Cutter is on the loose, laying the groundwork to go after Erica. But does Erica have a plan of her own? Find out in Something is Killing the Children #30 from BOOM! Studios.

SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN #30

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Werther Dell’Edera
Colorist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Andworld Design
Editor: Eric Harburn
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 29, 2023

Previously in Something is Killing the Children: One deputy, who was picking up coffee, survives the massacre at the police station. Erica tells him that Cutter is not who she says she is, and that her story about Erica breaking free is a lie. As Erica leaves with Riqui and Gabi, she spots Cutter’s doll totem and takes it with her. The House of Slaughter buries Big Gary and Cecilia talks to the Dragon. She did not like bringing Cutter in, and she likes her methods even less. The Dragon counters that they cannot take on Erica directly, and she is becoming an embarrassment. However, if she can kill Cutter, that gets rid of another problem. But after this, Cecilia asks Paris and Tybalt to handle things as she leaves for a while.

THROWING THE HUNTER OFF BALANCE

Something is Killing the Children #30 opens as the police station is being cleaned up. Sheriff Carter cannot believe what is going on. Cutter apologizes for not being able to stop Erica. The Deputy just looks at her. Cutter keeps the focus on Erica, but Carter wonders why Gabi was willing to help her after she killed her entire family. Cutter spots her bag, realizes her doll is missing and flies into a rage.

The doll talks to Gabi and tells her that since Erica stole her, Cutter is now going to hunt down and kill all of them. Octo tells Gabi that the doll is lying. Gabi focuses on her phone and decides not to listen to either of them. She may be young, but she is not going to be manipulated that easily.

They stop at Riqui’s bar and get her guns. Riqui talks with Erica, checking that she intends to use Gabi as bait to lure the monster while Cutter is hunting them. Riqui wants her to promise that Gabi will survive. Erica cannot make that promise. Riqui says she will kill Erica herself if anything happens to the younger girl. Erica nods. It is only fair.

Out at the ranch, Gabi is amazed to see horses. She thinks they are pretty. Riqui tells her they bite. This veers off into Riqui acknowledging that Gabi can be pretty mean, but Gabi counters that since everyone she knows has been eaten by monsters, it’s only right. They also talk about Gabi’s aunt, Riqui’s girlfriend, who died of cancer, and other relatives who are gone. Gabi claims she is not afraid of dying. She may not feel scared, but Riqui is.

Erica calls them inside. She has a plan, and she has decided to be frank with them. They are in serious danger anyway. The additional danger from the Order is remote compared to a monster and Cutter right here. She tells them about the Order and why she left. She also needs them, as best they can, to be part of her pack for hunting the duplicitype, a monster that Cutter is trying to help.

The scene shifts to where a couple of kids sneak through the fence onto the grounds of the hot springs. This is a favorite place for kids to explore and fool around, flirting with the forbidden. They go into the building, strip down, and slip into a pool where one of them finds a disembodied hand. Then they hear a strange noise getting closer.

DEATH CASTS SHADOWS

The art of Something is Killing the Children #30 opens boldly with the first interaction between the deputy and Cutter. We know Erica told him the truth; he is still overwhelmed by the carnage and just looks at her, especially when she apologizes for not being able to stop Erica. He does not do anything obvious, but Cutter is sensitive to him. Her eyes narrow and she confronts him directly. He falls back on the perfect excuse – that everything is strange right now. We can see the fear in his eyes, but it does make sense. Cutter seems satisfied. But the art honestly surprised me when she realizes that her doll is gone. The supremely confident hunter loses control and lets her fury overtake her, and she is terrifying.

Gabi is an interesting character. She has been through a lot and right now deals with it by withdrawing into herself. This may be a strength. We have seen how manipulative the totems can be. As a child, she can hear them talking, and both of them immediately try to influence her. But she can also tune them out. It is when she sees the horses that we catch a glimpse of the child she might have been. The excitement of seeing them brings her out of her shell, and finally she and Riqui interact on the equal terms of two people who have experienced trauma. It does not make them the same, but it allows them to connect.

BOTTOM LINE: RISKING HONESTY

I really like that in Something is Killing the Children #30, Erica is smart enough to realize that she cannot handle this fight alone, and the only way she can have allies is to be honest with them. This may cause more problems in the future, but right now it is the best option she has.

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