Who would have predicted the greater ambitions of Something is Killing the Children when the title first launched five years ago at BOOM! Studios? Starting off as a simple woman-versus-monsters tale, thanks to one-shots and spinoffs like Book of Cutter #1, the world has blown up into one of the most complicated and involving mythologies in modern comics.
Yet what works about it isn’t the greater mythology, it’s the human element. None of this would matter if we didn’t care about the people involved, and this 98-page graphic novella will make you care deeply about Maxine Slaughter, the woman who is supposed to take Erica Slaughter’s place now that she’s “dead.” In the over-sized issue by James Tynion IV and Tate Brombal, with art by the murderer’s row team of Werther Dell’Edera, Antonio Fuso, Letizia Cadonici, and Chris Shehan, Maxine is headed to Europe to train in the ways of the Order of St. George. And over the course of the issue, not only do we learn more about Maxine’s wants and needs, we also find out more about the ominous plans in store for the Order itself.
Particularly for a art jam like this, it’s impressive to see how Dell’Edera’s iconic style has seeped down to the other artists involved, who bring their own unique spin to the world. It’s beautiful, eerie, dark, and often highly exaggerated in a way that feels like nothing else on the stands. And this is offset by full text pages (by Brombal) with beautiful spot illustrations that feel like wood carvings or dusty tomes come to life.



While this is far from the best starting place if you’re curious about the world of SIKTC or spinoff House of Slaughter, it is a treat for fans that pushes forward the danger and intrigue in both books. There are some bad things coming for the very-not-dead Erica, and her survival also means some terrifying things are coming Maxine’s way, as well.
While this may have initially been the story of one woman against the world, Book of Cutter shows how we often get trapped by procedures, little pieces of business, or our own ambitions and lose sight of what the mission is to begin with: help others. How this will play out is TBD, but I’ll be eager to cut into any slice of this world Tynion and company provide.
Book of Cutter #1 Rating:
Book of Cutter #1 Official Synopsis:
As it crosses its 5th anniversary, the Slaughterverse unveils one of its darkest chapters yet in this oversized one-shot exploring a brand new facet to the mythos of monsters… and the ones who hunt them.
Maxine Slaughter, a former pack hunter who renounced her White Mask to take up the Black for the Order of St. George, journeys to Europe to seek out House Cutter and their mysterious ways.
The Eisner Award-winning team of iconic writer James Tynion IV, legendary artist Werther Dell’Edera, and acclaimed colorist Miquel Muerto close out 5 years of nightmares with this pivotal entry in the blockbuster horror saga.
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