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Reviews tagging 'Child death'
Something is Killing the Children Vol. 6 by James Tynion IV
11 reviews
magpienicky's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Murder, Child death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing
jlchabotte's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Child death
hagwife's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Something is Killing the Children is a 5-Star series all around, even if this volume isn't my favourite (story-wise its excellent, just not as expressive in the paneling since its more conversation than action).
Volume 6 does not disappoint and I can't wait for Volume 7!
Volume 6 does not disappoint and I can't wait for Volume 7!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Violence, Blood, Cursing, Death, Child death, and Body horror
steveatwaywords's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
First, this review is actually about Volumes 4-7 which track the entire Trepidation story cycle. I wanted to complete this series before completing the review. And this review is repeated on all four Volumes, 4-7.
I should say, too, that I generally like Tynion's works, especially his horror stuff, for its original conception and decent character design. So in some ways, I am comparing Something is Killing the Children to his darker DC stuff, The Woods, Nice House on the Lake, and The Department of Truth.
I know that this series is routinely given great praise by critics and fans. Even so, my strengths and flaws from the first three volumes are here in these works with minor variations: largely, the stories are quite gory (and since many victims are children, not for the meek) and, unfortunately, this is the focus of the horror, kind of a one-trick pony. Because this is not wholly sustainable across the series, then, Tynion offers us the major sub-plot (really enhanced in this series) of a secret cabal of monster hunters and the amoral politics which drives it. Our hero, Erica, of course, sits apart from its corruption, which makes her a kind of horror-noir lone gunman for America monster-hunting. It's an interesting idea (especially since she is not emotionally whole, either). Like King's Gunslinger series, a lot of the best action in Tynion mirrors the duller sequences of storytelling in King. And, like a decent George R R Martin, Tynion makes no promises which characters will survive any scene. I should note, too, that the artwork by Dell'Edera and Muerto is startlingly good.
Overall, this storyline is more developed in the political intrigue, but often at the cost of the monster lore. Our most terrifying monster yet, especially in its last incarnation, is given precious few frames of development or interest. Mindless and ruthless, it appears in order to squash or be squashed. Tynion allows the artwork to carry this horror. So much for the monster-hunting. And this will explain why the entire Volume 7 is mostly given to action-based silent boss-battles.
Even so, Tynion's best volume is probably the 4th, the "interim" series which looks back at Erica's backstory and initiation and helps us see the relationships she has built and will grow. We learn more, too, about the toy totems the hunters carry and some of the motivations between competing schools in the secret society. But . . . and this is a big but for me, a lot of it has all the import of learning why Han Solo has fuzzy dice on the Millennium Falcon. Just because we can create back stories and answer plot-level questions about the "How-did-this-happen?" and "What-happens-to-character-x?" doesn't mean that we automatically have good story or good writing. At its base, and at its summit, the "Something is Killing" series is a solid horror-action story with visually fascinating characters. And if that's all you're looking for--you don't want to ask questions about child death, about the nature of horror, or even the lore of psychological projection and daemon/demon guides, all within easy reach of the storyteller--you will be satisfied.
I should say, too, that I generally like Tynion's works, especially his horror stuff, for its original conception and decent character design. So in some ways, I am comparing Something is Killing the Children to his darker DC stuff, The Woods, Nice House on the Lake, and The Department of Truth.
I know that this series is routinely given great praise by critics and fans. Even so, my strengths and flaws from the first three volumes are here in these works with minor variations: largely, the stories are quite gory (and since many victims are children, not for the meek) and, unfortunately, this is the focus of the horror, kind of a one-trick pony. Because this is not wholly sustainable across the series, then, Tynion offers us the major sub-plot (really enhanced in this series) of a secret cabal of monster hunters and the amoral politics which drives it. Our hero, Erica, of course, sits apart from its corruption, which makes her a kind of horror-noir lone gunman for America monster-hunting. It's an interesting idea (especially since she is not emotionally whole, either). Like King's Gunslinger series, a lot of the best action in Tynion mirrors the duller sequences of storytelling in King. And, like a decent George R R Martin, Tynion makes no promises which characters will survive any scene. I should note, too, that the artwork by Dell'Edera and Muerto is startlingly good.
Overall, this storyline is more developed in the political intrigue, but often at the cost of the monster lore. Our most terrifying monster yet, especially in its last incarnation, is given precious few frames of development or interest. Mindless and ruthless, it appears in order to squash or be squashed. Tynion allows the artwork to carry this horror. So much for the monster-hunting. And this will explain why the entire Volume 7 is mostly given to action-based silent boss-battles.
Even so, Tynion's best volume is probably the 4th, the "interim" series which looks back at Erica's backstory and initiation and helps us see the relationships she has built and will grow. We learn more, too, about the toy totems the hunters carry and some of the motivations between competing schools in the secret society. But . . . and this is a big but for me, a lot of it has all the import of learning why Han Solo has fuzzy dice on the Millennium Falcon. Just because we can create back stories and answer plot-level questions about the "How-did-this-happen?" and "What-happens-to-character-x?" doesn't mean that we automatically have good story or good writing. At its base, and at its summit, the "Something is Killing" series is a solid horror-action story with visually fascinating characters. And if that's all you're looking for--you don't want to ask questions about child death, about the nature of horror, or even the lore of psychological projection and daemon/demon guides, all within easy reach of the storyteller--you will be satisfied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
ellornaslibrary's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gore, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Terminal illness, Grief, and Pregnancy
beltaine76's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Blood
swimfast724's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Good but not much happened in this issue. Just exactly what I thought would happen next. It went by really quickly and seemed shorter than any of the other ones.
I definitely liked the previous setting and story arc better than this one.
I definitely liked the previous setting and story arc better than this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death of parent, Cursing, Murder, Blood, Child death, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness, Body horror, Cancer, Gun violence, Police brutality, Medical trauma, and Cannibalism
kell_xavi's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Consistently strong writing and interesting story, building steadily with each chapter.
While Erica has a conviction and compassion from the start that doesn’t allow much room for development issue to issue, Tynion and Dell’edera have brought in other players around her whose anger, innocence, fear, courage, loyalty and love make for a dynamic work. Riqui and Gabi aren’t the kind of people I’d want to watch a movie about, or would be friends with, but they’re who Erica needs right now. This brutal story shows them in a light that few others would, which is one of the fascinations of horror, I think.
It also creates a separation between horrifying people, and people who fight horror from inside its clutches. Dell’edera shows Erica’s many cuts and scars, her hero’s instinct that may, when the stakes are this high, be foolhardy—but that never fails, and reassures us all. Looking forward to the conclusion of this story, especially considering Cecelia’s conversation with the Dragon…
While Erica has a conviction and compassion from the start that doesn’t allow much room for development issue to issue, Tynion and Dell’edera have brought in other players around her whose anger, innocence, fear, courage, loyalty and love make for a dynamic work. Riqui and Gabi aren’t the kind of people I’d want to watch a movie about, or would be friends with, but they’re who Erica needs right now. This brutal story shows them in a light that few others would, which is one of the fascinations of horror, I think.
It also creates a separation between horrifying people, and people who fight horror from inside its clutches. Dell’edera shows Erica’s many cuts and scars, her hero’s instinct that may, when the stakes are this high, be foolhardy—but that never fails, and reassures us all. Looking forward to the conclusion of this story, especially considering Cecelia’s conversation with the Dragon…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer
jessereadsthings's review
dark
fast-paced
3.0
Definitely one of the better and more interesting volumes in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Body horror, and Gore
acetheticallyy's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Murder, Body horror, and Death