Review: Too Much Of The Same Story Plagues ‘Something Is Killing The Children’ #31
by Tom Smithyman
It’s been nearly four months between issues of Something is Killing the Children, and yet that time off has done little to recharge what’s become a tired and bloated story.
We’ve now spent 11 issues in Tribulation, New Mexico, dealing with a never-ending story arc concerning a regular monster and human who is worse than a monster. And we’re seemingly no closer to the end.
Instead of action and real character development, readers are burdened with more set up (because the last nearly dozen chapters haven’t been enough), as well as watching an unhinged character become more unhinged. We get it. Erica Slaughter’s fellow monster hunter and pursuer Charlotte Cutter is worse than the otherworldly characters she kills. Thanks. Move on, please.
How writer James Tynion IV let the once-great series that he co-created get away from him is a mystery. Perhaps he has too many other writing projects that are distracting him. Maybe he’s worried about any disruptions to his cash cow. Or maybe he’s just tired. Whatever the case, the story reeks of too much of the same. The sooner we can leave this Tribulation, the better.
One of the many downsides to the hum-drum script for this issue is that – once again – we don’t see any actual monsters (save the one on the cover). And given Werther Dell’Edera’s considerable talents, that is a real shame. Sure, Dell’Edera gets to illustrate Cutter’s breakdown and one scene where she attacks a cop, but it pales in comparison to his prowess in creating and depicting the non-human monsters. This story is largely robbing us of that pleasure.
Let’s just hope the creative team is saving something big up for this arc’s conclusion. After more than a year of Tribulation, we deserve it.
Something is Killing the Children #31 is currently available for purchase at your local shop.
Overview
A tired, bloated script is putting this entire series in dire straits. Instead of reinvigorating the story with a new arc, readers are burdened with more of the same. That has an impact on the once-great art as well, which is a real shame.
