Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 4

Something is Killing the Children

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

The origin of Erica Slaughter, monster hunter, is revealed in this volume of the Eisner Award-nominated horror series.

Erica Slaughter went to hell and back in Archer’s Peak, but that may be nothing compared to the events that forged her at the House of Slaughter. What events brought Erica to the House of Slaughter? And what did she have to do to join the Order of St. George? Erica Slaughter’s origins are finally revealed in this volume of the Eisner Award-nominated series from GLAAD Award-winning author James Tynion IV (The Woods, Batman) and artist Werther Dell’Edera (Razorblades).

Collects Something is Killing The Children #16-20.

Genres: Horror, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Supernatural

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2022

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

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: A basic orphan origin, ingeniously devised: its strange new world, unknowns unfurled, from expressive child's eyes.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something tried to kill Erica when she was a child.
And now it lives in her stuffed octopus.



This is Erica Slaughter's origin story, and it's pretty darn good. It gives you some insight into how the Order of ST George works, and the toll it takes on the members who live that life.
Also, you get to see tiny Erica being a complete badass.



It's a fun comic.
Recommended.

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the fright fest of fun that was the first narrative arc, Something Is Killing the Children Vol. 4 steps back in time to detail Erica’s origin story. Hinted at previously, we see the horrifying experience that first brought Erica into the Order of St George after she was the sole survivor of a monster attack similar to the ones we saw her battling against in the earlier volumes. From here we watch her terrifying trial-by-fire initiations into her new role as a monster Hunter, which is somehow at least better than being abandoned to an orphanage full of trauma nobody will believe. This is an excellent edition to the series that offers a creative wealth of world building, finally giving us a better picture of the goings on of the House and the secret society of monster slayers that dwell within.

James Tynion IV excels at creating interesting and intricate scenarios, so this volume gives his best talents a lot of space to thrive as we get a crash course education into the secret society, learning as we go along with Erica. It is pretty cool, and I love how the different masks signify a different purpose in the House. Also we meet Jessica, who brings Erica into the Order and see the origin of the Octopus doll. This offers a nice narrative coupled with the signature amazing (and amazingly violent) artwork, and the series continues to be a dark delight. While they have all been fairly cinematic—with great use of frames that drive the story forward, control the action, and provide ample space for the fairly-text heavy dialogue—this one feels especially ready-for-tv-adaptation, which we are getting on Netflix in 2024. I love these and can’t wait to keep going, I’m excited to see where this leads. Just a gory good time.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This arc flashes back to when Erica joined the House of Slaughter. It's fantastic. I was completely enthralled. Plus, there's lots of world building going on as we delve into the Houses.

Dell'edera's art is just perfect for the series. I did find myself getting lost inside all of the 2 page panels. Even though it was clear on most of the pages, it's just something I'll never get used to.

[Jim C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this says it is volume 4 it really is a prequel to the story we have read so far. In this one, we learn about the tragedy that happened to Erica and how she became a member of the House of Slaughter.

At this time I am not really surprised that I am giving another collection in this story a five star rating. This is easily one of my favorites and the quality is so consistently fantastic. This is the hero's origination story. We see Erica as an eleven year old and a monster has just killed her family and friend. We follow her journey as she is initiated into the House of Slaughter. During this run we see some familiar characters but their younger versions. What I have said in reviews of other collections holds up for this one. The story is enthralling as we get a dark story that is part horror. I love the writing as the writers have made me care about the main character. The artwork is muted and is a perfect fit for this story. I don't know how a panel of just showing a young Erica's eyes gives me "the feels".

As you can tell I love this series. The story, the dialogue, and the artwork is just one terrific cohesive unit. This is a prequel where you pretty much know the outcome. That didn't matter as I was so invested in the story. It also answered some minor questions I had throughout this comics entire run.

[Mika · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

[Sean Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misleadingly titled--fewer children getting killed in this one. Really should have been, "Something is Killing the Child" this time around.

Still, entertaining as hell. Which is where I'm going for enjoying it.

[Jim Ef · Rating 4 out of 5]

8.0/10
This might be my favourite volume yet.
Before you see what the future holds for Erica, learn about her past.
As you can tell this is basically an origin story. Why and how Erica ended up "working" for the 'House of Slaughter'.
I already liked Erica a lot, to see and learn even more about her was great.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're interested in hearing more of my thoughts, check out my video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Inl0K...

[La loca de los libros · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔪“Van a tratar de asustarte mucho, mucho y van a intentar que hables. Pero tienes que mantener el secreto. En realidad no puedo decir nada más.”

En el cuarto volumen de esta exitosa y sorprendente serie conoceremos más en detalle a ese personaje misterioso que a todos los fans de "Hay algo matando niños" nos tiene tan intrigados.
Sí, se trata de Erica Slaughter, ¿quién es ella?, ¿cuál es su pasado y su papel en La Orden?.
Pues es en este absorbente volumen donde se darán respuesta a esta y otras muchas incógnitas.

Tenemos a Erica como el centro de todo pero también a la organización y sus diferentes rangos dentro de ella, porque aquí cada uno tiene su papel.
Los pañuelos que llevan tapando sus bocas y sus diferentes colores tienen su razón de ser y su estatus dentro de La Casa Slaughter, además también están esos extraños muñecos o tótems que los acompañan. ¿Qué son y qué esconden en su interior?.
Tanto el origen de Erica como su llegada a La Casa Slaughter, todo ello y más, se nos dará en cinco apoteósicos capítulos.
Según he leído en algunas reseñas, es recomendable haber leído antes de meterse en el quinto tomo, su spin-off; La Casa de Slaughter, que la editorial Planeta anunció a principios de 2023 y de los que ya se han publicado dos tomos. Yo aún no los tengo pero no tardarán en caer 👌🏻

Se nos revelará un mundo muy rico y lleno de matices, con mucho por descubrir aún en próximas entregas.
Tynion y Dell'edera nos deleitan con un cuarto volumen dirigido principalmente a satisfacer nuestra curiosidad, desvelando multitud de detalles, entrando de lleno en esa organización y su funcionamiento interno, mientras nos revelan el origen de Erica sin escatimar en escenas con grandes cantidades de derramamientos de sangre 🩸 y desmembramientos varios.

La trama per se no es el sumun de la originalidad pero oye, como en el resto de la serie, está tan bien contada y con una dosificación de la intriga y los tiempos tan bien planteada que la adicción está más que garantizada.

Ya voy por la mitad del quinto y lo voy racionando con otras lecturas porque de lo contrario lo devoraría en un par de horas.
Sea como sea a día de hoy puedo decir, sobre todo tras su paseo por los premios Eisner, que "Hay algo matando niños" es una lectura brillante que no duda en posicionarse entre lo mejor del cómic actual.

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?i... 🖤📚

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, it’s official, I’m hooked on this series. It has all the edgy origin story in this volume and now I know how strong she really is. :)

I have very high hopes for her career — even if it’s bloody, brutish, and short. :)

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story jumps back in time to show how Erica was recruited and inducted into the House of Slaughter and the Order of St. George. Thanks to the character interactions, I was totally enthralled even if the ending was a bit flat in execution and there wasn't much tension since the result was already obvious from reading previous books. Definitely a journey-not-the-destination book that I gobbled too quickly, leaving me ravenous for the next.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe one of my favorite volumes so far and this whole series has been fantastic.

This is mostly just giving us the origin story of Erica, but that's okay, she's a great character. You find out what happened to her parents, and how she became a hunter. You get to see a deeper look into the Slaughterhouse and how they run their shit as well, which is to say very screwed up boarding school like way with murdering training demons.

But yeah, fantastic to say the least. Great character growth, amazing art as always from this series, and I can NOT wait to see where we go next. A 5 out of 5.

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting worldbuilding.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, no idea why, but this volume tells us Erika's background story - how she encountered "her" monster, how she survived, what Octo is / how it came to be, how she ended up in the Order of St. George.




Honestly? We needed this waaay earlier in the series, especially if the writers wanted us to care about Aaron. As it is, all is said and done now so getting the backflash NOW wasn't doing too much for me. Nevertheless, this WAS the strongest volume so far, if you ask me.

[Igel :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richtig cool das wir endlich mehr über Erica und Haus Slaughter erfahren!

[Entintadas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Después de los sucesos de Archer’s Peak me esperaba que surgiera otro acto de aventuras turbias pero en vez de eso vamos al pasado para conocer cómo Erika llega a ser quien es. Este volumen se centra en mostrarnos a la Erika niña, desde que es rescatada por la Casa Slaughter hasta que se convierte en la cazadora que conocemos.

La Erika niña me ha dado mucha ternura y pena puesto que es una niña para la que la vida cambia por completo en un parpadeo. Pasa de estar tranquilamente con sus padres en casa a tener que enfrentarse a la pesadilla que los ha matado. Y así es como se confirma lo que en los tomos anteriores se intuye, que los adultos que forman parte de la Orden de San Jorge son aquellos rescatados desde niños por sobrevivir a experiencias con los monstruos en su infancia.

Para salvarla de acabar en un orfanato llega Jessica, la miembro de la Orden que llega a casa de Erika y la encuentra en shock tras lo que ha vivido. Jessica se ha convertido en uno de mis personajes favoritos porque mantiene todavía humanidad pese a todo lo que ha vivido. Se culpa a sí misma por llevarse a Erika sabiendo que la está entregando a un mundo duro, pero que tiene pocas alternativas al respecto. Al mismo tiempo vemos que le pesa sobremanera todo lo que ha tenido que afrontar, los muertos que ha visto, los momentos en los que ha llegado tarde.

Erika no sabe lo que está sucediendo y como lector/a la acompañas sabiendo poco más que ella. Pero el volumen nos da lo que promete, la iniciación a la Casa Slaughter y la prueba por la que debe pasar, a vida o muerte, y que la liga a perpetuidad a su pulpo de peluche. Junto a esta información conocemos también a Gary, figura paterna para Erika y quien la ayuda desde los rincones informáticos de su casa. Gary se encariña con ella desde el primer momento porque Erika no deja de ser una niña pequeña, toda ojos asustados, que no entiende lo que sucede pero trata de hacerse la valiente para que no la abandonen.

De esta forma tan particular se nos muestra no solo el pasado de Erika y la familia que encuentra en la Casa, sino también más información sobre la Casa en sí como el significado de los colores de las pañoletas o los distintos hitos que vive un cazador a lo largo de su vida. Además entendemos por qué son capaces de seguir viendo a los monstruos cuando son adultos, aunque me gustaría que siguieran incidiendo en esta parte un poco más.

Me parece un gran acierto poner ya el trasfondo de la protagonista sobre la mesa porque podremos entender mejor las decisiones que tomará Erika de ahora en adelante y la pérdida que ha vivido al quedarse aislada. Estoy deseando ver cómo aborda ahora Erika su existencia y las consecuencias que tiene su deserción, puesto que no creo que la Orden se quede de brazos cruzados ahora que ella los ha abandonado con todos los secretos que conoce.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plan: After enjoying volume 1, buy volumes 2-4 together ... then ... enjoy them independently, spread them out over time.
Reality: not so much.

Revised Plan: Having consumed volumes 2-3 back-to-back, late in the evening ... going to sleep would be an excellent opportunity/excuse/approach to not immediately reaching for volume 4.
Reality: not so much. Staying up late(r ... too late) to finish a book is far too deeply engrained in my psyche ... is almost second nature ... at this point in my life...

As with the prior books, plenty of momentum. Much easier to turn the pages ... and reach for the next volume ... than stop reading, put down the book, leave the next volume for another day, blah, blah, blah.

Interesting twist heading backwards to the origin story. I still see plenty of potential with this going forward.

Once I started (with volume 1 ... and yes, these should be read in order ) I couldn't stop.

Enjoyed this - the volume and the series. Looking forward to more.

[Ben Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

"From this day forword, you'll take the name of our house. You'll be Erica Slaughter."
"Cool."

Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 4 breaks from the current day storyline and brings us back to Erica's first encounter with a monster and introduction to the House of Slaughter.

I really enjoyed this volume. Getting Erica's origin story was interesting, while also getting more of the order's history.

As always, I love this series' art style. This volume in particular had some amazing scenes and panels!

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flash back to the origin of Erika Slaughter - discover the truth of her first encounter with monsters, and her initiation in the House Of Slaughter and all of its terrible methods.

I was surprised to see SIKTC going hard on the origin story - this initially feels like the type of story that would have been threaded through the present day plotline as a series of flashbacks rather than having the entire story taken up by it, but once you realise that it's more than just about Erika, it makes more sense to devote the page time to it. Here we learn more about the ins and outs of the House Of Slaughter, the way it trains its recruits and the horrible truth of what's going to happen if Erika fails. Even though we know she doesn't, since she's in the main book, there's still something satisfying about seeing her face off against her demons, both human and monstrous, and triumph.

Werther Dell'Edera's widescreen artwork even stretches back into the past. The younger characters are clearly recognisable without looking like tiny versions of their future selves, and the use of shadows and light in the training sequences is lovely. He's really established the look of this series, and I'm pleased to report that it extends into the House Of Slaughter ongoing series as well.

SIKTC could be faulted for diverting its main story in favour of five issues of flashbacks, but when they're this good looking and this well told, there's nothing to complain about.

[⁀➷ Heisy ˚ ༘✶ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encantó 😭

Me parece terrible las cosas que hace la orden. Se ve el sufrimiento de todos los que trabajan ahí.

Amo mucho a Erica y ver a Aaron me duele

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Erica’s origin story and it’s as grim as you might have imagined.

This series continues to be a top tier amalgam of story and art, highly recommended.

[Benji Glaab · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series consistently delivers. The mystery and intrigue that was drip fed about Erica's backround is given an origin story. The dialogue is sharp, the art work remains solid, and I'm down with wherever Tynion want to take us next.

I do have a challenge with the panel layouts. I have read a tonne of comics over the years and I still stumble on which panel comes next it switches from wide 2 page panel to single page and just seems odd at times when your not sure which dialogue comes next and you've skipped half of the convo...

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Individual issue reviews: #16 | #17 | #18 | #19 | #20

Total review score: 4

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-timed decision to take a look back in the past and build up the world and this monster hunter's origin story. Writer James Tynion IV really nails it with the idea around monsters and, hopefully, he's got a couple more for the next story arc.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 Stars Volume 4 collects issues #16-20 of the comic. This volume is all about Erica's origin story. How she joined the Order of St. George and her first days in the House of Slaughter. So much worldbuilding occurs in this volume!

It was previously established that Erica was orphaned when a monster killed her parents and best friend. She was rescued by a member of the Order of St. George. That's where this volume begins. The member of the order, Jessica, offers Erica a choice: wait for child services or become a member of her order and hunt monsters.


Before she can join the order she must live through the initiation test which is unlikely because Erica is an outlier. The Order does not like taking in kids who are victims because they must face down the monster in their totem. Erica's totem was her stuffed animal Octo and the monster trapped in him killed her family and is a particularly dangerous type of monster. Few kids survive the initiation test but since this takes place in the past and Erica is alive in the present it's not really a spoiler to say she survives.

She learns that she will be a Black Mask. The masks that Order members wear are color coded and what each color represents their role within the order and also expands the mythology considerably.
- Scarlet Masks are the bookkeepers
- Azure masks are the tech specialists
- Black Masks are solo hunters who hunt many types of monsters
- White Masks are pack hunters who hunt the biggest monsters
- Silver Masks are specialists who hunt folklore monsters (vampires, werewolves)
- Emerald Masks hunt dragons

I love the possibilities this opens up and the types of monsters that may be seen in future stories. There is so much to like in this volume - the introduction of Jessica, learning more about Aaron and Cecelia, what makes Erica unique within the order - it all worked for me. I loved it.

[akacya ❦]

2025 reads: 63/300

in this fourth volume of something is killing the children, we dive into erica’s backstory. we see not only how she survived her monster the first time, but how she faces it a second time. we also learn more about how the order operates, and i can’t wait to learn even more about that in the future volumes!

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something Is Killing the Children volume 4 is filled to the brim with glorious, glorious backstory. This is easily my favorite volume in the series thus far. It's self-contained and filled with hints at a bigger, scarier world that is ripe for exploration in future volumes.

I liked the previous volumes well enough, and they similarly contained plenty of hints, but I feel like the veil has been dropped with this fourth volume. We learn how Erica joined the House of Slaughter, why the House of Slaughter is named as such, where the colored scarves come from, how children are initiated into the cult, and more, more, more. And throughout, the many characters are human and engaging - these feel like real people, not backstory proxies.

So excited for this series now. Maybe I just love the details? Give me backstory any day.

[CS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bullet Review:

Aw let’s just give this 5-stars - it’s a great backstory for Erica Slaughter. In other authors’ hands, Erica could end up in Mary Sueville, but I think Tynion has done a great job of making her special without the sparkly poo.

[Booksnbrains · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved seeing Erica's orgins. Best volume yet.