phone call from a new player.
James Tynion IV’s writing continues to be solid. He’s smart to pair the hyper-competent Erica up with the timid and unsure James, making all of their interactions fun to read. Tynion also takes the time to really develop Tommy as an antagonist, making every choice he makes completely understandable despite our knowledge that it’s the wrong choice. In this issue, Tynion starts hinting at a larger world outside of what we’ve seen so far in the series, but it feels natural.
The art by Werther Dell’edera is exceptionally well-rendered. He uses a sketchy, gritty style that’s appropriate for the atmosphere of grief and dread, but still detailed enough that it all feels real, even at its most outlandish. His sense of design--Erica’s balaclava, the glimpses we get of the creature, the tattoo on the hand of the mysterious new character--is stunning as well. Miquel Muerto’s coloring and the lettering by Andworld Design are strong as well, both seeming to take a backseat to the line art but helping to build that sense of dread throughout the issue.
Something is Killing the Children is a strong comic, one of quite a few tremendous horror titles at the end of 2019. This issue is another great one and ends with probably the biggest cliffhanger of the series so far.
