A review by billyjepma
Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 4 by James Tynion IV

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.
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