Something is Killing the Children #30: Survival May be Possible

Something is Killing the Children #30 is the jolt this recent arc has been needing. While the series has been spectacular, issue #30 sets the stage for what’s to come and puts fan-favorite Erica Slaughter in a position to take on the demented Ms. Cutter and the new monster.

The New Mexico story arc began with issue #20, and the past ten issues have done an excellent job of weaving several storylines at once. There is the political fallout happening at the House of Slaughter from Erica’s exit, the inclusion of the psychotic Ms. Cutter, and the latest monster terrorizing a small town. While a lot is going on, there, unfortunately, have been several issues where the pacing felt like slowing down, leaving me wondering when the action would pick up.

While issue #30 does not have a lot of action–if any–it has a well-laid board with all of the characters in an excellent position to crash into each other. In the last issue, Erica was framed for the death of several cops; however, she noticed the totem Ms. Cutter keeps is vulnerable. In a quick moment, she stole it, and now there was something they had that Ms. Cutter could not stand to live without.

There are two tracks in which writer James Tynion IV has done a great job. The first is the overarching plot, and the next is the intentional conversations that feel brief but important. Before this issue, several felt more like filler than movement toward a larger story. Issue #30 gives a glimmer of hope that Erica and her new partners, Gabi and Riqui, can win the battle.

The art and colors of this issue are incredibly well done and feel like a return to some of the earlier issues. There are several points within this issue where emotion and anger are expressed, and the art captures this perfectly while showing how menacing it can be for the character displaying it. The rough lines give a consistent textured look, and the almost minimal design feels like a western movie where there are moments of quiet right before the action. Werther Dell’Edera’s style is always consistent, and the work done for the cover is a nice touch to focus on Ms. Cutter. Enhancing the artwork is the color from Miquel Muerto. Muerto’s colors are such a good combination in the entire package, and the deep blacks and reads are beautiful even though they remind the reader this is very much a horror comic.