Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review, "Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1"
by James Tynion IV. Overall, it was a very interesting horror graphic novel. Children are going missing at an alarming rate in Archer's Peak. When Erica Slaughter comes into town, she is ready to find the missing children and slay monsters along the way. While the graphic novel has a good premise, it felt like there wasn't much of any back story. For volume 1 being the first 5 comics, I was hoping for more insight into the monsters or at least Erica Slaughter. I would be interested in seeing where this story leads.

This comic was definitely in the vein of Stranger Things or Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Kids start going missing a kick butt woman comes in to save the day. The dark art style was atmospheric and interesting. Unfortunately, I wasn't a huge fan of the story. I found that that the characters weren't well defined enough for me to really connect with them. With comics, I need either the characters or the plot to be interesting enough for me to want to continue and neither was true here. The monster was too basic and easy to be interesting. I found the mysterious corporation calling the main character wasn't given enough context to be intriguing either. I'm sure there is an audience for this, but I just found it lacking.

I don’t read graphic novel very often, but i really liked this one. I found the cover amazing and decided to give it a try, and man! I loved the artwork, and even though it had only 5 chapters, i found the history very intriguing and see a lot of potential in the other volumes. I’ll definitely read the other ones.

Firstly the artwork in here is awesome! Loved it! The story is fun and fast paced and has loads of potential at being awesome. I just didn't feel I had enough of it to say it's at that point yet but still a really cool start! I enjoy that it has a bit of alot of things rolled into one in it.

This graphic novel truly had me at the edge of my seat the entire time and left me want to read more to find out what happens next. And the illustrations were truly fantastic. Can’t wait for the second volume to come out.

Something Is Killing the Children is a new series from BOOM! Studios written by James Tynion IV and drawn Werther Dell’Edera, with Miguel Muerto on colors. This first volume of the series finds a small town plagued by a number of missing and murdered children. Not great! When one kid named James does return, the police don’t believe his gruesome story of monsters in the woods being responsible for the dismemberment of his friends. The mystery escalates when a woman going by Erica Slaughter shows up in town, saying she believes James and that she’s come to take care of the problem.

Something Is Killing the Children is told through the eyes of several characters. The aforementioned James, Erica Slaughter, and a member of the town named Tommy, whose sister is among the missing children. James seems to be loosely based on Tynion himself, based on his name, appearance, and what I know of Tynion. One of the problems with using this many narrators in what is a relatively short amount of page space (just 120 pages of actual story-telling) is that I never felt like we got a good window into any of them. There’s a lot of setup being done for future volumes here, but it leaves the story in this first volume feeling a bit incomplete. I was half-way invested in everybody but fully invested in nobody.

The most compelling character is probably Erica Slaughter. While I’m sure her name is meant to be on the nose, it’s still a bit eye-roll worthy. She’s in the Van Helsing/Elsa Bloodstone monster-slayer mold. There’s some mystery built in about her benefactor, but I think I’d have found her story more compelling had we been left to wander more about who exactly she is and how she knows what she knows.

The layout of the book is a bit of a departure from the norm. Tynion uses a ton of two-page spreads for stacking long panels full of dialogue, instead of using them as traditional splash pages. I liked it, but it does make reading on digital platforms a bit more work. The story otherwise flows well and is quickly paced, which is a thing I’ve had some problems with when reading some of Tynion’s previous work.

This is the first time I’ve read a book drawn by Werther Dell’Edera. It’s always nice to see new artists. My best description of Dell’Edera’s line work is messy. That probably sounds like a criticism but it’s more just a stylistic choice. It works here, especially in some of the more grotesque moments. His work in chapter five here was probably the highlight of the book and Miguel Muerto found the sweet spot on colors. I’d like to see more work from both of them.

This first volume of Something Is Killing the Children shows a bit of promise but ultimately fails to deliver a totally satisfactory story. I’m sure there will be more revealed in future volumes, but I don’t know that what I read here was interesting enough for me to keep going. It’s short and pretty breezy, so if you are a big fan of horror it might be worth your effort.

4.8

This is a graphic novel set in small-town where children are missing. A group of friends was having a sleepover and something horrible happens to them.

This graphic novel is morbid and full of gruesome pictures. Erica Slaughter arrives in town, knowing what to do in the process of saving all of the killed children. She meets James, who was the lone survivor of the horrific event that killed his friends. Erica and James decided to help out one another to save all of the children that haven't been killed due to the monster's hunger.

The monster feeds off scared children and an unknown society is the only one who is able to save the children and town from further killings.

I enjoyed this graphic novel since I'm trying to venture off into the darker side of graphic novels this was the one for me. I love the creepy art, the graphic deaths, and the way the artists created the monster. This was something that I've been looking for forever since I've been reading graphic novels. I want to read more of these indie graphic novels and see which I would like more. I can't wait for the second volume and see what happens.

I would like to say thank you NetGalley for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Great storyline, I'm not used to reading graphic novels but this has been an interesting experience. The scenery and characters are really well drawn, and as someone who dabbles a little in art, I was able to appreciate that. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review and read this ARC.

I have enjoyed everything that I have read from James Tynion IV so far and this didn't disappoint.

This book gave me all the Buffy vibes that I didn't know I was missing. It was a great balance of dark, creepy atmosphere and intriguing storyline.

I loved the artwork, it suited the story perfectly.

Would definitely recommend!

I'm bad at getting a clue as to where the plot will follow (plots twists shock me almost always), but when it comes to worldbuilding I get something here and there every now and then and when I saw the teddy bears, I got a lot of ideas of what they mean in history, mainly because of Erica.

It is recommended for those who like some macabre things and have no problem seeing grotesque things, as they appear several times during the story, the creature to be fought resembles more those of horror films/series, nothing mythical - as specific mythologies, werewolf or bigfoot. And there is that cliché of terrible things happening in small towns, that can be charming

I'm in no way a comic book/graphic novel buff, even if I have read more than just a few in my time. In other words, this review won't be telling you who the artwork or story line or whatever reminds me of, as I don't have much to compare it to, but I will try my best to briefly tell you why I thought it was great.

Firstly, the story is super intriguing and expertly paced. I think even if I had to read each standard comic-length chapter on its own, rather than in this combined volume of chapters 1-5, I would have still loved every short second of it. There's a constant build up of tension and suspense, and there are enough nods at a larger world outside of the first few chapters to capture the attention. The characters also hint at major depth, and the plot demands your curiosity. In a word, it's riveting.

Next, the artwork. But even more than that, THE COLOURING. Wowie! The moody blues and striking reds meld perfectly with the expressive artwork to create an atmospheric experience I haven't yet had when reading a comic. Obviously the monsters/kids story line has a lot to do with this too, but I got major Stranger Things vibes from the images, and I wasn't complaining one bit.

Overall, this is a fantastic comic series, and I just can't wait to somehow get my hands on the next volume. For now, though, I'm fo' sheezy going to check out the author's other series, The Woods.

I graciously received this as an ARC from Netgalley for review. Thank you so much!

Honestly guys, I had no idea what to expect, and I was a little worried. I love horror, but typically I do not handle things involving kids very well. Was this going to be a gore fest? I really hoped not, but I prepared myself for it anyway. Did the author take a different route? A psychological thriller perhaps? Would it be a man instead of a monster? Was it going to be a slow burn, or would it jump into the story pretty much right away? I couldn't wait to find out.

Well friends, I'm happy to say, this was superb! I read it as soon as I got it, and it did not disappoint! What fun! I didn't have to sift through pages and pages of background info, bored out of my mind. It only took a few pages for the action to begin. The story was intriguing, and it was paced so that I didn't get bombarded with information. I got just enough to keep me interested, while also making me want to pick up the future volumes that I'm sure will go deeper into the mythology as the series goes on. The art was very pleasing to the eye, and the color was gorgeous. I never got the different characters mixed up, or panels confused, and the dark tone of the colors matched this story perfectly. Also, the lines were sharp when necessary, but muted in other places, controlling the scenes, and how they are seen by the eye. The whole book was absolutely wonderful.

I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone who loves the horror genre, in all it's forms. I believe this is to be appropriate for ages 13 and up.

While I had some issues with the format of the digital copy I was reading - this book was fantastic. I would love to pick up a physical copy. This comic is dark, and beautifully rendered. I always feel like horror centered around children is far scarier than horror centered around adults - this was no exception. The art draws you in immediately, you come for the art, but you stay for the story.

Well this was a bloodbath – in a small town, suddenly there are cases of children disappearing, and most recently, a group of kids doing some dares on a sleepover all got killed, save for one – James. James is looked at with suspicion by his peers as well as the adults – more so because he isn’t ready to share the gruesome and unbelievable details of the monster that attacked them that night. Going off a rabid bear angle, the authorities are making no headway in the case either – until Erica Slaughter arrives in town. A mysterious and aloof character, Erica approaches James for details, and reluctantly allows him to tag along. But the monster is much more than Erica had been led to believe, and things are getting dicey with an older brother of one of the missing children suspecting her, along with the sheriff’s office.

The coloring scheme of this graphic novel is marvelous – for even a grim setting as this one, the typical Boom studios’ vibrant palette is retained in touches of bright shades against slightly muted colors, like the brilliant green of Erica’s huge eyes, or the nearly fluorescent streaks of blood. The artwork and storyboard bring forward the story in a compelling way, though the many 2-page spreads made things a bit difficult in a digital medium. There is a lot of background information about Erica that is only hinted at, like the symbol that keeps appearing, or the reach of her acquaintance who smooths things over officially. I would love to know more about this enigmatic character, as well as Erica’s backstory, but sadly that will have to wait until future volumes, I guess.

I don’t usually read graphic novels, but this one was really entretaining. I liked the art in it, and left me wanting to read the next volume.

The title says it all. The worst nightmare of your childhood came true. But don't fear, because there's someone here to save you. Her name is Erica Slaughter and she's just as fierce as the monsters she slays.

Something is Killing the Children is aptly horrific and vindictive. And this is just the beginning of a violent, complex story filled with mystery and mysticism.

Volume 1 of this graphic novel is just what the doctor ordered.

Hauntingly grotesque and gorgeous illustrations? Check.

Badass and inscrutable monster-slaying heroine? Check.

Mysterious mythos and hints at more complex worldbuilding to come? Check.

My only complaint is that this instalment isn’t nearly long enough. I need more Erica Slaughter and I am dying to find out what happens next.  Erica is mysterious and has a dangerous edge to her, and her big beautiful haunting eyes are quite creepy, fitting the tone of this graphic novel perfectly. She isn’t completely jaded and hardened, however.  I don't want to say more at the risk of spoiling anything.  I will say that she is definitely a fascinating character that I look forward to getting to know better.

Volume 1 of There’s Something Killing the Children only scratches the surface of a fascinating and unique mythos. I’m very eager to dig deeper once Volume 2 is released.

This is recommended to those who are looking for an atmospheric, thrilling, and compelling story about a small town that’s being plagued by something that’s killing the children...

This review will appear on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/ and other platforms on May 26, 2020.

I was granted an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
...and let me say that I LOVED IT. Something is Killing the Children is a perfect horror story, and I adore Erica Slaughter. The art style is excellent and fits the vibe of the story. The only qualm I have is that it was a bit difficult at times to read on my laptop (my e-reader only allows for one page of panels at a time, most panels aren't doubled but there isn't a differentiation of them), but overall this didn't present a huge challenge.

I would 100% recommend this to anyone looking for a dark, spooky tale with a badass female lead. I already can't wait for the next installment!

4.5/5 stars

Something is Killing the Children was a gripping, terrifying, and heart pounding read. In other words; I LOVED IT.
For fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Alien, I can guarantee you will not put this graphic novel down.

I am trying to professionally write about the main character but I adore her so much I cannot help but fan girl a little. ERICA SLAUGHTER- what a name- was both intriguing and brilliant. Honestly, from the moment we see her covered in blood, from the monster she slayed, it was love at first sight. I enjoy nothing more then reading books/graphic novels about kick-ass women saving the day. This volume was such a good introduction to her character- we're given enough details about her and the organisation she works for to keep us interested without given all the answers away and I'm excited for volume 2.

The plot really leaves you guessing and in addition to Erica, I need to know what is going to happen with James. That poor boy- all I wanted to do was hug him.

The illustrations were phenomenal. I appreciate the dark tone which gives the already creepy graphic novel an even creepier feel. The fight scenes were my favorite and the artwork was done so well. My hat goes off to the illustrator because he had to do a lot of gory scenes.

Overall, if you like horror then you NEED to check out Something is Killing the Children. Especially, if, like me, you tend to crush on kick-ass women who weld machetes or if you like the gruesomeness of the Walking Dead mixed with an incredible unapologetic heroine similar to the legend that is Buffy.

As expected, something is killing the children in the small (and previously sleepy) town of Archer's Peak. Thankfully, bad ass and super mysterious Erica Slaughter has arrived unannounced to put a stop the deaths and disappearances ... with a little help from a survivor of the recent carnage. While things start off pretty horrifying, setting the bar high pretty early on, the collection ultimately suffers from pacing issues and not very many scares.