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A review by steveatwaywords
Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 7 by James Tynion IV
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- 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: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, and Violence