All of the death, chaos, and wanton destruction have been leading up to this final climactic chapter of the Tribulation saga for Erica Slaughter. Between narrowly escaping the dangerous Duplicitype and out-maneuvering the deadly and unhinged Cutter, Erica is on her last legs before a blast from the past shows up. Is this person an ally? Only one thing’s for certain: Not everyone is making it out of Tribulation alive.
Something Is Killing the Children: Volume 7 is one of the bloodiest and most violent entries in the Slaughterverse. Creators Tynion and Dell’Edera don’t shy away from the violence, and in a series with a title about killing children, you can be sure there is plenty to be had. As always, though, the violence isn’t gratuitous, but rather methodical. There is blood and gore aplenty, but it’s used to heighten the stakes and grow the horror and anxiety on the page.
Without getting too much into spoiler territory, a reappearance of an old character may seem like a deus ex machina, but Tynion expertly twists this on its head, turning what appears to be Erica’s saving grace into one of the most heart-wrenching scenes of the series.
SIKTC is one of those rare series that subdues and confirms expectations; you know things are going to go bad, but you’re never sure how bad it’ll be. When it does happen, it’s never in the way you predicted. Part of this has to do with the characters themselves and the way they carry themselves. Cutter is one such character whose violently volatile nature, coupled with her ingenuity, leaves you guessing. Unhinged characters are a dime a dozen, but it takes a skilled storyteller and a well-formed plot to make one stand out, and Cutter is exactly that. Her bloodlust and deranged personality make sense in this world. She’s a clear foil to Erica’s cool and empathetic character, making her a worthy and dangerous foe. Tynion clearly understood the assignment and delivered with the skill and craft that only he could deliver.
The art and colors are also on point here. The unique feel of Dell’Edera’s art with Miquel Muerto’s colors continues the unique feel of the Slaughterverse. From the blood splattered across the pages to Erica’s big green eyes, you can’t deny how refreshing it all feels. It’s not just the overall atmosphere either; it’s the little things you might not notice. From the muscles drawn on the characters to the bags under their eyes, you know everything was drawn with care. It’s why the Duplicitype works so well: Its presence gives an uncanny valley-like feeling in a comic book that already looks unique and terrifying.
Even though SIKTC: Volume 7 ends on a despondent note, whatever the team has in store, the future of Erica, the order, and the whole of the Something Is Killing the Children series is going to be killer.
Creative Team: James Tynion IV (writer/co-creator); Werther Dell’Edera (art/co-creator); Miquel Muerto (colors); Andworld Design (letters); Michelle Ankley (designer); Maya Bollinger (assistant editor); Ramiro Portnoy (editor); Eric Harburn (editor)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
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