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Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'
Something is Killing the Children Vol. 5 by James Tynion IV
5 reviews
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
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, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
swimfast724's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
This one was really good, too. Better than the previous one. My only complaint is that they could have given the readers more context on where and when this story started in comparison to the previous one. The entirety of the last volume was focused on Erica's origin, and then this just jumped into a new monster case. They didn't tell us how long after the previous case this is happening or where our if she even still in the order or not. It would've been better if they gave us more context in the beginning.
It also would have been good to be told if the other series "House of Slaughter" was supposed to be read in between these volumes or after or before.
It also would have been good to be told if the other series "House of Slaughter" was supposed to be read in between these volumes or after or before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Torture, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
robinks's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It’s been so long since I read the rest of this series, but this volume worked as a standalone. I’m excited to see more of these new characters!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Violence, Child death, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Torture, and Stalking
billyjepma's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was good! I liked the slower pace more than I thought I would—it lets the story lean into its comfortable procedural elements instead of racing toward the next action scene. The pacing of the first storyline was one of my bigger complaints, since it kept me from actually caring about anyone, so it’s nice to find that I’m already invested in this new cast of characters. The broader world building is fine, but I can’t say it’s hitting for me the way the way I want it to her. It feels very reminiscent of stuff I’ve seen before—there are plenty of examples, but John Wick springs to mind—and hasn’t differentiated itself enough to feel like an interesting twist on those ideas. The flashback volume showed promise, and definitely made Erica a character I have more interest in sticking with, so that’s great, and the supernatural stuff is as fucked up and fascinating as ever. But I do hope the shadowy organization of monster killers become more interesting, because I’m still blasé about it.
But yeah, I still really liked the volume. Cool monster, Dell’edera’s art continues to improve (the sun-soaked landscapes are a welcome change of pace from the murky darkness of earlier outings), and I remain, as ever, a sucker for those small-town-on-the-brink-of-extinction vibes that Tynion is so good at using.
But yeah, I still really liked the volume. Cool monster, Dell’edera’s art continues to improve (the sun-soaked landscapes are a welcome change of pace from the murky darkness of earlier outings), and I remain, as ever, a sucker for those small-town-on-the-brink-of-extinction vibes that Tynion is so good at using.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Pedophilia and Animal cruelty
scottishvix's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child death, Grief, and Torture
Minor: Homophobia
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