Keigen Rea — This issue feels like it was made for me, so it almost feels unfair that I get to review it. Liking it as much as I do very nearly breaks my normal critical process because I’m not sure I have any tangible criticism other than *excited noise* but, well, *excited noise*

This issue has a conversation in a hospital, in a police station, outside of a school gym, and some forest stuff. A gun gets pointed and someone gets hit it the face. It might not sound like much happens, which is partially true, but the pace and the content of the dialogue are both near perfect. The tone of each scene varies greatly, from some humor in the cold open, tension in the next, then grief, and finally fear. We check in with the core cast and the conflict pops off as the issue closes. Really, though, my enjoyment of this issue comes from the fact that it is largely just characters talking to each other. It’s a bit of a cliche, but I feel like I’m always asking entertainment to just take a minute and let us see characters talking to each other, and this delivers exactly that. And I love it. 

As for art, the series is notable for its use double page spreads (DPS for short). This issue has six DPS, not counting the title page, accounting for 60% of the issue. There are  5.5 panels per page on normal pages, and ~6.4 panels per (single) page on DPS, which isn’t really enough of a difference to have 60% of the pages as DPS. What’s more, when taken as six pages instead of twelve, the DPS average a little over 12 panels per page, which could easily and reasonably be broken in two instead of using a spread. In almost every case I hate it when comics do this. It isn’t typically a great use of space, and I prefer when DPS are used to display a great big image, as space = meaning in comics. In short, I feel like I should hate every single DPS in Something is Killing the Children. And yet, I don’t. 

I don’t know the exact reason why, but I love the way this creative team uses double page spreads. It might be because of the predominantly wide panels, or it might be the way the spreads keep the pace even. I’m not completely sure, but I love the way they make it work. 

Typically I zero in on something that I think could be improved on, or so, etching that I’m not sure works as intended, and this is where my critical process breaks down because I don’t really have anything here. I won’t say it’s perfect, and I’m sure if I read it enough times I’ll find something, but I also don’t really have the critical apparatus to point to anything in particular right now. I’m greatly enjoying the series, and this issue is a great continuation of it. 

OVERALL: Something is Killing the Children #8 is able to deliver a creepy, funny, and engaging issue while mostly consisting of characters talking to each other. You shouldn’t be missing one of the best monthly horror comics! 9/10

Something Is Killing the Children #8 - REVIEW

Something is Killing the Children #8
Writer: James Tynion IV 
Artist: Werther Dell’Edera 
Colorist: Miquel Muerto 
Letterer: Andworld Design 
Publisher: BOOM! Studios 
Price: $3.99
Erica's employers, the mysterious Order of St. George, have taken control of Archer's Peak and sealed it off from the outside world. But can they hope to quarantine the damage caused by the monsters… and Erica Slaughter.
Release Date: July 8, 2020
Buy It Digitally: Something Is Killing the Children #8

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Keigen Rea is not working for at least the next five weeks. He does not know if that’s good for him. Find him @prince_organa trying to be relevant to any degree at all.