James Tynion IV in his story takes us to a small town in the USA, where there are a series of unexplained disappearances and murders. As the title suggests, children are the victims. The mysterious Erica, whose eccentric behavior arouses suspicions from the inhabitants and local police, will deal with the solution to this puzzle and get rid of the perpetrator. She will be accompanied by a witness and a would-be victim of the slaughter.
Erica – the fear of the monsters
Something kills kids, it definitely puts more on mystery and action than the slow increase in tension. There is less vague threat lurking on the characters and a gradual building of the mood, and more direct, brutal attacks and face to face with the supernatural attacker. It’s still a horror movie, but not trying to evoke a feeling of anxiety in the reader (which is quite difficult in the case of comics), just a bit more adventurous like Stranger Things or To (especially the 2017 film adaptation).
“Something Kills Kids” – comic book fragment
The character of Erika Slaughter evokes associations with Buffy, Saya from Blood: The Last Vampire , and even to some extent with Ciri the witcher (mainly because of her profession). The protagonist of the series is engaged in tracking and eliminating a specific type of monsters on behalf of the principals remaining in the shadow. She travels from town to town, trying not to draw attention to herself, but her distinctive appearance and non-standard modus operandi make her hard to ignore. The creators had to be careful not to make the heroine too cool and edgy. Fortunately, they managed to avoid falling into self-parody, although it has to be admitted that they were dangerously close to making Erika the indestructible Mary Sue, who walks in all white to immediately “crack out” the monster and emerge from the skirmish completely red. Well, after all, this is an entertaining action-horror movie, not some sophisticated horror comic.
“Something Kills Kids” – the main character, Erica Slaughter
Bloody entertainment
The characteristic, but not overly stylized drawings by Werther Dell’Edera also work well. You won’t find any innovative compositions here or a revolution in the frame layout, but everything is composed efficiently and has a clear character. The colourist Miquel Muerto did a solid job, mainly using subdued colors, additionally dimming them with a delicate raster. Thanks to this, when gore appears in the frames, its vivid red immediately catches the eye. Simple yet effective and pleasing to the eye.
“Something Kills Kids” – comic book fragment
Initially, Something Kills Kids was supposed to be a five-episode miniseries. However, the interest in the title and the support of sellers and comic book fans meant that even before the premiere of the first issue, the original publisher announced a change of plans. Despite this, the first volume is a relatively closed whole, the ending of which leaves the reader with no annoying cliffhangers, while signaling that the presented world still has a lot to offer. Just like a good first season of the series, which may or may not wait for the continuation.
It is not an ambitious title. It’s not even a breakthrough in the entertainment fantasy category. Nevertheless, Something Kills Kids is fun to read, so if you have an hour to spare, it will be a perfect read for a late-summer evening. Or to be absorbed in public transport on the way to school. Or at some other time.
