Something is Killing the Children Omnibus, Vol. 1

Something is Killing the Children #1-4

by James Tynion IV (Writer), Werther Dell'Edera (Illustrator), Miquel Muerto (Colorist)

WHAT IS ABDUCTING THE CHILDREN OF ARCHER'S PEAK?

When the children in a sleepy Wisconsin town begin to go missing, all hope seems lost. Most children never return, and those that do have terrible stories of terrifying creatures that live in the shadows. But even monsters fear the mysterious stranger that arrives shortly after. She believes the children and claims to be the only who sees what they can see...

Her name is Erica Slaughter. She kills monsters. This is all she does, and she bears the cost because it must be done.

The definitive collection of the entire “Archer’s Peak” saga by GLAAD Award-winning writer James Tynion IV (Department of Truth, Batman) and artist Werther Dell'Edera (Razorblades) is assembled here in a single volume.

Collects Something is Killing the Children #1-20.

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels, Fantasy

512 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2025

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[Mika · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

Volume 1
Nice start and already mysterious and tense. Curious to find out what the monsters are like and how James changes from this traumatic experience. I would be feeling horrible too after telling a scary story that becomes real soon after. I actually don't really like James 'cause he hasn't really done anything interesting yet, but let's see. Nine kids are dead and some missing. I hope Sophie is still alive, poor Tommy. So far so good, let's see how this monster hunting goes!

StoryGraph review

3/5

Volume 2
Gets more exciting. Happy that some things are explained now and also explored. The stuffed animal isn't that cute anymore after its backstory. Also, is Aaron now a good or bad person? He looks like some demon with his dark eyeballs, but I like his glowing eyes. The ending was such a cliffhanger!

StoryGraph review

3/5

Volume 3
Action, battles and conflicts. Erica's monster (her octopus plushie) also made another appearance. It's a bit ugly and I get why Erica didn't want to make it cute or beautiful and let it stay 'scary' but it doesn't really look scary to me, just ugly. Though I get what Bian means.

The House of Slaughter is not really intimidating to me and just appears to be some criminal people. Unless Erica who chooses to actively do something and not just watch and 'clean up the mess'. I mean, they go to the gymnasium and threaten the people to do what they say and it felt like some bank robbery or something. Not believing one bit that they are fighting for 'the greater good'. Hope that they are actually the antagonists and not just me disliking them for being so violent and selfish.

The Game of Nowhere was the most interesting part for me in this volume, probably 'cause it's a game of imagination and the panels associated with it had a different vibe to them.

StoryGraph review

3/5

Volume 4
This was the best volume so far. I loved the backstory and how we got more time to spend with Aaron in his younger years and seeing how he develops. Knowing now that there are so many different kinds of (monster) hunters and what kinds of tests one has to go through to determine one as worth or not was really interesting. The rite of trepanation is a bit confusing 'cause I believe one's imagination isn't always gone just 'cause one turns into an adult.

The Oscuratype looks so scary but also really beautiful when it's big and yellow with tentacles.

It's a bit sad that I liked the backstory volume so far the most. Hopefully I will start to like the next volumes more too!

StoryGraph review

4/5

Art Style

The art style wasn't really for me, but I think others can like it. Every artist has a different style and 'aesthetic' and I totally accept and respect that.

For instance, I didn't really like the colours of each panel that much. They were just too smooth or smeary? The blood was in such a light red that it didn't really look like blood. The shadows and reflections were better, but sometimes it collided with the other colour(s) so much that I didn't notice at first that it was meant to be a reflection or shadow. I also noticed that open mouths were drawn in an odd position, but maybe it just looks for me odd and is actually completely normal.

Actually, I do like high contrast art and also if it has a great dynamic, but it just didn't really feel natural (like the blood that isn't dark enough to actually look like blood). I liked the glowing eyes though!

As mentioned above, I belive that others can find enjoyment in it. It's just not for me.

Outroduction

The beginning was mediocre to me, but it starts to get more exciting and I think I will continue to read this series. I want to find out more and also get to know Erica, James, but also the House of Slaughter and Order of St. George better. I wish James and other characters get more depth to them as they felt pretty shallow so far compared to the House of Slaughter which was elaborated on who they are and their motives.

Thank you NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for the advanced reader copy of Something is Killing the Children Omnibus Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV, Werther Dell'Edera, Miquel Muerto and AndWorld Design.

StoryGraph review

Started the book: 27. October 2025
Finished the book: 28. October 2025
Wrote the review: 27. - 28. October 2025

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included volumes can be found here:
- Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1
- Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 2
- Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 3
- Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 4

[Ricarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to check out this series for a long time and now I was able to get my hands on this first omnibus collecting volumes 1 to 4, or single issues / chapters 1 to 20. I was always interested in this horror comic book series, because the title sure does attract attention. Turns out that it's also a very accurate description of the story that you get here. The small town of Archer's Peak is plagued by … something that killed nine children in two weeks and that doesn't seem to be stopping on its own. The first volume gets right to it, because it opens with a friend group getting slaughtered in a local ravine. Only one boy, James, managed to escape the brutal attack and so he learns of the existence of monsters. But luckily a young woman named Erica Slaughter arrives in town shortly after that and she is there to handle the problem with nothing but a few weapons (and maybe some supernatural help).

I don't want to talk too much more about the plot, because I don't want to spoil four whole volumes. So far the story revolved around the monster hunting of Erica and James, but also around the clueless local police and multiple grieving families. A big part of the plot focuses on the monster hunter organization that Erica is part of and I think that later volumes will follow in that direction. I have to say that I wasn't totally hooked on the story. The reader knows about the monsters right from the start and all the fights were over relatively quickly without leaving much to look forward to. Erica sure is a cool character, a rough and badass fighter who now has to take care of two children, but she was also the only character that I really wanted to read about. I liked the fourth volume best, because it was all about her backstory and her beginnings at the House of Slaughter, but it also created a weird pacing for the overall story. The art also wasn't my favorite, although it fit this kind of story and I have to praise the use of color. The blue scenes only interrupted by the brightest red blood were really something. Needless to say that there was a lot of violence and gore (including children) in here. It wasn't detailed enough to give me nightmares or anything, but it still is a mature read. I'm not sure how this series is going to progress in volume 5 / omnibus 2, but I also don't care enough to find out. I'm still very grateful for the opportunity to finally try this story, even if it ended up not really being my thing.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s what I wrote five years ago when I first encountered this series:
This is one of my new fave series ever!!! It’s got intrigue, a lead gal, crazy scary monsters, dump police, a secret society (I think?), and missing children. I mean what more can you ask for? Oh yeah and girly uses knives and a chainsaw to fight. Yeah that’s right a chainsaw.
If you don’t like children being injured/killed or too much gore this may not be the series for you. If, like me, reading that made you think ‘sweet sign me up’ then you should grab this

Side note: the bandana she wears is badass and I need a mask like it!! After all Covid hasn’t really left us. Today’s world is a good reminder of why we need fiction that is more horrific than reality... to keep us all sane. Because at least we aren’t living in a world of “something is killing the children”.

Today:
This is obviously a huge series today! And well deserved in its hype and status. If you don’t know about it yet and have an interest in horror/creature killing graphic novels then you MUST get on board. Especially before it becomes a (possible) TV show!

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork in this is very well-done. However, I was temporarily gifted an eARC on kindle, and I cannot recommend the kindle version at all. A lot of the panels are meant to be read all the way across a two-page spread, and it’s very difficult to do so on kindle. This leads to confusion and frustration while trying to keep up with the plot.

The plot itself is interesting, and I was hooked trying to figure out the origins of the “something”. I do need to issue a warning, however: All of these issues have gore and profanity to the extreme. To say that this was off putting is an understatement, but I knew somewhat of what I was getting into beforehand. It still shocked me.

I’m giving this a 4 here on Goodreads because it’s a fascinating story with fantastic artwork. On NetGalley, though, I’ll be rating the kindle version lower, due to the formatting problems.

YMMV.

Thank you to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for an eARC. All views are mine.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique concept executed with incredible artwork! Loved this omnibus which collects Volumes 1-4! Can’t wait to check out more of this series. The lore/world building was so cool, I wonder if we will see any Green masks in the future. Great to see the MC’s origin story included here.

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, illustrators, and BOOM! Studios for a copy!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've heard so many great things about this book, so when I saw this omnibus on NetGalley, I immediately requested.

The omnibus collects volumes 1-4, which is issues 1-20. I really enjoyed the artwork, the pacing, and plot of the story. The atmosphere of the art really lends to the horror in the plot. The characters become more fleshed out as we go along and learn more about our lead characters, Erica and James. I'm looking forward to reading more of the series and recommend it to those who love horror comics.

My thanks to Boom! Studios, the author, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a few years since I've read any of Something is Killing the Children, and I've fallen behind. I figured I was overdue for a reread to refresh myself on what I had already read before delving into what has come out since I last read it. The first omnibus volume is here just in time to refresh me on almost everything I had read in the past (minus five issues), which made it the perfect starting point. I'm incredibly grateful for the copy from netgalley that allowed me to read the omnibus.

Something is Killing the Children completely lived up to a reread for me. The art can be at turns haunting, chilling, and just very cool. The story is engrossing, and I was eager to see what came next even after having already read it. Erica Slaughter is a great protagonist, but the side characters really bring the story to life and make me want to know more as well. I'm looking forward to rereading the next few issues so I can finally get to the stuff I haven't read yet.

Something is Killing the Children is probably one of my all-time favourite horror series, in any medium. If the premise or the art appeal to you, I can't recommend it enough. My fellow fans of horror comics are lucky to have this one out in the world.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and BOOM! Studios for providing a copy of this comic!

I have been seeing this comic around and finally decided to give it a read when I saw this omnibus pop up on Netgalley and I wish I would have read it sooner! This comic is amazing! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I just couldn't stop reading and had to know what was going to happen next. The story is so horrific, but it never feels like the story is being overly gory. It was just such an intense read that will probably give me nightmares.
I wasn't overly into the art, especially the action scenes as it was often difficult to make out what was going on. Overall though I think the art style fit well with the story.
Highly recommend giving this a read if you are a horror fan!

[GiGi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayeee, re-read book 1 plus the extra 5 chapters to prep for reading book2. Imma have to take notes before I forget all these details again. The modus operandi of the Order of St. George and its members is dubious at best. But we love Erica. I wonder what happened to Jessica and why the Whites are allowed to act as they do considering that even the head (of this branch) of the organization sees the inherent flaws and wishes more hunters were like Erica. If even the much respected leader can bring about change, then who can? 🙄

[summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had already read Volume 1 before this, so I already knew I was into this series before reading more. I can definitely say I'm still having an amazing time with this brutal and violent series and am very interested to see what happens next. The last Volume in this collection set us back on pacing, but it was necessary backstory that I imagine gave us information necessary to understanding the next volumes. I am still enjoying following Erica as a character and can't wait to see where she goes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for an early copy of this collection.

[DB (DB's Guide to the Galaxy)]

DNF. I tried from the start but unfortunately things just weren't working out. I think it either might be James Tynion IV or the illustrator bc the style is the same for the woods (although I liked that at the start).

So yeah, not a fan of the drawing style or the plot - just confusing and all over the place.

[Ethan Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

rips. I really like how fleshed out the lore got in the flashback arc. can't wait to see where the characters go next.

[Calvin Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of James Tynion IV's approach to mystery and supernatural horror ever since I got the first volume of 'The Woods' in my hands, so naturally I've been meaning to give 'Something is Killing the Children' a read for a while, especially with the hype surrounding it, and the first omnibus of the series was a really good place to start.

The book is a hefty 512 pages long and includes the first 20 issues, covering both 'The Archer's Peak Saga' and the 'Me and My Monster' storylines. Without revealing too much, the story begins with the strange disappearances and gruesome murders of several children in a small Wisconsin town, killed by horrific monsters that are somehow invisible to adults. Enter Erica Slaughter, a mysterious young woman who can somehow both see and harm the monsters arriving to help.

This is most definitely a horror story, and it doesn't hold back with the gore and the violence, but at the same time it never feels exploitative or misanthropic. It depicts some pretty brutal and violent events, but it also acknowledges the tragedy and grief experienced by those left behind. The mystery surrounding the monsters attacking the children, and Erica herself, is the center of the plot, and it becomes very clear from the start that nobody is safe, but it's also pretty much a character-driven story as well.

Beyond the intrigue of the main plot, what makes the book work even more is that Erica is also a really likeable protagonist, as she balances being a no-nonsense badass who has seen a lot with actually genuinely caring about the people she is trying to help. Even if her ways are often risky and unorthodox, her heart seems to be in the right place. She is flawed but sympathetic. In fact, most of the smaller characters are treated with nuance, and even if they don't stick around for long, it doesn't feel like they were there only to serve as expendable plot devices.

The art, illustrated by Werther Dell'Edera and coloured by Miquel Muerto works perfectly in amplifying the eerie vibe of the story, and the pacing of the plot keeps you reading to find out what happens next. It's hard to praise the book more without giving away spoilers, but what I can say is that 'Something Is Killing the Children' definitely lived up to the hype for me.

A big thank you to BOOM! Studios for providing me with a review copy.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A PERFECT October read. This omnibus for Something is Killing the Children includes the first 20 issues, covering the Archer's Peak arc. It's set in the small town of Archer's Peak, where something is brutally murdering the children of the town, something that only the children can see. Enter Erica Slaughter. Mysterious, tortured, from a mysterious organisation here to save the day. Maybe.

Horror
Oh yeah, this is HORROR. Maybe I just don't read enough horror, but this genuinely freaked me out. In the best way. A super unsettling story that knows how to draw out tension.

Heads up that this is pretty gruesome, and as the title suggests, deals a lot with child death. There was a couple of panels that made me genuinely feel sick. They don't hold back on the gore. It is BRUTAL at times.

Art Style
THE. ART> Incredible, the artist did a fantastic job. This story, while interesting, may have felt like just another 'monster of the week' sort of comic is not for the incredible and unsettling art that described it. I loved the more muted colour panel of this, the 'blue' feeling of the town contrasting with the horrific red of the more brutal and graphic scenes. The monster design was unsettling, and for a long time you don't get a great look at it, further adding to the overall sense of unsettling fear that pervades the town and the art.

I really appreciated the slight style change when in memories. I noticed it particularly with Erica's flashbacks to the incident at her house as a child. The colours were warmer, more red/orange/warm brown and the art style more... streaky? Like the shading for the shadows are more obvious and gives it an overall less polished look that worked perfectly. Changing art-styles to convey differences in the narrative is something that always impresses me in graphic novels, and this was a particularly good example of that.

I read this digitally, and the formatting was a struggle at times when the panel spanned across the double page, meaning I was reading half a conversation until I realised, and then had to flick back and forth between the two digital pages to read it. I would recommend reading a physical copy if you have one avaliable (also because art this beautiful deserves a physical read!)

Character
Look, I own't lie, I saw the protagonist of this was called 'Erica Slaughter' and I ROLLED my eyes. But the comic as a moment of self-awareness there at least, and the name did grow on me the more I learned about the character. Erica was the quintessential 'cool yet tortured with a secret heart of gold' character. And, of course, an absolute badass. I loved the moral ambiguity of her, and the internal conflict as she struggles with what is right, and the trauma of what she does. The Order are doing good, but at a cost and with values she does not agree with.

Plot/Pacing
The first few chapters of this book drew me in from the get go. You jump in head first to this town and the horrors that are haunting it. I could not put it down.

The pacing dipped towards the middle of the book, a lot of hanging around and not a lot of action. While the more introspective moments were important to our understanding of these characters, it was frustrating at times with the looming mystery established in the first arc hanging over the story. Things heated up again towards the three-quarter mark.

Setting / Worldbuilding
I actually really enjoyed the expansion of the Order of St. George and the House of Slaughter, and learning about Erica's backstory. I ended up really loving Aaron Slaughter, which made the events at the end of the Archer Peak arc all the more heartbreaking. Yes, he was an asshole, but man I ended up loving him.

However, I wanted to know SO much more about the monster side of the lore. I felt like the lore was kept somewhat surface level. There was an understanding that there was a lot more going on there, that Erica and the Order know a lot more information than the reader is let into. I understand that withholding this information assisted in the mysterious and eeriness of the story, but I wanted to KNOW.

Final Thoughts
Something is Killing the Children in horror that isn't afraid to scare you. Equally engaging as it is brutal, that starts as what seems to be another 'badass defeats monster of the week' story that slowly unravels into so much more than that.

Thank you to Gemini Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Christopher Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT IS ABDUCTING THE CHILDREN OF ARCHER’S PEAK? When the children in a sleepy Wisconsin town begin to go missing, all hope seems lost. Most children never return, and those who do have terrible stories of terrifying creatures that live in the shadows. But even monsters fear the mysterious stranger that arrives shortly after. She believes the children and claims to be the only one who sees what they can see… Her name is Erica Slaughter. She kills monsters. This is all she does, and she bears the cost because it must be done.

Something Is Killing The Children Omnibus One consists of the creative team of Writer James Tynion IV (The Woods, The Department of Truth, The Nice House on the Lake), Artist Werther Dell’edera (Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys: The Big Lie, Batman: Detective Comics, Batman/Dylan Dog), and Colorist Miquel Muerto (Radiant Red, The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos, Teen Titans Academy) brings us one of the best horror comic series in recent years that consists of several spin-off titles (House of Slaughter and Books of Slaughter), an artbook, a newly announced crossover involving DC’s Swamp-Thing, and a live-action adaptation at Netflix.

There is a lot to unpack here. For starters, this Omnibus collects Issues 1-20 which consist of two story arcs The Archer’s Peak Saga, and Me and My Monster (which is more of a flashback story of who Erica is and explains the Order of St. George, an organization that consists of Hunters who are trained to locate and kill monsters, gifted with the ability to see the monsters into adulthood.) Second, it is fascinating to see the use of paranormal horror to explore childhood trauma and the grieving process. Third, this story has a well-written dialogue but it’s straightforward which has characters (both main and side) that made the series so memorable, and earned its place amongst popular Horror-themed Comic Books such as The Walking Dead, Hellblazer, and Killadelphia. Despite its use of supernatural and horror tropes, the writing stays grounded, while giving readers a sense of the melancholy of inexplicable tragedy.

I also want to explore the illustrative side of this book. Werther Dell’edera’s style of art accompanied by Miquel Muerto’s colors brought out how terrifying paranormal creatures and humans can be. The biggest thing I would like to stress is that this story does contain a lot of illustrated gore, mutilated bodies, and moments that can be intense for some readers. Dell’edera’s art style, eye for detail in Character/Creature designs, and action sequences, accompanied by Muerto’s color choices were another strong point in this story. The story is well-paced and doesn’t stray off like some books are known for, but with a creative team like this, it is clear to see why it is an Eisner Award-winning book.

[Chimene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first venture into this world of monsters and monster slayers and I was not disappointed.
I had seen graphic novels of this title at my local library so when the opportunity arose to read and review, I leapt at the chance

Storyline
Clear and understandable storyline that builds depth as it goes. Showing the reader how Erica Slaughter came to be and how the order, House of Slaughter works.
In the story, children are taken by monsters. The monsters thrive off of the fear generated by the children's belief in them.

I loved how the history and culture of the order was built - a system of masks and ranks. I was drawn in my the idea of it starting with Sir George and the defeat of the dragon. The information wasn't thrown at me all at the beginning either, it was like collecting pieces and then watching it come together at the end.

Artwork
Absolutely fantastic... often frantic; and a good use of colour to set scene and tone.

Arrangements
The movement of the storyboard, the way it progressed over the pages - sometimes in different arrangements over one or two pages, was difficult to navigate as an E-reader. However, I can fully appreciate how it would work in a physical copy and would actually be really fun to follow. It makes the reader engage. It certainly moves the story in different ways depending on the layout too.

I loved the explosive full pages. Especially when it depicted one of the monsters.

Overall
A fantastic collection of ideas wonderfully executed - very entertaing and imaginative; lead by a strong (kick-ass) female lead! I would definitely recommend checking this one out.
Would I read this again? Absolutely. Would I read any more? I will definitely be on the lookout for more opportunities to read more of this world.

Gratitude
My thanks goes to all that made it possible to read and review "Something is Killing the Children" via NetGalley.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A welcome edition of the first twenty single issues of this mahoosive horror piece. It's doing a service to those who bought the first De Luxes, as well, as this includes the fourth chunk, "Me and My Monster", aka issues 16-20, which never got squished in with the first fifteen or the fifteen that followed them. What we have, for those who don't know, is a kind of monster-bashing procedural – a lass called Erica with a stupid haircut going after nasty critters, a nasty bunch of people controlling the whole thing, and the small town beset by the beastie in the first place, a beastie that is invisible to almost all adults, but has certainly been seen killing off the kids and teenagers.

I say procedural as human-to-monster combat is thin on the ground, and a lot of the book is taken up with the dippy police, and the general reaction and interference of us humans in the case. We certainly get to gel with Erica a lot more than if she had just been a monotonous hack-and-slasher. If anything the gelling is slathered on too much with that "Me and My Monster" part, as we flashback to when the lass first encountered monsters – and first proved able to handle herself against them.

Apart from the bonus arc, this is vanilla – there's no covers or other end-matter, apart from an advert for one of the many spin-off books. But I have to say I enjoyed the chance to get up to speed, as I'd seen none of this before. There's quite the rich mythology here, with the monsters mostly being invisible, and the cultish St George lot doing wrong to do right behind the scenes as well. You can see how it would have ended as just a five-part miniseries, how there is going to be a lot more to tell than is in the fifteen ongoing episodes here, and why it's thought so well of. I'm not a fervent fan – certainly some of it is too gloomy and dark for enough visual clarity at times – but it's solid enough stuff.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, James Tynion IV, Werther Dell'Edera, and Miquel Muerto for the opportunity to read Something is Killing the Children Omnibus 1 in exchange for an honest review.

This first omnibus collects issues #1-20 of Something is Killing the Children. It compiles the entire "The Archer's Peak Saga" (#1-15) and "Me and My Monster" (#16-20).

"The Archer's Peak Saga" follows these mysterious disappearances and murders of children in a small town. Some bodies are found, while some are not. Enter Erica Slaughter, part of the Order of Saint George. She knows what the town is dealing with, and it is up to her to slay the monster without the townsfolk finding out about her and her Order.

"Me and My Monster" follows a young Erica and shows the story of how she came to be with the Order and what makes her so skilled as a "black bandana" hunter. The reader gets a beet more of the lore behind the Order of Saint George and how the various branches operate.

I found this compendium to be brilliant. The artwork has a somewhat realistic feel, while still feeling like the world of a graphic novel. It is a great horror work, and there is plenty of gore for slasher fans. The gore isn't super detailed, but it's enough to hit the spot. The coloration is done in such a thoughtful manner to set the tone and mood of different aspects of the story. The writing is great too.

The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the two-page spreads, and I think that just has to do with my reading it on a digital platform. On the physical page, spreads are always nice, but digital, sometimes I couldn't tell, since my reader can only do one page at a time, and I did have to click back and forth a lot. At least half the book (or more) is made up of two-page spreads.

An utterly amazing omnibus fit for any graphic novel collector and horror lover.

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an omnibus, not a graphic novel, and as such has very visible pacing issues. Each individual comic only had so much room to establish the story, build up the tension and then come to an ending, which means those moments connecting 1 to 2 to 3 are emotional or story cliffhangers; so reading them all back to back to back feels jumpy and scattered. Any time there’s a scene meant to build up the fear — about the monsters, about if this character or that will live (most don’t) — it’s interrupted and all of that momentum is lost.

The comic series is a combination of Buffy and grimdark, with no light and fluffy moments or team building to soften the constant blows. There are constant moments of children dying, being eaten, or their bodies being left strewn on the floor; scenes of grieving parents waiting in a line to be able to see their child’s remains; innocent people being killed by the organization they think is there to help them.

The story does tie up in a tidy bow in 15 installments, but then the book keeps going to show us Erica’s past, and then has a very awkward ending as the final comic shows a bit of her brother’s training before the omnibus simply … ends. Honestly, it’s not a great collection.

While I did like the art, and some of the ideas, the overall execution in the compilation of the arrangement of the omnibus itself is flawed, and poorly done. Which is a shame because this series had some great potential. Overall, if you like the series, this omnibus gives you a bunch of the comics in one place. If you’re in the mood for a Buffy-esque adventure with lots of blood and dead and dying children, this might be just what you want. But for myself, this is a meh.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Paz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this was fun.
Something is Killing the Children is a monster story. The first arc is set on a little town called Archer's Peak. A sleepover goes wrong when one of the kids dares his friend to go to the woods where he says he saw a monster days ago. The four friends go, and though the story was always a child's lie, it's a blood bath. This made up monster turns out to be real, and after the massacre just one of the kids survives. After, when rumors spread and the list of children disappearances keeps getting bigger, Erica Slaughter arrives. She's strange, she's on a mission, she's hunting the monsters that threaten the children of Archer's Peak.

This was so interesting. I loved the worldbuiling. Though at first I thought it was a little too vague, the last five issues collected here explore Erica's origin story. How she was recruited to the Order of St. George, the secret organization that fights monsters and also contains the secret from the world; and how she passed the first test to become a black mask apprentice. This particular story was awesome. I liked it way more than the Archer's Peak arc. It's so interesting and so heavily focused on characters and their dynamics, and also the different factions inside the Order. I was so interested in reading more about a certain character and this omnibus has a few pages teasing The House of Slaughter, a prequel series that it's exactly what I wanted. It was the best surprise and I can't wait to buy the series.

I think, if you like horror, action, adventure, if you enjoy darker stories and are okay with a little bit of gore, you will enjoy this.
Though I think the Archer's Peak story (the first fifteen issue out of the twenty collected here) is a good introduction to the world of Something is Killing the Children, it was the last five issues that really sold me on this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for this e-arc to review.

[Camilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anmelderudgave fra netgalley.com - publiceret hos BOOM! Studios.

I en lille amerikansk by forsvinder børn på stribe - nogle bliver fundet lemlæstede og i flere dele, andre er bare væk.
James er eneste overlevende vidne, da hans vennegruppe bliver brutalt myrdet, men han tør ikke fortælle, hvad han så. Resten af byen tror, at han har noget med mordene at gøre, så da den mystiske Erica Slaughter kommer til byen for at få bugt med, hvad det end er, der slår børnene ihjel, bliver hun hans store heltinde.
Erica er monster-dræber for et hemmeligt selskab, som er de eneste der kender sandheden om, hvad der lurer i mørket.
Kan hun redde resten af børnene i den lille by, før det er for sent?

Wow - bare wow!
Jeg åd den her tegneserie-samling på en aften!
Tegneren har virkelig formået at skabe billeder, der giver den helt rigtige atmosfære og stemning til historien - det er mørkt, skræmmende og mystisk.
Forfatteren til historien har skabt noget helt særligt, ved at give os en verden, hvor vores værste mareridt kan blive til virkelighed - og der er ikke noget vi kan gøre ved det.

Der er masser og action og mystik igennem serien, og man er aldrig helt sikker på, hvem der måske dør på næste side.
Som læser skal man være opmærksom på, at der er virkelig meget "gore" og grafiske billeder af lemlæstede børnelig - bare en heads up, hvis det ikke er noget man er til.
Karaktererne er super gode og troværdige - især den hårdtslående og nådesløse Erica Slaughter!

Så hvis du er til splatter og horror, så er det helt sikkert en tegneserie for dig!

[Polycraftory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have seen this series for many years at comic con and the like and didn't think the art style was for me and wow was I wrong! This is such a perfect style for the story it tells. This graphic novel tells the story of a small town, Archer's Peak as a bunch of kids start going missing and end up dead. When a strange woman named Erica shows up in their town and starts interviewing the last survivor of his friends slaughter things get more clear.

THIS IS SO GOOD. If you like monster stories, horror stories, and/ or stories of strong smart women this would work for you. The art adds to the vibe of the story, the bright color choice of the blood, and the very cool character designs. I really liked the ramp up of tension. Erica and James are both very interesting characters with deep depth. The other towns folks are also interesting with histories that are robust. For a graphic novel this is so deep and thought out.

I am so interested in reading more of the series and also the spin offs about other characters, especially Aaron.

I received this arc in return for my honest review. Thank you Netgalley!

Review by Nic @polycraftory on Instagram & Tumblr where I do book reviews and crafts with my polycule. If you are curious about my thoughts on more books, you can find me @businesswife on Storygraph or Nic Morrow on Netgalley. You can also find content warnings on my Storygraph review of this book. You can also find my reviews @polycraftory on Goodreads.

[Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has been on TBR forever, and it's come up several times when looking for other media that are similar to Sword Interval and the early seasons of Supernatural and the first two seasons of Stranger Things. This story hit it out of the park for me! It's everything I've been itching for in a read for the Halloween month! I loved the way the story unfolds like a lotus blossom, until you can finally see the full picture of what exactly is going on. But even then, after the first arc completes, it's very obvious this world is much richer in lore than you realize. The first arc focuses solely on a small Midwest town that's been besieged by monsters that have been snatching the children and killing them. The problem? Only children can see the monsters, while adults can't. Erica arrives, alone with nothing but a backpack and a plush Octopus, and sets to work on getting rid of the monsters. The story managed to hook me in from the very first chapter (which is the first comic issue), and I couldn't stop reading. I also really like the art! It's gritty and matches the tone, but also it's very clear to understand precisely what is happening. A little too clear at times when there is something gory happening! I'm excited to read the rest of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Chris Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

S/O and TY to Netgalley for the EPub of this omnibus collecting volumes 1-20 of this BOOM!studios comic.

The story centers around a mysterious stranger named Erica Slaughter who arrives in a sleepy Wisconsin town where children have become targets of brutal attacks by unbelievable means. Erica is there to hunt monsters, regardless of police apprehension and the distractions of her child tag along accused-murderer-turned-sidekick, James.

The art style is really unique and Erica’s too big eyes and smudged eye make up make for some really striking and iconic panels throughout the graphic novel. The monster designs have you stop the page to study their grotesquerie before jumping back into the story.

The author does a great job making the town feel alive by shifting perspectives to the normal citizens including Tommy, a manager at “Applebeans”, whose younger sister Sophie is missing amongst the brutal killings and Sheriff Joe who’s also investigating the murders albeit in a non-supernatural way.

As the story threads are pulled further Erica’s mysterious past is revealed little by little and more characters enter the not so straightforward life of the monster hunter.

4/5 stars would recommend for anyone who enjoy Horror, Urban Fantasy, Magical Realism, and Secret Societies.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action packed horror graphic novel! Something is Killing the Children Omnibus, Vol. 1 takes place in a small Wisconsin town, where children start to go missing. One night, a teenaged boy James and his friends sneak off at night on a dare and come face to face with a monster. James makes it out alive, but it is filled with guilt because he was the lone survivor. Erica Slaughter, who is part of a secret organization Order of St. George that kills these monsters, arrives to town and joins forces with James to hunt these creatures down.

This was a fun and suspenseful read! The story captivated me right away. I wanted to find out what these monsters were and why they were going after the children. Check your triggers because this was a dark graphic novel, filled with child death, blood, and dismemberment. I really liked the art style and glad that Werther Dell'Edera and Miquel Muerto weren't afraid to make this gory. I was happy that James Tynion IV included some back story on Erica Slaughter towards the end. She was such a mystery to me and the later chapters gave an insight on how she joined the Order of St. George. The omnibus features issues #1-20. Can't wait for volume 2!

Thank you, NetGalley and BOOM! Studios, for the ARC.

[Ángel Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estamos ante una serie aclamada por todo dios, pero que nunca me había animado a probar. ¿Por qué? Por el señor Tynion.

Este hombre es un bluf, y tarde o temprano lo demostrará, estoy seguro. Sabe cómo plantear tramas interesantes, eso es indudable, e incluso continuarlas durante un tiempo más o menos largo. Pero también estoy completamente convencido de que no tiene ni puñetera idea de cómo terminarlas. El hombre sigue y sigue, alargando tramas como chicles, nunca terminando ni una sola serie. En The nice house by the sea ya ha empezado a asomar la patita, clonando malamente el anterior arco argumental, y vaticino que así pasará con todas. Lo siento, pero este señor me parece el J. J. Abrams de los tebeos, y el tiempo me dará la razón. Pero, mientras llega ese triste momento en que sus creaciones se desmoronen como casas de naipes, hay que reconocer que el tío nos hace disfrutar. Venga, señor Tynion, cuéntenos cómo una zagala rubia con ojos de flipá se carga monstruos comeniños, a ver hasta dónde llega con esto. Yo le acompañaré en el camino, y prometo ser el primero en aplaudir si logra arribar a buen puerto. Pero usted sabe que no tiene plan ninguno. Ojalá me equivoque.

[Federica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this graphic novel in exchange for a honest review via NetGalley.
Graphic and gruesome, although the images are striking and not suitable for the faint-hearted, the story manages to captivate and keep you glued to the pages to find out how it ends. Reading the individual chapters probably wouldn't have kept up with the pace of the narrative because some parts are slower than others, while reading all them together in a single volume allows you to appreciate both the character development and the context much better. The illustrations are well done, perhaps not a style I particularly love, but they still convey the atmosphere of the book very well and allow for a complex characterization of characters and settings. I appreciated that the last chapters are all dedicated to the House of Slaughter and Erica, who inevitably ends up being the most interesting character even in the first part, so you can't help but want to know more about her. I find it hard to imagine how the story could continue (which I imagine it will, given the “To be continued” ending), and although it's not a book for everyone, I recommend it nonetheless.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of the original “Something is Killing the Children” along with other material that revolves around the storyline.

Chapters 1-15 contain the original story that was released as comics (each chapter individually) and as a graphic novel.

This is dark. Maybe you caught that hint from the title. Honestly, I thought you would have some “off screen” kills of teenagers and we would move on. Nope. Little kids ripped in half and eaten. Yep. It’s never grotesque, but it is bloody and disturbing.

If you like a good horror movie, this is perfect for you. But it sure is dark in nature. I don’t want to get into too much because of how it can spoil things, but the general premise is that when you were a little kid and believed in monsters, they could be real. And there is an organization that fights them.

Blood and mayhem start early and is often. All of this encompasses a solid mystery. What is going on? What’s behind this? Is there a way to make it end?

Not for the faint of heart. But well written and solid artwork.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.