House of Slaughter, Vol. 6: Azure

House of Slaughter (Single Issues) #26-30

by Sam Johns, Sam Johns, Letizia Cadonici (Artist)

From the world of Something is Killing the Children comes a new chapter of House of Slaughter, the anthology series expanding the iconic horror universe of monsters and the ones who hunt them.

THE MYSTERIES OF THE MASKS REVEALED

From the world of Something is Killing the Children comes a new collection of stories exploring the many facets of the House of Slaughter…

Once the ancient blacksmiths of the Order of St. George, learn the secrets of the enigmatic Azure Masks… and the iconic totems the hunters carry. Nolan, an Azure Mask, spends his days in the House's computer room—until the monster Hermes disrupts the halls. As Nolan investigates, he uncovers a deeper conspiracy threatening the House. With Bait and Edwin by his side, will he be able to confront the looming danger and stop Gerde’s plans before it’s too late?

Collects House of Slaughter #26-30.

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics, Urban Fantasy, Monsters

144 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2025

Reviews

[Jim C · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a collection that belongs to a spin off series. The spin off series is from the main series of Something is Killing the Children. In this one we visit a member of the azure masks as he investigates something that he believes is not right. The azure members are the paper pushers of the order.

This is not the way I wanted to end my reading year. This is back to back reads for me that are one star. While this series does not come close to the original run I expected more from this. After reading this I am still asking what was the purpose of this. The story is disjointed and not fleshed out in a way that makes this an enjoyable read. The dialogue felt off. While reading I was bored and confused. After I was done I said to myself that was a waste. The only connection I had was with the character Bait. Everything else was me just reading it and trying to get to the end. As I am writing this I am wondering if this collection was some kind of avant garde this and I just don't get it.

I am not expecting this spin off series to achieve the level of greatness the main series has achieved. I have read enough of these collections in here to know that will not happen. The collections in this series have been just okay and nothing special. Not this one. I did not like this at all. After reading this I am hoping that is it from this spin off series and the writers can just concentrate on the main series.

[Spencer Greenwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s amazing to me how a story in this universe could be boring. The first half of this book starts as a mystery and I was remotely intrigued, even though the story telling is vague and disjointed. The second half was absolutely nonsensical. You can’t even tell what is really happening and what is dreamlike. The writing is overly wordy, characters come and go with no explanation. The writing comes off as pretentious and trying to be too cute. Even the art, while the same style as the main series, is hard to follow especially in action scenes. I just really can’t find much to like here.

[Frédéric · Rating 1 out of 5]

Somebody shoot me in the head! God, it's hell reading Sam Johns' insufferable prose! Who thought it was a good idea to let her write comic book scripts?

It's long, wordy, boring and pretentious and has the nerve to butcher yet another interesting plot in the context of House of Slaughter. What a waste!

[Jayson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review to come...

(C+) 65% | Almost Satisfactory
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included issues can be found here:
- House of Slaughter #26
- House of Slaughter #27
- House of Slaughter #28
- House of Slaughter #29
- House of Slaughter #30

[Tay Gibs · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

Edwin isn't as interesting a character as Jace. I'm going to need to reread everything else to understand better how all the stories overlap.

[Tobin Elliott]

Nope. Couldn't finish. I tried, but just couldn't do it.

The writing is so...vague, and so choppy. Maybe it's me but, a solid halfway in, I didn't have a fucking clue what the hell was happening.

DNF. No rating.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

STURGEON BAY, WI: The bodies of five children were found yesterday morning off the shore of the campground they had been attending. While all were discovered in the water, burns found on two of the bodies suggest the cause of one of the deaths may have been hyperthermia.

I adore the ongoing Something is Killing the Children series, which follows the life of monster hunter Erica Strange, from the killing of her parent's by a monster, to her induction into the House of Slaughter.

This spin off series reveals more of the history behind the House of Slaughter, it's relationship with other Houses, and the different approaches they have to monster hunting.

After the gripping events in Volume 5, the story takes a turn to wrap up some of the loose strings that have been created along the way. An Azure mask, Nolan, has noticed anomalies within the House and sets out to investigate further. Firstly suspecting Edwin, who we met in earlier issues, he ends up teaming up to fight a threat which threatens the House itself.

I wonder whether this should have been a standalone volume rather than part of the House of Slaughter, but overall it still gets 5 stars and I look forward to the next Volume of Something is Killing the Children, where the storylines should reconverge.

[Dan P · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty abysmal. The Scarlet-Alabaster-Azure story told in Sam Johns' three House of Slaughter volumes is frustrating because there's a kernel of a good story inside: the house intrigue, the nature of fear, the complex characters. There's promise, but it's left catastrophically unfulfilled. For every genuinely good panel or snippet of good dialogue there are five abrupt, unexplained scene changes and seven vague, pointless monologues. Overambitious to be sure, but more importantly not well-suited to the medium of comics.

The curse of long-term shared-universe comic book continuity is that you're stuck with all the worst issues along with all the best. Anyone who wants a complete SIKTC reading will have to suffer through these terrible comics. And this world doesn't have the benefit of dozens of other avenues to explore like big super hero universes do. It's just the fantastic main book and this far inferior book that adds nothing and in fact may ultimately diminish enjoyment of the original. If you love Something is Killing the Children, please do yourself a favor and skip House of Slaughter. It's unfortunately that bad.

[Jake Kilroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this so confusing and engaging. I think it's on me for not rereading the previous volumes that tie directly into this, but I had a hard time connecting the dots as I still couldn't stop turning the page. There's great mystery to be had within the diabolically wild world of The Order, and this world is still so cool after all these years. I'll want to know more about everything and everyone tied to such a secret legion forever. Who doesn't love a big conspiracy within a wild secret?

[Patricia Q · Rating 1 out of 5]

That. Was. Terrible. 2 stars would be generous.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Colours arcs of House Of Slaughter have always been weaker than the Butcher ones, but this final arc of both Colours and the series as a whole was probably the strongest one thus far. Bringing back the characters from both Scarlet and Alabaster along with new character Nolan, plot points from both earlier arcs come home to roost as a monster infiltrates the House of Slaughter itself, but House politics threaten to tear everyone apart before they can stop it.

I think my biggest complaint here was that things were very wordy. Edwin Slaughter talks a LOT, and while it's clearly a quirk of the character, it does get a bit grating after five issues straight. The inner monologue for Nolan has a nice twist to it though, I enjoyed that. The ultimate conclusion of the story looks to be continued in the main SIKTC book as well, and I'm actually pretty interested to see how the two books collide.

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was wondering if it was just me who had a hard time following this story, but I see I'm not alone. If you asked me for a plot summary of what I just read, I don't think I could do it. And that's even with all the prose/dialogue, which is just endless. And it's too bad, because I think there might have been an interesting story here. I'd like to know more about Nolan, but he's still a mystery even after these five issues.

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series is so uneven. It's the complete opposite of Something Is Killing the Children. That is consistently great while this wavers beck and forth between fine and terrible depending on who the writer is for the arc. Sam Johns's stories are just not for me. Her writing bores me to tears.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the execution felt a bit scattered with a blend of the philosophical and action, I do very much like these characters and appreciate getting a new entry winding down the House of Slaughter story. Told much more episodically, this world is always fun to return to, layered with complexity and a host of monsters to face.

[Sparrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ending that was a little hard to follow, but sort of came together in the end. I think I ended up liking Edwin more and would love to read more about him. But the conversations between him and Nolan got really long winded and exhaustive. Sort of glad to be done with this arc as it went in a direction I wasn't super fond of.

[Renato · Rating 2 out of 5]

The events of this volume were so inconsequential that I had to double check to make sure I actually read it first before reviewing it (because I forgot most of it already).

Deals with the Azure Mask organization, but only the boring espionage stuff.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

So. Much. Talking.

Just my opinion, but I feel like graphic novels shouldn't have to spend quite so much time explaining what's happening with words. It's a great world, and I love having the backstory, but this dragged.

[Andres Pasten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Diálogos demasiado extensos para tan poco contenido

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavily dialogue driven with not much hunting action as the previous volumes. But my gods, Hermes was terrifying.

[Terry Mcginnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though not a strong final volume, much better than the prior. This series just doesn't hit like the main title.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little bit hard to follow what was happening but very intrigued to see how this ties into SIKTC 🙂‍↕️ I do in fact love the ever expanding lore.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

*shrug* it sets up a few new characters for the main story and I'm sure the context of the decaying and infighting of the houses will play a role. this just wasn't good.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

[Bertazzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I've loved Scarlett, Sam's run grew weaker in the following volumes. Too verbose for almost no substance. Good thing some cool characters will star in the main series for now on.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

It got a little wonky at the end, and I can understand the haters, but I quite enjoyed Nolan’s inner monologue and Edwin’s… Edwinness.

[Brianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah, we’ve lost the plot.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know if I am stupid or what but I just don't get this series anymore. I honestly don't know wtf is going on 🤷‍♀️

I'm out.