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Indie comics are a fantastic source of dark horror stories, thanks to comic creators' freedom from the constraints of the Marvel and DC universes. Independent publisher BOOM! Studios has a particularly strong history of releasing chilling stories within the horror genre. One of BOOM!'s best current horror offerings is Something Is Killing the Children, written by James Tynion IV, illustrated by Werther Dell’Edera and Miquel Muerto, and lettered by Andworld Design. This dark tale of supernatural horror takes place in a small town where children have been disappearing, and no one has any idea of how or why.
Something Is Killing the Children brings its readers chills from the very first pages of issue #1. The end of the issue treats readers to both psychological dread and gruesome violence. Like the best examples of its genre, these comics create a dark, foreboding atmosphere with their art that perfectly compliments the storytelling. Something Is Killing the Children also excels in providing the reader with plenty of mysteries while also providing enough information to keep the audience engaged with the story. By placing innocent children in danger, creating terrifying and powerful foes, and providing a mysterious and morally questionable hero to save the town, Something Is Killing the Children is a compelling read for any fan of horror comics.
What Is Killing the Children?
The title of Something Is Killing the Children gives away part of its plot right from the start, but issue #1 of the series keeps readers guessing for most of its length as to exactly what is happening to the young people in this unfortunate town. The issue begins with a slumber party and a ghost story–a classic set-up for a tale of horror. One child, James, tells his friends a story about a terrifying monster that lives behind their houses. In the next scene, James is in a police station, crying and covered in blood, starting to tell a detective what happened. Readers then see a mysterious woman, also covered in blood, with a fang-inscribed bandanna covering her face. Just as it seems she might provide some answers, the story refocuses on James once more, this time passing a memorial for his missing friends outside of school as other students blame him for their deaths.
By jumping quickly between scenes before readers are given context for the events they are reading, in an almost cinematic fashion, Something Is Killing the Children #1 keeps readers off balance, adding to the mystery and dread behind the story. Readers know that something terrible has happened, but they don’t know what, or who is to blame. Each additional flash of story gives readers a small additional piece of the puzzle, until eventually, the masked woman and James finally meet, and he tells her, and the readers, his story. At this point, the psychological drama of the comic transitions into blood and terror. James recounts going into the woods with his friends, getting lost, then hearing their screams. When he finally finds what is left of the other boys, the illustrations turn gruesome, bright red blood streaking across the pages until they culminate by revealing the horrifying monster.
Using Children to Heighten Fear
Many of the most effective horror stories use children as the actual or potential victims. Human beings are hard-wired to protect children, and the idea of young people being in danger creates a visceral reaction in readers who are likely to care more about the children’s safety than other adults. In Something Is Killing the Children, the monsters do sometimes kill adults, but they are primarily interested in hunting kids. In issue #1, missing posters are displayed showing dozens of children who have gone missing, and the victims readers are shown are all young people. This use of young victims creates a sense of urgency and fear in the readers that is only amplified once the horrific monster lurking outside the town is finally revealed.
Another way in which Something Is Killing the Children uses the distinction between children and adults is by isolating the children in a number of ways. Only children are able to see the monsters, which means adults are unlikely to believe them if they try to tell an adult what they’ve seen. This also means that when the monsters do kill adults, it’s even more terrifying, because the adults can’t see or understand what is happening. The comic also frequently shows children on their own, whether wandering near their houses after dark, or waiting for parents to come home from work. This physical isolation makes it easier for the monster to approach the children when they are at their most vulnerable. The audience is also affected by this physical isolation, as readers fear for the children who are alone with a shadowy, unseen threat nearby.
Mysteries and Uncertain Trust
Stories of monsters, particularly ones who kill in gruesome ways, are frightening on their own. But in order to really dial the terror up a notch, adding mystery to the story takes it to the next level. In the first issue of Something Is Killing the Children, readers are kept in the dark for most of the issue as to what is actually happening in the town. When the story is finally revealed, the art is dark and shadowy, echoing James’ confusion as he stumbles blindly through the pitch black woods. When the violence begins, the reader can see only bits and pieces of what is happening, highlighted by shocking red streaks of blood that practically glow against the dark illustrations. Even when the monster is revealed, it is still mostly cloaked in shadow, so readers can see the size and general shape of the creature, but still have trouble making sense of what they are seeing.
When Erica Slaughter, the woman in the fanged bandanna, shows up in Something Is Killing the Children's first issue, her identity is shrouded in mystery. The first issue doesn’t even reveal her name. In her first scene, she has clearly just fought something, but readers don't know what. When she speaks with James about the monster that attacked his friends, she still reveals almost nothing, only that she plans on killing the monster. This air of mystery also adds to the suspense of the story. This woman appears to be the best hope of defeating the terrifying creature terrorizing the town, but readers know nothing about her or her motivations. She seems competent, but she is working alone, and not with the authorities. Readers are left feeling uncertain about whether she can be trusted, which adds to the sense of peril surrounding the town and its youth.
Readers are spoiled for choice in horror comics, and Something Is Killing the Children is one of the best ongoing series today. This dark, supernatural story pits a mysterious group of monster killers against some of the most terrifying creatures to grace the pages of comics, leaving readers constantly on the edge of their seats, wondering whether the horrendous creatures will be defeated, and whether the innocent people of the town can even trust the very people who are trying to save them.
The first issue of Something Is Killing the Children starts the story off with dramatic use of both suspense and violence, creating a compelling beginning to a tale that will leave readers craving more. The audience is left wondering whether all the missing children have been gruesomely murdered, or whether there might be hope to save some of them. And with the monster still at large, there is a big question over whether Erica and James will be able to kill the terrifying creature, and how many more it might slaughter before the story ends. For anyone looking for an atmospheric and intriguing supernatural monster story this Halloween, Something Is Killing the Children is a great choice.