A Horror Comic With a Simple but Effective Premise
The plot of Something Is Killing the Children Volume One by James Tynion IV and artist Werther Dell’Edera is pretty simple on the surface, but it works really well.
There are monsters that exist in the world, but they can only be seen by children because children are still inexperienced and naive enough to believe in monsters. Ironically, monsters are actually real in this universe. Most adults stop believing in monsters as they grow older, and because of that they can no longer see them.
For the most part, these monsters can only attack children because children believe in them.
And so our protagonists are basically monster hunters whose job is to travel around killing these creatures before they continue massacring kids.
Why the Premise Works So Well
Horror, Action, and Monster Hunting
This is where I think the story becomes really interesting.
From a visual perspective, the premise is simple enough, but it is immediately gripping. It functions almost like an action-horror title:
- giant terrifying monsters
- murdered children
- a flawed hero hunting the creatures down
The setup itself is strong. Big scary monsters killing kids is already emotionally effective and disturbing enough to immediately grab attention.
But I don’t think the premise alone can carry the series long term.
Once readers get accustomed to the idea that monsters exist and children are their targets, the series will have to rely more heavily on its characters and larger story developments. That is where I think the real strength of the series is going to come from.
Character Development and Psychological Trauma
The Boy Who Survived the Massacre
So far, we’re already seeing the beginnings of some genuinely complex characters.
The young boy from the small town survives the massacre where many of his friends are killed during a sleepover, including the boy he had feelings for. He directly witnessed these monsters and later encounters the mysterious woman capable of killing them.
That experience is obviously going to affect him for the rest of his life.
I’m also trying to keep Volume One and Volume Two separate in my head because I’m writing this after reading Volume Two as well, so some details start blending together.
Erica Slaughter: A Flawed Horror Protagonist
Not Your Typical Superhero
Our main protagonist, Erica Slaughter, is clearly not a traditional superhero.
Right from the start, you can tell she has issues. She looks like someone who gets maybe two hours of sleep a night. She is carrying a tremendous amount of trauma.
And honestly, it makes sense.
Imagine your job being to travel around the country hunting monsters that murder children. Worse, you are usually arriving after the attacks have already happened. You are constantly seeing mutilated children and horrific crime scenes. That would absolutely destroy most people psychologically.
That trauma shows in her personality and behavior.
She also carries around this strange stuffed octopus toy that she talks to. Later we find out there is actually some kind of monster trapped inside it. There’s clearly a deeper mythology there, although I don’t think all of it is revealed yet in this volume.
Expanding Mythology and Future Story Potential
The Secret Organization and Monster Lore
Another interesting character is the young man searching for his missing sister, who we later learn is dead. That’s maybe somewhat of a spoiler, but you can already see where his storyline is heading.
He eventually gets pulled into this hidden world and seems to gain the same ability as Erica to see monsters as an adult. That immediately suggests a larger mythology behind how these powers work.
We also know Erica is communicating with someone else, which strongly implies she is part of a much larger organization.
That’s where I can really see the story opening up and becoming more complicated over time.
The long-term success of the series is probably going to depend less on the original premise itself and more on:
- character development
- expanding lore
- organizational politics
- monster mythology
- psychological consequences
And so far, I like where it’s going.
The Artwork and Visual Style
Bold Colors and Clean Horror Panels
I also really like the artwork.
The art style is clean enough that you can always tell what’s happening on the page, which is important for action-heavy horror stories. At the same time, the use of colors is bold and engaging without becoming visually overwhelming.
Everything looks crisp and aesthetically pleasing.
The artwork does a good job balancing horror imagery with readability, which helps keep the pacing smooth.
Could Something Is Killing the Children Work as a TV Series?
The Challenge of Adapting the Violence
I could absolutely see this becoming a television series.
The difficult part would be deciding how to handle the violence involving children.
I honestly don’t know if mainstream television has really shown this kind of thing to the extent this comic does. The murder of children is not just background shock value here—it’s central to the emotional weight of the story.
Part of what makes the series so unsettling is that kids are genuinely not safe.
The comic fully commits to that horror. These monsters do not simply threaten children; they brutally kill and mutilate them, and the story visually shows the aftermath.
That emotional impact is a major part of why the story works.
If a TV adaptation removed or softened that aspect too much, it could lose an important part of what gives the series its tension and horror atmosphere. The adaptation could still work, but it would definitely change the tone.
Final Thoughts on Something Is Killing the Children Volume One
Overall, I’d highly recommend this graphic novel if you’re not too squeamish.
The premise is strong, the characters already show signs of becoming more layered and psychologically interesting, and the artwork is excellent.
So far, the series feels like it has the potential to evolve into something much larger than just “monsters killing kids.” The real test will be whether the writers can continue developing the world, mythology, and characters in satisfying ways moving forward.
Next, I’ll probably do a review of Volume Two.
Original draft written in January 2021.
Gazing off into Space 