The Old Dragon travels to New Orleans to meet with the Butcher Shop. Can they put aside their differences as they hunt Jace Boucher? Find out in House of Slaughter #21 from BOOM! Studios.

HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #21

Writer: Tate Brombal
Artist: Antonio Fuso
Colorist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Andworld Design
Editor: Ramiro Portnoy and Eric Harburn
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 13, 2024

Previously in House of Slaughter: Young Bait was sent on a mission to weed out a child who was an originator of monsters. But that child reminded him of his sister so much, he could not kill her. The White Masks stepped in to dispatch the remaining monsters and clean up the situation, even if it meant the death of other kids. When Bait returns to the House of Slaughter, Gerde pulls him aside. The Order, she explains, does not want children who are independent thinkers working for them. It wants children who are malleable, and whose complicated feelings can be honed into hatred.

THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY

A small convoy of black cars makes its way into New Orleans as House of Slaughter #21 opens. During this drive, a narrator tells a version of the story of St. George and the dragon. A dragon was poisoning the land and waters around a small village until the villagers made a deal to sacrifice livestock to it. When the livestock ran out, the sacrifice changed to their children, which was fine for many years, until the day the King’s daughter was selected by the lottery. How easy it is to justify the horrible if it doesn’t directly affect you! The cars pull over for a few minutes, and we see that the Old Dragon himself has made this trip. He has a coughing fit that brings up blood.

At the Butcher Shop, the meeting between the two Houses is formal and tense. Vionette delivers a carefully worded statement about their differences, but their common need to come together. She attributes this speech to the mute Cassius, although the old Dragon hints that the words may be hers. The point of this meeting is that the Great House wants Jace Boucher “handled.” They are training Maxine. They have sent hunters north. Slaughter had an opportunity to take care of Jace and was not successful. Vionette also comments on their problems with Erica.

The Old Dragon makes his statement. It has been twenty-five years since he was last here, when they had the uprising of the Legacy Butchers. He talks about how these internal conflicts seem to end in fire. They have a new house and new hunters but are on the brink of insurrection again. Insurrection and fire. They must stand together in this fight. Then his slender body is wracked by another severe bout of coughing.

Vionette informs everyone that the Butcher Shop will be leading the mission and adjourns the meeting. The Old Dragon leaves with his two Silvers. Both sides will start out playing nice with each other, but Slaughter needs a win, he declares, no matter what the cost. As they leave, crows cluster above them.

A flock of crows flies to a cabin in the swamp. Maven lives here and is watching over the children Jace has rescued. Jace is deeper in the swamp, killing monsters and battling his memories. His family blames him for surviving. Sunny accuses Jace of not protecting him. Aaron appears and tells him he should have long since died. Is this merely his guilt from surviving, or is this the cost of being a hunter who has affection for others?

Maven comes out to check on him and tells him the children are settled, but they wonder where he is. She has also come to warn him. He must leave. The Old Dragon has arrived. Slaughter and Boucher are working together, and he is their target.

INNER AND OUTER DEMONS

From the moment the Old Dragon steps into the Butcher Shop in House of Slaughter #21, we can see that there is a wariness between the two houses. Everyone is on their best behavior, but they do not welcome the old man with anything more pleasant than guarded hostility. The Butcher Shop is crowded. In stark contrast to Slaughter, they seem to be full of Masks. They meet at a round table. It is fully occupied. There is one Old Dragon with his two Silvers standing behind him. Clearly, he is outnumbered. But if this is a show of force, the Old Dragon is canny enough not to show any weakness.

Color plays a powerful role in reflecting the moods in the story. The crows arrive at Maven’s cabin at sunset, and this golden glow is echoed inside where the kids are horsing around and being kids. It is a precious moment of normalcy in a darkly supernatural world which we see moments later as Jace battles his demons. The sky has turned blue-gray and the shadows are strong. The only color contrast is the red of blood which is also a hallmark of the spirits of Jace’s memories.

BOTTOM LINE: DRAGONS UNITED

House of Slaughter #21 is full of disquiet and foreboding. Not only is the conflict one that has been years in the making, but it is also between people who have a finely honed skill in holding grudges.

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