‘Something is Killing the Children: Volume Three’ – Tynion, Dell’Edera, Muerto (Boom Studios)

 

Page Count: 144 Pages


NOT ALL MONSTERS HIDE IN THE DARK.

Archer’s Peak is in lockdown, as Erica Slaughter has lost control of the situation and news of the killings has spread outside the town. But as the House of Slaughter arrives to clean up the situation by any means necessary, Erica will find that the true threat to those around her isn’t who - or what - she ever expected. And the cost of saving the day may be too high for anyone to pay...

So I didn’t quite make a ‘short story a day’ but given the way that this week has panned out, I think I did well spnning it out as long as I did. Work has just got very ‘interesting’ (and not in a good way, dammit) but last night balanced things out a little. I didn’t get any reading done but I did get to hang out with my youngest daughter and that is always a lot of fun (she absolutely has my weird sense of humour). Anyway…

I had a great time with volumes one and two of ‘Something is Killing the Children’ and didn’t wait too long before heading into volume three. It just took me a little longer, than expected, to finally post something here ;o)

There are nine volumes of ‘Something is Killing the Children’, that I’m aware of, and Volume Three marks the end of what I’m calling ‘the first plot-arc’. I’m making a pretty big assumption but the way that it ends suggests a new plot-arc, to come, so that’s what I’m sticking with ;o)

I’ll be honest, there are absolutely no surprises here at all. It all runs predictably and ends just how you think it will. And you know what? I’m cool with that :o)

The Dell’Edera and Muerto partnership continues to come up with the best kind of atmospheric backdrop to this tale and Tynion’s plotting, while not necessarily breaking any new ground, is very polished and fully engaging. Definitely the kind of plotting where I can see myself finishing the rest of the series but the natural break, at the end of this volume, means that I may take a little time out before diving back in. We’ll see… ;o)

Erica Slaughter remains a fascinating character to follow with her near obsessive approach to her job dovetailing with the readers gradual realisation that there is more humanity to her than perhaps we thought. It’s still early days but it was pretty clear to me that Erica is hunting monsters because she knows that if she doesn’t, her ‘family’ will and they absolutely re-define the term ‘cold-hearted’. All of this makes for a plot that demanded my full attention the whole way through, and got it.

The action scenes are as dynamic as you’d come to expect and the story hums with energy as you see those struggling with their humanity, come to realise that they’re a little more human than they thought. It’s also very interesting to see how this works on the opposite side. Normal people realising what they are prepared to sacrifice, of their humanity, in order to make a difference. No-one comes out of this in the same way that they went in, and this promises good things for this series going forwards. Like I said, I feel like a little break but I can see myself following this plot through to whatever the conclusion may be.

I’m in the office today so will round things off here. ‘Volume Three’ is very consistent with what we have already seen, in the preceding two volumes, but it continues to work very well for it. I’m certainly happy with sacrificing a little surprise for an explosive ending to this opening arc.

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