A Special Thanks To NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for the ARC.
Alright gang, we’re taking a break from our usual manga reviews to step into a world of despair and horror, just in time for Halloween. Also, keep in mind that this will be a continuation of a review I wrote in 2019 which unfortunately only covered the first issue. Also, if you want to read past reviews, be sure to click here to head over to the Reviews Category.
WHAT IS ABDUCTING THE CHILDREN OF ARCHER’S PEAK? When the children in a sleepy Wisconsin town begin to go missing, all hope seems lost. Most children never return, and those who do have terrible stories of terrifying creatures that live in the shadows. But even monsters fear the mysterious stranger that arrives shortly after. She believes the children and claims to be the only one who sees what they can see… Her name is Erica Slaughter. She kills monsters. This is all she does, and she bears the cost because it must be done.
Something Is Killing The Children Omnibus One consists of the creative team of Writer James Tynion IV (The Woods, The Department of Truth, The Nice House on the Lake), Artist Werther Dell’edera (Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys: The Big Lie, Batman: Detective Comics, Batman/Dylan Dog), and Colorist Miquel Muerto (Radiant Red, The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos, Teen Titans Academy) brings us one of the best horror comic series in recent years that consists of several spin-off titles (House of Slaughter and Books of Slaughter), an artbook, a newly announced crossover involving DC’s Swamp-Thing, and a live-action adaptation at Netflix.
There is a lot to unpack here. For starters, this Omnibus collects Issues 1-20 which consist of two story arcs The Archer’s Peak Saga, and Me and My Monster (which is more of a flashback story of who Erica is and explains the Order of St. George, an organization that consists of Hunters who are trained to locate and kill monsters, gifted with the ability to see the monsters into adulthood.) Second, it is fascinating to see the use of paranormal horror to explore childhood trauma and the grieving process. Third, this story has a well-written dialogue but it’s straightforward which has characters (both main and side) that made the series so memorable, and earned its place amongst popular Horror-themed Comic Books such as The Walking Dead, Hellblazer, and Killadelphia. Despite its use of supernatural and horror tropes, the writing stays grounded, while giving readers a sense of the melancholy of inexplicable tragedy.
I also want to explore the illustrative side of this book. Werther Dell’edera’s style of art accompanied by Miquel Muerto’s colors brought out how terrifying paranormal creatures and humans can be. The biggest thing I would like to stress is that this story does contain a lot of illustrated gore, mutilated bodies, and moments that can be intense for some readers. Dell’edera’s art style, eye for detail in Character/Creature designs, and action sequences, accompanied by Muerto’s color choices were another strong point in this story. The story is well-paced and doesn’t stray off like some books are known for, but with a creative team like this, it is clear to see why it is an Eisner Award-winning book.
Something Is Killing The Children Omnibus One is available now at your local comic shop, bookstore, and e-retailer. Have a safe, and Happy Halloween.
Final Grade:
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