Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 9

Something is Killing the Children #9

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

Erica Slaughter's secret backstory is finally revealed in five standalone stories revealing her early missions as a monster hunter.

THE UNTOLD HIDDEN HISTORY OF ERICA SLAUGHTER

Before the Archer’s Peak Saga… Before Cutter… Before the betrayals and blood and darkness… Erica Slaughter had one purpose: to hunt monsters.

The Eisner Award-winning series continues in this special arc of standalone stories, perfect for new readers. Uncover the secret backstory of Erica Slaughter as she travels to small towns across America in search of five unique monsters that are threatening the lives of children.

Collects Something is Killing the Children #41-45.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Horror, Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy, Adult, Suspense

144 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 17, 2026

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

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love what’s in this volume but I hate how short the volumes are. Sorry but this simply feels so unsatisfying to read. It doesn’t even end at a point where it would make sense. That’s the biggest issue with this whole series really imo. Unless this is supposed to be a whole flashback arc, I don’t see why they wouldn’t try to fit this whole flashback in one volume. At most two, I guess we will see

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come...

(A-) 80% | Very Good
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included issues can be found here:
- Something is Killing the Children #41
- Something is Killing the Children #42
- Something is Killing the Children #43
- Something is Killing the Children #44
- Something is Killing the Children #45

[East of Reality · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book collects volumes 41-45 and shows more of Erica’s training under — or rather, her trailing after — Jessica, the woman who saved her from the monsters and welcomed her into the Slaughter family and their duties as monster killers. Erica spends much of her time in this book worried about Jessica, who drinks too much, sleeps too little and works too hard. For all that she and Erica aren’t related, she’s the only family Erica has, and she’s worried about her, especially when Jessica shows signs of strain and distraction as the two head to Valmont Mountain House.

As ever, I love the art, and I like seeing the bond between Erica and Jessica reflected in how Erica treats the young children she manages to save. However, this is only four chapters, and ends on a cliffhanger which … isn’t my favorite. I get it, with the way comics are meant to be enjoyed, in small, bite sized, serialized bits, but I personally want instant gratification.

Still. I love the story, I like the characters, and I can’t wait to see more! Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The History We NEEDED!

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 9 is exactly the kind of backstory feast I love. It is rich, tense, and dripping with emotional shrapnel. This volume cracks open the hidden history of Erica Slaughter, giving us standalone journeys through her early hunts that finally pull the curtain back on how she became a Black Mask. We even get the thrilling deep-dive into Jessica, whose unraveling and mentorship have always loomed like a shadow behind Erica’s legend. It’s such a weirdly delicious experience: we already know where Erica ends up, we already know the tragedies that stamp themselves into her bones, and still… watching these formative moments unfold feels devastating in slow motion. There’s something electric about seeing the pieces click into place. The finale of Jessica in a snowy town from her past. The knowledge that Jessica already knows this town and the monsters that live there. I cannot wait for Volume 10 to come and destroy me emotionally. This series makes me feel all the emotions, but this arc feels powerful, inevitable, and heartbreakingly human.

[Mox Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who really knows me, or honestly, anyone who’s seen me in the past year, knows how deep my love for James Tynion IV’s work runs. Something Is Killing the Children has become a particular obsession, to the point where I have the Order of Saint George symbol tattooed on my right lower arm, placed exactly where Erica Slaughter bears it. It makes for an effortlessly lazy cosplay with a white tank top or even just my bloody teeth black mask.

By Volume 9, the series feels more assured than ever. While the expanding web of spin-offs and shifting timelines can make the world intimidating for new readers, longtime fans are rewarded here with a deeper, more intimate look at Erica’s past, especially her complicated history with Jessica and the painful weight of Jessica’s downward spiral involving alcoholism. Having followed the series since before the spin-offs and flashbacks, I loved getting this insider perspective on what shaped our main character. With the story continuing to evolve, and with upcoming animated and film adaptations on the horizon, I can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes them.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something is Killing the Children is the story of Erica Slaughter. After the deaths of her parents by an unseen by most adults monster, Erica was taken in by a monster hunter and raised in a secret society dedicated to hunting monsters and keeping the world in the dark from the nightmares that hunt children.

This volume takes place in the past, showing Erica as she joins her mentor Jessica on a hunt at a snowy resort that has a history of monster issues. After having read the previous eight volumes I have been looking forward to this one. The chance to learn more about how Erica was raised and her relationships with Jessica and the other members of the society are something I have been waiting to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boom! Studios for the opportunity to read and review this volume which I am giving 4⭐️.

I really enjoy the author of this series and have liked almost everything that I have read by him. I think this is actually my favorite volume of Something is Killing the Children especially that ending!

[Siina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Something is Killing the Children. I'm not usually into horror comics, but this series is superb! This volume offers us Erica Slaughter's past or some of it, since it probably continues in the next volume. It's wonderful to see Erica as a kid and Jessica with her too. "How I came to be" stories are great and offer new insights to the story line and characters. What I love the most is that nothing gets explained thoroughly. Usually this is a problem, but it fits so very well with the series and I like not knowing. I like getting bits and pieces here and there.

The art looks so great, it surely pleases the eye and adds more mystery too. Yeah, we see some monsters and blood, but it's all nicely veiled in darkness. I like this more than Stranger Things and this would be so awesome as a TV series. I'm also glad this is a long series too and we get to enjoy it more. I cannot wait to know more about Erica's past! And the stuffed toy, I need to know!!

[Pinecone Jam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5 stars rounded up

I’ve read other graphic novels written by James Tynion IV and one thing I can say for sure is that he ALWAYS delivers.

My intro to his work started off with The Deviant (another suspenseful read!) and The Closet. I’ve heard about SIKTC a while back but haven’t bothered to read it. I wish I started on this sooner because oh my god, Erica Slaughter, the woman that you are.

This volume centers on Erica Slaughter’s past as the apprentice to Jessica. In the 5 issues included here, we start to see Jessica’s attitude change in Erica’s teen years. The case they’re assigned to hints at something larger in store for the duo. I also enjoyed reading more of Aaron in this volume and seeing how he’s working with Erica from the sidelines. Definitely can’t wait to see where this leads!

Thank you NetGalley for a review copy of this graphic novel!

[Alex Sarll]

We're deep into flashback territory here, little baby Erica (those eyes looking even bigger) on a ski resort monster-hunting mission with her increasingly sozzled mentor. Plus, the mentor is herself flashing back to her own trainee days in that same location, and a past mission where something didn't go as planned. Quite what, we still don't know by volume's end, because this is also a flashback in format, to the days of decompression, two-page spreads given over to a supporting character getting dressed. Which, yes, builds tension in that particular instance, and you can never say doesn't look good on the page. And given I always read SIKTC from the library or, as here, in a Netgalley ARC, I'm not complaining too much. But with how much comics cost these days, if I were shelling out monthly, I likely would be.

[Tabitha (Reading Tabby) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and BOOM Studios for the advanced copy.

This is obviously joining the rest of the volumes on my shelves. The art by Werther Dell'edera has stayed consistently cool. I love the focus on faces and action. James Tynion IV's story has kept up as well, as we continue to follow young Erica with her mentor Jesse. Their relationship reminds me a lot of Joel and Ellie from The Last of Us, which I absolutely love.

This is another strong volume in the collection and it's sure to please fans... especially as we're getting into Jesse's back story now, with some history of her as a kid training alongside Cece. I just love this world and the characters and story. It's always an enjoyable time.

[Roxana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great addition to a great series, I love getting to see more of young Erica, the dynamic between her & Jessica, and to a lesser extent her and Aaron, is very efficiently portrayed. The art, as always, is top notch, evocative and dramatic and exciting. This volume doesn't wrap up a storyline, and I've gotten a bit used to the one-shots, which are fun, but a longer story? absolutely love it. Except for the part where I have to wait for the next issue to know what happens next, and it really is a shame that comics take so little time to read, and so much time to make. Anyway, SIKTC forever please!

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy! All opinions are entirely my own.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 9 of the “Something is Killing the Children” series is actually less gory and less scary than some of the previous volumes. It continues the lore of the series by shedding some light on the past of the main characters.

It was interesting to get the back story, but it felt slow moving at times, even redundant. But it was never bad. And when I got to the last page, my initial thought was, “How do you have a cliffhanger on a backstory?” But they do. So don’t anticipate getting all the answers, but a good story that will make you want to continue.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Stephen Reyes-Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another overall pretty solid volume of this series. I really wish they would go back to the current timeline because it feels like way too many flashback arcs at this point. I also wish they would show more types of monsters. I know there are more because they talk about them, but we've only seen two so far and it's almost always the shadow one. It was still a good book, though. The cliffhanger came out of nowhere and I really wish the story just wrapped up. Hopefully there's enough for another volume and the next one isn't going to just be the ending of this and the start of something else. Still, I rounded up and will be looking out for the next one. Thanks for the ARC!

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more laid back volume of this sort of prequel of SIKTC which dives on Jessica and Erica. It's less violent and less profanity than the book I read last year's Something is Killing the Children Omnibus, Vol. 1 which means less action and an obvious cliffhanger in the end. Lots of fillers (more talking and wordless panels), nevertheless it's SIKTC so you'll dive into it. Since it's not finished, there are lots of questions left unanswered that you'll crave to read the next volume.

[Thomas Gagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic arc, probably five stars…but like no proper conclusion?

Really strange considering I thought we were finally gonna get to like THE flashback.

Really loved this arc though. Fantastic character work, environment, atmosphere, and flashbacks-in-a-flashback. So I’m a little confused if the next issue will resolve this or just go back to the present? When will we finally get to see Jessica’s death?

Honestly, I think the real conclusion here is Erica and Jessica’s absolutely gutting conversation in 45, and I can be happy with that

[Renato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of an advanced copy of Vol 9 (Issues 41-45)

The Year Zero bildungsroman for Erica Slaughter continues in this volume, focusing on her relationship and training with Jessica Slaughter.

They are assigned to investigate some disappearances in the Valiant Mountains, a place that bears some serious significance to Jessica (as her own training with Cecilia under Addie Slaughter brought here here). It is clear that something awful happened up in the mountains.

In a way, this is also a Year Zero story for Jessica, and may explain her self-destructive spiral in Teen-Erica's story.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume nine returns to Erica Slaughter's past, showing her well into her apprenticeship with Jessica Slaughter.

Erica's young life has been full of horror and tragedy, forcing her to take on responsibilities well beyond her years; in this volume we see her taking on even more as she has become the caretaker for her alcoholic mentor.

This series continues to impress me with its well-rounded characters. I care about what happens to the characters, which makes the horrors they endure all the worse.

Received via NetGalley.

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another flashback volume takes us to an adventure near the end of Erica Slaughter's apprenticeship under Jessica Slaughter. Jessica is deep into her alcoholism, and young Erica is just so sadly adorable as she tries to compensate for and cope with it.

There is also another exciting monster hunt that continues into the next volume. It can't come soon enough.


Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.


FOR REFERENCE:

Originally published in single magazine form as Something is Killing the Children No. 41-45.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This is a review of an advanced readers copy that I received from NetGalley in exchange for writing an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. This was my first time reading anything from this series. And now I want to read the previous 8 volumes/40 chapters.

I liked how much Erica was shown to care about her adopted mother/sensei, Jessica.

This seems to be a slower and more subtle form of horror. There wasn't a lot of action or gore in this volume. It left a lot to the imagination.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another solid volume by Tynion and crew! I absolutely love this series and this was a great few issues with back story. Over time the story has been dropping bits of the past but this one dove in a bit deeper. The artwork is fantastic as usual, with the same gritty style that suits this. The final pages showing the alternate covers are also really cool to see. Many of them could have bee chosen and still made an impact, they all tell their own story. Can’t wait for the next!

Thank you NetGalley for this copy to review

[Idris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this title ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of this series generally. Having said that, this volume wasn't as successful for me as others have been in the past. The art was eye-catching albeit different somehow than I remember. The story promised a great deal but it didnt feel like any answers were provided. The worldbuilding was as always intriguing and I enjoyed the pne-off characters, but I wanted to sleep the story *move* and it felt like it only treaded water.

Three stars.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following this series for a while. It's the kind of thing where I ask for review copies (thank you NetGalley for this one!) and head for them at bookstores and the library. The artwork, the intriguing storyline-- I'm invested in the horror of the events but don't want an end to this series. This was an interesting volume that felt like it could be read by someone who hasn't read any of these before.

[Kait W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much felt like it happened in this volume. We had a lot of character dialogue, some references to past events and set up for what I'm sure will be bigger conflict in the next volume. This one felt mostly like build up, which isn't a negative but it did make it feel slow and didn't have much payoff since we're going to be still waiting for the next volume. This series is still really fascinating though, and I'm enjoying getting to learn more about Erica's past.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC of this comic thanks to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.

I love this series so much! It's dark and gritty and beautiful. This volume is no exception. The story has moved away from Erica's present and onto her past and what shaped her. This volume ended right at the peak of revealing the details and I cannot wait for the next volume that reveals more info!

[Glory Creed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boom! Studios for the opportunity to read and review this title.

The art and world building in volume 9 were as excellent as ever. I really enjoyed seeing more backstory and dynamics of Jessica and Erica's relationship.

This volume did feel a bit unresolved compared to past 5 issue collections, as it was only a partial arc. I will impatiently await the next installment.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of dreaded hype in this. This might can even be someone’s first time looking at…everything. The atmosphere gets really intense with how even the side characters have layers to them. Not just the dialogue that’s not reflexive or quirky for it’s own sake. But all of the consequences that weigh heavy on everybody. And the anticipation of some tragedy happening in the next album hits twice as hard.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new arc begins, one from when Erica was in training with Jessica. Jessica is a drunk and making mistakes while Erica secretly is looking out for her on missions. They are called back to a ski resort where Jessica cut her teeth on a really bad case in her training days. This is clearly part of a larger arc as it ends more or less midstory.

[Haruka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read!!! I know James Tynion never disappoints!! The storyline is getting more and more interesting!! I cannot wait to know what really happened at that mountain in the past! Amazing storyline!! Amazing artwork!! Nothing else to say it was all perfect!!
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book in advanced~

[SFSUKI · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Boom! Studios for the ARC.
I liked this volume and felt that it contained a lot of good backstory about Erica growing up in the House. I could see readers. who like the series for the action or gore not being too into this one, as it takes the pace down a little. However, still a great read!

[Christoph Weber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was always intrigued by this title! Something! is kiling! the children!

Now that I read a bit... I don't like the art, it's too plain for me. Also, the story... maybe it's too advanced in the storyline, but mostly it feels slow.

Even if I'm missing some references, it's just not moving along at a good pace.