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House of Slaughter
House of Slaughter, Vol. 2: Scarlet
Uncover a story of the Scarlet Masks within the House of Slaughter as the secrets of the world of Something Is Killing The Children are laid bare!
What secrets do the mysterious scribes of the Order of St. George, the Scarlet Masks, record within the shadows of the House of Slaughter? Enamored with stories of ancient hunters, as well as those in his midst, Edwin Slaughter only gets to write the stories… never live them. That is, until a legendary Oscuratype that’s taken the lives of countless children brings Edwin into the field. Will he live to survive long enough to document his experience, or perish with his story left untold? Delve deeper still into the world of Something isKilling theChildren in the second volume of the bestselling series written by co-creator and award-winning author James Tynion IV (The Department Of Truth, The Nice House On The Lake) and co-writer Sam Johns (Punchline) alongside rising star artist Latizia Cadonici and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera (Razorblades). Collects House of Slaughter #6-10.
What secrets do the mysterious scribes of the Order of St. George, the Scarlet Masks, record within the shadows of the House of Slaughter? Enamored with stories of ancient hunters, as well as those in his midst, Edwin Slaughter only gets to write the stories… never live them. That is, until a legendary Oscuratype that’s taken the lives of countless children brings Edwin into the field. Will he live to survive long enough to document his experience, or perish with his story left untold? Delve deeper still into the world of Something isKilling theChildren in the second volume of the bestselling series written by co-creator and award-winning author James Tynion IV (The Department Of Truth, The Nice House On The Lake) and co-writer Sam Johns (Punchline) alongside rising star artist Latizia Cadonici and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera (Razorblades). Collects House of Slaughter #6-10.
131 pages, ebook
First published December 28, 2022
59 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
James Tynion IV
1,665 books2,007 followersPrior 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.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
September 13, 2025
(C+) 65% | Almost Satisfactory
Notes: Its thought and plot's conveyed in dumb, confusing ways, such lifeless strain, no good attained, all clarity's betrayed.
Notes: Its thought and plot's conveyed in dumb, confusing ways, such lifeless strain, no good attained, all clarity's betrayed.
August 21, 2024
I really did not understand what happened here.
I read it, I thumbed back through it, I read the back blurb again, I went back to the last few pages...nope.
I have no idea what just occurred in this volume.
I mean, to some extent, yes.
This young Scarlet Mask (I guess they're the scribes?) is sent on a mission to find out if these kids at a camp have created and/or will create a monster. There have been some accidents recently and everyone knows children have BIG imaginations. So, god forbid these little fuckers start telling campfire stories to explain them, right?
Our Scarlet Mask is very detached from his emotions, has an eidetic memory, and his totem is a paintbrush that uses blood.
At some point in the mission, he finds out about some spoilery memories that he lost.
But beyond that?
I don't know what the fuck just happened.
Yeah, I'll keep reading this title (for now) because I love this world. But this was definitely a low point in the series, and I hope this isn't indicative of what to expect from here on out.
Completionists only.
I read it, I thumbed back through it, I read the back blurb again, I went back to the last few pages...nope.
I have no idea what just occurred in this volume.
I mean, to some extent, yes.
This young Scarlet Mask (I guess they're the scribes?) is sent on a mission to find out if these kids at a camp have created and/or will create a monster. There have been some accidents recently and everyone knows children have BIG imaginations. So, god forbid these little fuckers start telling campfire stories to explain them, right?
Our Scarlet Mask is very detached from his emotions, has an eidetic memory, and his totem is a paintbrush that uses blood.
At some point in the mission, he finds out about some spoilery memories that he lost.
But beyond that?
I don't know what the fuck just happened.
Yeah, I'll keep reading this title (for now) because I love this world. But this was definitely a low point in the series, and I hope this isn't indicative of what to expect from here on out.
Completionists only.
October 30, 2023
Horrible. This is the first time I’ve been disappointed by James. Im not sure I understand the point of this volume as it doesn’t feel connected to the last volume at all. The writing was disjointed and chaotic leading to an I’ll structured narrative. Hoping that the next volume actually improves or I’ll just be continue with SIKTC and dropping this series completely.
July 3, 2024
I have really enjoyed the Something is Killing the Children/House of Slaughter series....up till this..
It just felt it was being too clever...trying to tell an interesting enough story in a sideways , confusing to be confusing way..which is a shame.
It just felt it was being too clever...trying to tell an interesting enough story in a sideways , confusing to be confusing way..which is a shame.
June 7, 2023
Actual rating is 2.5 stars.
This is the second collection of a comic series. This comic series is a spin off of the main comic Something is Killing the Children. In this one we visit the scarlet section of members of the house that is tackling the monster problem. We follow Edwin as he visits a lake where some unnatural circumstances are happening and it could lead to the formation of a monster.
I absolutely love the main comic. There has not been a bad collection from it yet. The spin off is not having the same affect on me including this collection. There were aspects that I liked and aspects I did not. Once again we are thrust back in this universe immediately with the pervading mood and atmosphere. This is accomplished with the artwork that has become a staple for this world. It is subdued and does a wonderful job at setting the atmosphere. I really enjoyed the interaction between Edwin and his totem. It was a bit of a different relationship than the ones that we have seen so far. As for the story it did not do much for me. My reaction after reading it was "huh?". It never gripped me and was out there with its execution. I also believe part of the problem was it seems like the authors have an idea of where they are going with it but they did not want to reveal anything yet. I am fine with that if they give me something but they did not in this collection. This story might lead to something interesting but as of this moment I am not invested in it.
This collection and series is just not providing the same enjoyment as the main run of comics. I am not sure why either. Everything is there with the mood, the atmosphere, the world setting, and the artwork. But it is just not grabbing me the same. This collection did not help the cause either as I liked parts of it but not all of it. I will continue with the series but I do not have the same anticipation like the main series.
This is the second collection of a comic series. This comic series is a spin off of the main comic Something is Killing the Children. In this one we visit the scarlet section of members of the house that is tackling the monster problem. We follow Edwin as he visits a lake where some unnatural circumstances are happening and it could lead to the formation of a monster.
I absolutely love the main comic. There has not been a bad collection from it yet. The spin off is not having the same affect on me including this collection. There were aspects that I liked and aspects I did not. Once again we are thrust back in this universe immediately with the pervading mood and atmosphere. This is accomplished with the artwork that has become a staple for this world. It is subdued and does a wonderful job at setting the atmosphere. I really enjoyed the interaction between Edwin and his totem. It was a bit of a different relationship than the ones that we have seen so far. As for the story it did not do much for me. My reaction after reading it was "huh?". It never gripped me and was out there with its execution. I also believe part of the problem was it seems like the authors have an idea of where they are going with it but they did not want to reveal anything yet. I am fine with that if they give me something but they did not in this collection. This story might lead to something interesting but as of this moment I am not invested in it.
This collection and series is just not providing the same enjoyment as the main run of comics. I am not sure why either. Everything is there with the mood, the atmosphere, the world setting, and the artwork. But it is just not grabbing me the same. This collection did not help the cause either as I liked parts of it but not all of it. I will continue with the series but I do not have the same anticipation like the main series.
December 1, 2022
2 stars even though I gave the first 3 issues 3 stars.
I feel like this volume really pooped the bed.
Review to come later, or not at all. Depends if I want to spend time picking up the pieces of this fractured story and try to make sense of it.
I feel like this volume really pooped the bed.
Review to come later, or not at all. Depends if I want to spend time picking up the pieces of this fractured story and try to make sense of it.
May 3, 2023
Mopey artist boy goes fishing on a boat. Lands a big one.
Throws it back? Gets thrown back? Hard to tell with lousy script and art.
Meh. Don't know. Don't care.
Throws it back? Gets thrown back? Hard to tell with lousy script and art.
Meh. Don't know. Don't care.
April 3, 2023
This really wasn't for me. Things get very abstract at points leaving me to skim the last 40-50 pages. There isn't really a plot line to speak of it seemed like it was going somewhere than the main Character engages in an issue long dialogue with his demon possessed paint brush... idk.
Don't go into this thinking you will enjoy if your a fan of the Something is Killing the Children you might be disappointed.
Don't go into this thinking you will enjoy if your a fan of the Something is Killing the Children you might be disappointed.
September 15, 2023
A dreamy divagation from the usual grusesome proceedings in the Something is Killing the Children-verse, didn't care much for (what felt to me) the 'Deus Ex' ending but I hope we get to spend more time with Edwin in the future.
December 10, 2022
From vol. 1 to .. this? So disappointing
November 12, 2022
A rather oblique instalment in the SiKtC universe. Even after 5 instalments I'm not sure what the point of Edwin's story is.
January 14, 2023
I read it, then the next night, I read it again.
Hands down, this is one of the best arcs I've ever read, and while it left me with questions, they were satisfying questions, not frustrating ones. I spent about half an hour trying to put the pieces together with a friend, and we both concluded that we loved the ambiguity.
Hands down, this is one of the best arcs I've ever read, and while it left me with questions, they were satisfying questions, not frustrating ones. I spent about half an hour trying to put the pieces together with a friend, and we both concluded that we loved the ambiguity.
April 11, 2023
Love the universe enough that I may read a follow-up to this. Maybe. It’s just that the storyline was super boring and the protagonist was not at all compelling. So it was just a bust for this volume.
February 24, 2024
A Newt Scamander lookalike talks to his demonic pencil on a boat...
Looks like the beginning of a bad joke, doesn’t it?
Well, I ain’t laughing.
Looks like the beginning of a bad joke, doesn’t it?
Well, I ain’t laughing.
April 9, 2025
Not good
February 4, 2024
This was so completely boring. All the intrigue and interest from the first volume and the regular series is absolutely missing here. We get a muddled look into the Scarlet Masks and readers learned little to nothing. On top of that, is was mostly confusing drivel. At one pint Hermes says, "I'm not following!". Same. I did enjoy the art by Letizia Cadonici was very good, fit the theme of the book, and was just creepy enough to impress. Overall, this was a big disappointment.
September 30, 2025
O.K. I think I can be done with these now. There wasn't enough info for this to make sense, and the ending made me want to stab everything in sight.
December 30, 2022
awesome
I loved this! I feel like as individual comics this wouldn’t have stood out as much, but altogether it slapped hard!
I loved this! I feel like as individual comics this wouldn’t have stood out as much, but altogether it slapped hard!
January 31, 2023
I don't even know what to say. It was terrible.
March 3, 2023
I can see why this wouldn't be people's fave installment in this universe but some of the worldbuilding implications were delicious and Edwin's a little freak I'm obsessed with him
April 30, 2023
New entry della serie di Something is killing the children, Scarlatto è ben diverso dalle precedenti uscite. In realtà lo attendevo con entusiasmo, dato che è la prima volta che vediamo le Maschere Scarlatte all’opera. Almeno, una di loro.
Contrariamente alle Bianche e alle Nere, le Scarlatte lavorano dietro le quinte, catalogando e raccogliendo le prove dei casi e tenendo traccia dei vari adepti. Sono praticamente i bibliotecari dell’organizzazione, anche se vengono considerate come i “domestici”.
Il protagonista, Edwing, genio dalla memoria eidetica ma zero predisposizione a comprendere le emozioni e le basi della socializzazione, viene mandato a indagare su una serie di incidenti capitati in un’isola al largo della costa. Insieme al suo totem, dovrà attendere per quantificare la minaccia e decidere se mandare le altre Maschere, ma nulla andrà come previsto.
Tra presente e passato, Edwing dovrà venire a patti con i ricordi che ha rilegato nel suo subconscio per conoscere la verità su di sé.
Ammetto che avrei preferito qualcosa di più… movimentato, ma ci sta questo capitolo si focalizzi soprattutto sull’introspezione del protagonista. Anche se la fine è piuttosto confusa.
Per contro, non ho apprezzato i disegni come i precedenti volumi. Seppur simili, c’è qualcosa di più grezzo nel tratto che non mi ha catturata del tutto. Ma è anche vero che i vari capitoli hanno diversi illustratori e per questa narrazione qualcosa di meno definito ci stava comunque.
Tutto sommato è stata una buona entrata nella serie e non vedo l’ora delle prossime uscite.
Contrariamente alle Bianche e alle Nere, le Scarlatte lavorano dietro le quinte, catalogando e raccogliendo le prove dei casi e tenendo traccia dei vari adepti. Sono praticamente i bibliotecari dell’organizzazione, anche se vengono considerate come i “domestici”.
Il protagonista, Edwing, genio dalla memoria eidetica ma zero predisposizione a comprendere le emozioni e le basi della socializzazione, viene mandato a indagare su una serie di incidenti capitati in un’isola al largo della costa. Insieme al suo totem, dovrà attendere per quantificare la minaccia e decidere se mandare le altre Maschere, ma nulla andrà come previsto.
Tra presente e passato, Edwing dovrà venire a patti con i ricordi che ha rilegato nel suo subconscio per conoscere la verità su di sé.
Ammetto che avrei preferito qualcosa di più… movimentato, ma ci sta questo capitolo si focalizzi soprattutto sull’introspezione del protagonista. Anche se la fine è piuttosto confusa.
Per contro, non ho apprezzato i disegni come i precedenti volumi. Seppur simili, c’è qualcosa di più grezzo nel tratto che non mi ha catturata del tutto. Ma è anche vero che i vari capitoli hanno diversi illustratori e per questa narrazione qualcosa di meno definito ci stava comunque.
Tutto sommato è stata una buona entrata nella serie e non vedo l’ora delle prossime uscite.
January 29, 2023
This was a a pretty good monster story. I would prefer the story reads more like this in the future, focusing on an individual within the order and giving backstory to their life. I’m glad I waited to read this in a trade or else I would’ve likely given up on this month-to-month.
September 16, 2023
This one felt really useless and made no sense within the overarching arc of either series
May 5, 2025
A little abstract as to how this will fit in but no doubt they will bring it around. a peek into what is ongoing in House Scarlet
December 22, 2022
More of a two star, but the final issue reveal saves it from the lower rating.
This second volume of House Of Slaughter shifts the focus away from characters we've seen before to introduce us to Edwin, an autistic (?) member of one of the monster hunting houses who spends the entire story on a boat in the middle of a lake where a dragon apparently lives.
We get a lot of rambles about the nature of memory, and how different people interpret things, but it's all told by two unreliable narrators so you can't take half of it seriously anyway. The last issue reveal puts things into a little bit more perspective, and it's a cool little twist given what we know of how the Masks operate, but it feels like a slog to get there.
Letitzia Cadonici handles the art, and she fits decently with the stable of Werther Dell'Edera on the main title and Chris Sheehan on the previous arc. House Of Slaughter and SIKTC have a very specific feel about them, and Cadonici manages to capture that.
Not the best entry into the SIKTC universe. If you can fight through to the final issue it's probably worth it, but your mileage may vary. With each arc of the series shifting focus though, hopefully this is just a blimp on the radar.
This second volume of House Of Slaughter shifts the focus away from characters we've seen before to introduce us to Edwin, an autistic (?) member of one of the monster hunting houses who spends the entire story on a boat in the middle of a lake where a dragon apparently lives.
We get a lot of rambles about the nature of memory, and how different people interpret things, but it's all told by two unreliable narrators so you can't take half of it seriously anyway. The last issue reveal puts things into a little bit more perspective, and it's a cool little twist given what we know of how the Masks operate, but it feels like a slog to get there.
Letitzia Cadonici handles the art, and she fits decently with the stable of Werther Dell'Edera on the main title and Chris Sheehan on the previous arc. House Of Slaughter and SIKTC have a very specific feel about them, and Cadonici manages to capture that.
Not the best entry into the SIKTC universe. If you can fight through to the final issue it's probably worth it, but your mileage may vary. With each arc of the series shifting focus though, hopefully this is just a blimp on the radar.
July 28, 2023
3.5 Stars.
Whereas the last Volume dealt with the red and black masked members of House Slaughter, this Volume focuses solely on the red masks, and one in particular, Edwin. Normally, red masks are the scholars and historians and keepers of the house. Edwin usually is writing stories or painting pics or the endeavors that others have gone through, but this time he has been asked to research a legendary monster that is taking children: a dragon.
Edwin is a very philosophical sort and tells stories. His totem is a paintbrush who is very snarky, and is revealed to be the monster that killed his parents.
This Volume doesn't connect to the previous one, which surprised me, but I enjoyed the change of pace and focus. In reading the main title, I never really understood the red masks, and I feel like I get them much better (as I would probably be one, if I was in this world)
Overall a good Volume. Recommend.
Whereas the last Volume dealt with the red and black masked members of House Slaughter, this Volume focuses solely on the red masks, and one in particular, Edwin. Normally, red masks are the scholars and historians and keepers of the house. Edwin usually is writing stories or painting pics or the endeavors that others have gone through, but this time he has been asked to research a legendary monster that is taking children: a dragon.
Edwin is a very philosophical sort and tells stories. His totem is a paintbrush who is very snarky, and is revealed to be the monster that killed his parents.
This Volume doesn't connect to the previous one, which surprised me, but I enjoyed the change of pace and focus. In reading the main title, I never really understood the red masks, and I feel like I get them much better (as I would probably be one, if I was in this world)
Overall a good Volume. Recommend.
December 30, 2022
i like the idea of this so much, and the art style, as always, is fantastically eerie. but the execution of this story is so poor, so plodding, so convoluted and disjointed and caught up in itself, that the entire volume is an utter failure.
i wanted to like this. i wanted to love it. instead, it's forcing my hand in giving up the series as a whole.
1/5 stars
i wanted to like this. i wanted to love it. instead, it's forcing my hand in giving up the series as a whole.
1/5 stars
December 31, 2022
I say this every time I read a SIKTC book, but I can't believe something with such an elemental appeal (monsters want to eat kids) can support this level of mythology expansion. I didn't think I wanted this kind of story out of this universe, but I totally do! Fun!
July 17, 2025
As a big fan of Something is Killing the Children series I was expecting more from House of Slaughter.
The first book in the series was confusing and dense but when I started the second book I was dismayed to find it was even more convoluted so I quit halfway through and moved on.
The first book in the series was confusing and dense but when I started the second book I was dismayed to find it was even more convoluted so I quit halfway through and moved on.
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