Something Is Killing the Children #0

Something Is Killing the Children #0
Information
Written by	James Tynion IV
Illustrated by	Werther Dell'Edera
Colors by	Miquel Muerto
Lettered by	AndWorld Design
Release date	November 6, 2024
Chronology
← Previous	Something Is Killing the Children #40

Something Is Killing the Children #0 is a horror comic from James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'Edera that was published on November 6, 2024, by Boom! Studios. It is the forty-first issue in the Something Is Killing the Children comic series, as well as a prequel. It is the only issue in the Before Archer's Peak arc.

Synopsis

It's been 5 years since the smash hit Eisner-winning series Something Is Killing the Children changed the world of comics; now, 40 issues later, a new chapter from the past is revealed.

Witness this crucial untold story within the vast Slaughterverse, detailing the mission preceding the fateful Archer's Peak Saga, where the entire story began.

The Eisner and GLAAD award-winning team of James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'Edera invite fans into this intimate untold chapter of the monster hunter that sliced her way into the hearts of readers everywhere, along with the celebratory Something Is Killing the Children cover month celebrating the franchise's 5th anniversary.

Plot

A mysterious man, later named as Victor Saint-Georges, is interviewing a young girl named Sara outside an ice cream parlor; having been allowed to go by her mother, who was under the belief that Victor was a policeman, Sara doubts Victor's story. Victor asks for Sara to tell the truth, but she says she promised to keep a secret, in order to prevent more children from dying. Victor gets her attention by revealing he knows she's spoken to Erica Slaughter and that he's been "following her work." He asks what Erica told her when she first came to visit her in the hospital.

Sara reveals that Erica told her about the "Big Secret"– that monsters are real, and that the creature that had torn off her limbs and eye was one of them. She also told her that she couldn't tell anyone else the secret, or more kids would get hurt and someone might come for her, then that she herself had come to the town to kill the monster, but she needed Sara's help.

Victor says that Sara then escaped the hospital with Erica, which Sara thinks her parents are still mad about. He says that adults often underestimate children, especially in the face of things they don't understand, and then that he knows that Sara understood her parents would be upset but still went with Erica in order to fix the problem. He believes that she is doing something similar, trying to fix a problem despite the people trying to control her.

Sara remembers camping in the woods with Erica, and overhearing her on the phone with Aaron Slaughter; he tells her to stop breaking rules, and she tells him that she is tired of children getting hurt. When he threatens to tell Cecilia that she had given Sara information, Erica tells him that she would rip his legs off if he tried. Octo tells her to sleep, and then that he understands that she's practically daring the Order of St. George to stop her. But the Order will not stop her, because she is too useful to them, and she will keep going until she destroys herself. She acknowledges this, and then notices Sara is awake. Sara asks if Erica helps kids like her a lot, and Erica says that she tries; Sara then hugs her.

Sara asks Victor if she can go home, and realizes her parents aren't in the parking lot. Victor tells her that they have some privacy for their important conversation, and that Erica is in "quite a bit of trouble." He asks if she'd seen Erica fight, and Sara explains that Erica had left her by the side of the road, not wanting her to be in danger. Sara however heard the fight, knowing that Erica beat the monster. Victor is amazed that Erica used Sara to draw out the monster, yet never once made her feel unsafe, and says that she's incredible. Then he says that they will need to put Erica through some very difficult things, but it's exciting that he doesn't know how she will react.

He then asks Sara where Erica is. Sara remembers her last encounter with Erica, as Erica told her the monster was defeated, made a note to go to Archer's Peak, and then asked Sara if she could use her shower. Sara yells to Victor that Erica is saving another kid like her, and asks why he wants to stop her. He says, "Who says we want to stop her? I said she was in trouble. I said I've had my eyes on her for a long time. Maybe I want to help?" Sara doubts this, and Victor agrees that Erica won't see it as helping either, and that she won't see the hand of the Great House at work for some time.

Sara proclaims that she is going to tell Erica, then yells for her mom to take her home. When there is no response, Victor tells Sara that she won't be seeing her parents again, and that her life will be very different from now on. Sara then passes out, having been drugged by her ice cream. Victor puts on an Azure mask and calls The Dragon King in French, telling him that Erica Slaughter is a "prime candidate," more resilient than her mentor, and that they should begin the trials.

Characters

Order of St. George

• Octo
• Victor Saint-Georges
• Aaron Slaughter
• Erica Slaughter

Civilians

• Sara

Monsters

• Oscuratype

Gallery

Gallery

Something Is Killing the Children #0 cover by Werther Dell'Edera & Miquel Muerto Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover by Jenny Frison Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover C by Dan Mora, Bow Version Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover C by Dan Mora, Chainsaw Version Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover C by Dan Mora, Sword Version Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover by Dan Mora Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant "Blank Sketch" cover. Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover E by Jenny Frison Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover by Jenny Frison Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover by Jeff Dekal Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover by Jae Lee & June Chung Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover by Jae Lee Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover by Sean Murphy Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover by Jerome Opeña Something Is Killing the Children #0 variant cover by Chris Bachalo

Exclusive Variants

Gallery
BOOM! Comics Webstore exclusive by Skottie Young 616 Comics exclusive by Björn Barends The Comic Corner exclusive by Derrick Chew Scott's Collectables and ECGCE exclusive by Alan Quah Tiny Onion exclusive by Tyler Boss Trinity Comics exclusive by Zoe Lacchei Webster's Vault exclusive by Arthur Adams

Preview Pages

From Boom!Studios's First Look.