Something is Killing the Children #48 is written by James Tynion IV and published by BOOM! Studios. Artwork is by Werther Dell’Edera, colours by Miquel Muerto, and letters by AndWorld Design. Main cover art (left) is by Werther Dell’Edera.
Something is Killing the Children #48 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
The hunt at the Lodge continues as the Slaughterverse intensifies!
Is Jessica’s past experience at the Lodge the key to their survival?
To fully eliminate the threat, Erica and Jessica will have to face a treacherous pack of monsters in the woods.
Will they be able to save the other visitors and leave unscathed?
Review
Erica and Jessica are out on the hunt, and we cut to them mid-action sequence, which is always exciting. Timeline-wise, we are still in the past, which means a young Erica — something I have personally been really enjoying. Learning how her character came to be, the lessons she learned, and the struggles she endured make for a genuinely fun read. This scene, as it unfolds over the course of the issue, has some of my favourite character moments and dialogue. It was actually quite moving to see these two characters be so vulnerable with each other. I am used to seeing them so surface-level and cut-throat, so the genuine emotion took me aback — a real testament to the writing.
The art is, as always, so beautiful. Each frame, each choice of colour, and specifically the use of shadows, is brilliant. It not only adds to the atmosphere but also contrasts with the blood red we see so often.
The issue reiterates that the order and the houses are there to “keep the existence of monsters a secret, through any means necessary.” This has always been a big part of this world, but you can feel that the means are becoming more desperate. In my review of Fall of the House of Slaughter #2, I mentioned that the grip the houses and the order have over the press, media, and internet has slowly weakened, meaning people are becoming more and more suspicious. It is one thing for a small town to gossip about some random monster, resulting in folklore — it is another thing entirely when tech-savvy, question-prone young people are not buying the lies.
Once again, the side characters add real charm to this issue. The two kids in the store have a wonderfully sceptical “I am not buying it” attitude, which contrasts perfectly with the entire operation of the houses and what they are trying to pull off. As an avid reader and fan of this series, what I have come to learn is that the side characters really make or break the story quality. If they are not fleshed out and interesting, the core story falls flat. I suppose that is because what Erica and company are up to — monster hunting — is quite repetitive by nature, so the side characters and their messy lives, one-liners, and various personalities carry a lot of weight. Thankfully, we have been on a streak of great side characters, and this issue is no exception.
Verdict
Something is Killing the Children #48 delivers yet another strong issue, balancing action, emotion, and world-building with real confidence. Thrilling from start to finish. A great read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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