FALL OF THE HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #4 (BOOM! STUDIOS)

The scariest thing about the House of Slaughter has never really been about the monsters.

It’s the people inside the House and what they’re willing to do to keep it going.

FALL OF THE HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #4 by James Tynion lV, Tate Brombal, Adriano Turtulici, Valentina Napolitano and Andworld Design (The series was developed by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera - BOOM! STUDIOS) end its’ intense story.

FALL OF THE HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #4 by James Tynion lV, Tate Brombal,Adriano Turtulici, Valentina Napolitano and Andworld Design (BOOM! STUDIOS)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

This is the final issue of the miniseries, and what I enjoyed about this issue is that it doesn’t try to turn the ending into some huge action spectacle. There’s definitely violence and some pretty messed up stuff going on, but most of what hit me was the character stuff and everything going on underneath the surface. This story is dealing with power, loyalty, control, and what it actually means to belong to one of these Houses, and I think Tate Brombal does a good job bringing all of that together.

One thing I’ve always liked about the Something Is Killing the Children’s universe is that just because these people hunt monsters doesn’t necessarily mean they’re good people. Everybody seems to have their own reason for being part of this world. Some believe in what the Houses stand for, some want power, and some are just trying to find somewhere they belong. That becomes really important because this issue spends a lot of time showing how easy it can be for someone who is vulnerable to get pulled into something much bigger than themselves.

There’s a letter early in the issue from a school talking about a kid who is having a hard time fitting in and dealing with bullying. At first, it sounds like they’re trying to help him, but the more you read it, the more it feels like they’re basically putting the responsibility back on the kid to change so everyone else will treat him better. I thought that was a really interesting little piece of the story because it fits perfectly with everything else going on. Sometimes the people or organizations claiming to help you are also the ones deciding what you need to become in order to fit in.

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That’s really where the story worked for me. The monsters will always be part of the attraction in this universe, but the human side is usually what keeps me interested. The idea of these Houses having their own rules, traditions, politics, and ways of controlling the people inside of them continues to make this world feel bigger without taking away from the characters.

The art from Adriano Turtulici also fits this story really well. There’s a roughness to it that feels right for this universe. Nothing looks too polished or clean, and I mean that as a compliment. The characters look like they have gone through it, and you can pick that up right away. Even during quieter moments, there’s this uncomfortable feeling hanging over everything.

Overall, I thought this was a really solid ending. It gives us more of the mythology surrounding the Houses, but it still keeps the focus on the people who have to live inside this system. That’s what I enjoy about this universe. The monsters are obviously scary, but sometimes the more interesting horror comes from the people who believe everything they’re doing is justified because they think they’re serving some greater purpose.

If there’s one thing I would change, I would give the ending a little more room to breathe. There are a lot of characters, motivations, and different pieces of the story coming together at the same time, and there were a couple of moments where I wanted the book to just slow down for another page or two. I didn’t really need more explanation. I just wanted a little more time with some of those moments before moving on.

FINAL GRADE: 9

Overall, I had a good time with this finale. It’s dark with some pretty weird moments, and that continues to show why the Something Is Killing the Children universe works so well when it focuses on the people as much as it does the monsters.

Let me know your thoughts on FALL OF THE HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #4 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!