Advance Review: Politics Takes Center Stage In `Something Is Killing The Children’ #29

As if things weren’t difficult enough for Erica Slaughter, now she has to deal with office politics.

On the run from her own House of Slaughter, Erica is facing dual enemies: a monster that is terrorizing the population of Tribulation, New Mexico, as well as a fellow hunter with sights set on eliminating her rival. That other hunter, Charlotte Cutter, massacred most of Tribulation’s police force in the previous issue, setting up Erica as the villain.

And now Cecelia is entering the picture. Cecelia is an on-the-rise member of the House of Slaughter with eyes on the top job. When the leader of the house explains to her the potential benefits of having Erica kill Charlotte, Cecelia leaps into action. Will she side with her rival Erica to benefit the house but damage her own upward mobility or will she do what’s beneficial for her and assist Charlotte?

With the inner workings of the House of Slaughter have always been a core part of this series’ story, this latest twist is endemic of the bloat that has infected this arc. For too many issues, we’ve learned about some of the inhabitants of the small New Mexico town for seemingly no reason. Now, instead of fighting monsters, James Tynion’s script veers toward the human monsters. At least this palace intrigue is more interesting, but come, we want to see children-killing monsters!

All of that office politics puts artist Werther Dell’Edera at a disadvantage. He has a unique drawing style, and any time he draws Erica, it’s a treat. But she’s in less than half the issue and there isn’t a single monster – aside from the human kind – anywhere in the book. Frankly, it’s not fair to handcuff him like this.

It’s not fair to the readers as well.

Something is Killing the Children #29 will be available for purchase tomorrow.