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Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'
Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 4 by James Tynion IV
4 reviews
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
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 <i>Something is Killing the Children</i> to his darker DC stuff, <i>The Woods, Nice House on the Lake, and The Department of Truth. </i>
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 <i>Something is Killing the Children</i> to his darker DC stuff, <i>The Woods, Nice House on the Lake, and The Department of Truth. </i>
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: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Violence, Child death, and Death
scottishvix's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying
navayiota's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I liked this one the most, loved the lore about the different colours of the house. Wish we saw a little more of it. I empathise with Erica a lot more now, and am way more invested in her future than I was when I read the previous ones. Might stick around for the next ones!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing
billyjepma's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Despite having the least amount of scares and action, I think this might be favorite volume of the series? Or, better said, it’s probably the most consistent of the series. Slowing the pace down and going back in time does a tremendous favor to the world building and characterization. It gives Tynion the space he needs to give some dimensions to a cast of characters, and Erika specifically, who have been mostly two-dimensional until now.
The volume retroactively improves the prior volumes by fleshing out that story with additional color and stakes. It doesn’t absolve the series from its underwritten characters, but it’s a good step forward and is sure to improve things when it picks back up again.
Artwork is consistently strong, too. I love seeing Dell’edera and Muerto get to showcase their styles in lighter, day time settings. Some of the coloring is especially memorable, and provides a welcome change of pace from the otherwise dark color palette of the series. I still don’t find the creature design to be anything more than unremarkable, though. The reliance on darkness still gets tiresome, as the bouts of action we do get are—true to the series’ history—difficult to follow. The page layouts are great, though—some of the best of the series, maybe, and give the more dialogue-heavy pages a solid tempo.
I had previously decided to skip the spin-off series, House of Slaughter, but after getting a proper look into the different factions and tensions within the monster-hunting organization and enjoying what I found, I think I’m going to pick it up.
The volume retroactively improves the prior volumes by fleshing out that story with additional color and stakes. It doesn’t absolve the series from its underwritten characters, but it’s a good step forward and is sure to improve things when it picks back up again.
Artwork is consistently strong, too. I love seeing Dell’edera and Muerto get to showcase their styles in lighter, day time settings. Some of the coloring is especially memorable, and provides a welcome change of pace from the otherwise dark color palette of the series. I still don’t find the creature design to be anything more than unremarkable, though. The reliance on darkness still gets tiresome, as the bouts of action we do get are—true to the series’ history—difficult to follow. The page layouts are great, though—some of the best of the series, maybe, and give the more dialogue-heavy pages a solid tempo.
I had previously decided to skip the spin-off series, House of Slaughter, but after getting a proper look into the different factions and tensions within the monster-hunting organization and enjoying what I found, I think I’m going to pick it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Bullying, and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol
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