Something Is Killing the Children #20 is a horror comic from James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'Edera that was published on September 22, 2021 by Boom! Studios. It is the twentieth issue in the Something Is Killing the Children comic series.
Synopsis[]
Can Erica withstand the final stages of the mysterious Order of St. George initiation? Erica finally faces her official initiation into the Order of St. George, a tortuous process that pits a child against an unrestrained monster... and bonds them to it for the rest of their life. Does Erica have what it takes to earn the Mark of St. George, embody the oath of secrecy each member of the House of Slaughter makes, and take her rightful place among the Order?
Plot[]
Drinking on the front porch, Jessica Slaughter bemoans to Gary the betrayal she has to inevitably deal to each child that sees her as a savior. Gary tells her about finding trainees' bodies with dogs after "every big hunt" and burning them. Cecilia then arrives with Aaron, chastising the two for day-drinking. Aaron becomes angry at everyone for assuming Erica is going to die, and Gary explains to him how hard it is for a new initiate to face up against an experienced monster. Jessica and Cecilia begin to fight over her bringing Aaron, only for Erica to interrupt them, standing alive on the porch with the dogs, and asking what to do next. After recovering from their shock, Gary joyfully tells Buck to get out the big steaks for a party, while Jessica congratulates her. Cecilia simply tells Erica that she's done well, and then leaves to call the house and have the Scarlet Masks prepare her room. Aaron tells her that he believed in her, and then asks where she'll get her tattoo.
As Gary tattoos the Mark of the Order onto Erica's arm, in the same place as Jessica, and explains what will happen next. When she kills her first monster, she will get a mask with teeth, which is when she will start working in the field. When she passes the final test, she will be given the Rite of Trepanation in order to keep seeing monsters as an adult. He then explains the different types of masks, and upon explaining the Emerald Masks, Erica declares that she wants to see a dragon. Cecilia tells Buck that their Dragon has arrived, and takes a polaroid of Erica's tattoo for his wall of photos.
Erica follows Cecilia to the porch, where she shares gummy worms with the Old Dragon. He speaks to Octo, then asks Erica if she understands why she survived. He asks if she was a problem child for her parents, which makes her angry. He says she survived due to her lack of empathy for her parents, which meant she didn't get lost in the fantasy of saving them, but Erica refutes this, saying she was simply perceptive and able to figure out the trick. He says that she is a monster, but all hunters must become monsters, and that her ability to tame Octo speaks to her level of power.
He and Cecilia leave, and Jessica tells Erica to come inside and join the family. Erica, crying, asks if she's a bad person, and Jessica tells her that instead, she's going to the best of them.
Characters[]
Order of St. George[]
- Gary's Dogs
- The Old Dragon
- Aaron Slaughter
- Buck Slaughter
- Cecilia Slaughter
- Erica Slaughter
- Gary Slaughter
- Jessica Slaughter
Monsters[]
Gallery[]
Comic guide[]
References[]