James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera, and Miquel Muerto launched Something is Killing the Children via BOOM! Studios in 2019, and it has since gone on to become one of the most successful independent comics of the 2020s. I know my local comic shop’s best selling graphic novel and trade list always features several volumes of Something is Killing the Children right at the top next to the likes of Absolute Batman, DC’s Compact Classics or Ultimate Spider-Man. The world full of monster-hunting Houses of trained assassins combines the visual stylings of modern American comics with the pacing and structure of 2000s manga to reach a stratosphere of sales that’s allowed for 50 consecutively published issues (an extremely rare feat in the 2020s). Plus, uh, Erica Slaughter’s mask is really, really cool.
The success has allowed Tynion IV and team to launch spinoffs like House of Slaughter and the Books of Slaughter, not to mention a Blumhouse production TV series in the works and a 2026 launch on Webtoon. But as so often happens with long-running comics, the more spread out the universe (or Slaughterverse) becomes, the more challenging it is to puzzle the order together. I’ve pieced together all the available trades and graphic novels that are available, so you have a complete reading order for all published comics.
Slaughterverse Comics Reading Order
Something Is Killing the Children Vol. 1
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #1-5.
Something Is Killing the Children Vol. 2
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #6-10.
Something Is Killing the Children Vol. 3
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #11-15
The first 15 issues compose the “Archer’s Peak” arc, where protagonist Erica Slaughter ventures to a small town where children are being hunted by seemingly invisible monsters. These issues perfectly build the tone, mythology, and Dell’Edera’s killer designs. If you aren’t obsessed by now, you’re not going to be!
Enter The House Of Slaughter FCBD
A 2021 Free Comic Book Day teaser story for the spinoff series House of Slaughter. Free Comics short stories are typically inessential, but a nice bonus for diehards.
Something Is Killing the Children Vol. 4
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #16-20
Collects: House of Slaughter #1-5
The first arc in The Butcher’s Trilogy. Continues in House of Slaughter Vol. 3 and Vol. 5. The arcs in House of Slaughter alternate between co-writers and trilogies (Tate Brombal on “The Butcher’s Trilogy” and Sam Jones on “The Colors Trilogy”).
Please note, you absolutely could jump to House of Slaughter Volumes 3 and 5 next. In fact, that’s what the House of Slaughter Deluxe Edition does. I keep the volumes spaced out a little more in line with release date, but you have options. If you’re like “I am here to be told what to read,” ignore all this, keep calm, and read ahead!
You don’t have to read House of Slaughter to understand what’s going on in Something is Killing the Children. It’s an additive story that enriches the core comic. I’d say you should give the first arc a shot here, and if you’re not feeling it as much, just roll with Something is Killing the Children until you’re ready to jump back!
Collects: House of Slaughter #6-10
The first arc in The Colors Trilogy. Continues in House of Slaughter Vol. 4 and Vol. 6.
Something Is Killing the Children Vol. 5
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #21-25.
Something Is Killing the Children Vol. 6
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #26-30.
Something Is Killing the Children Vol. 7
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #31-35
All three of the Books of Slaughter (Slaughter/Butcher/Cutter) are also collected in the Books of Slaughter Deluxe Edition. Again, much like House of Slaughter these are effective at enriching the lore of the Slaughterverse, but not absolute essential if you just want to follow Erica in Something is Killing the Children.
Collects: House of Slaughter #11-15
Collects: House of Slaughter #16-20
Collects the Book of Butcher #1
House of Slaughter Vol. 5: The Butcher’s War
Collects: House of Slaughter #21-25
Something Is Killing the Children Vol. 8
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #36-40
Something Is Killing the Children #0
This special flashback issue actually jumps back to Erica Slaughter’s mission before Archer’s Peak. Despite that, I’d still recommend reading it as published as a deliberate celebration of 40 issues and 5 years of Something is Killing the Children.
Something is Killing the Children: A Monster Hunter Walks Into a Bar #1
Flashback Erica Slaughter stories from the Hello Darkness horror anthology
Collects the Book of Cutter #1
Comics Giveaway Day 2026: Something Is Killing the Children – Road to Slaughter #1
The May 2026 free comic (from the rebranded Free Comic Book Day… don’t ask) follows hot on the heels of Something is Killing the Children #40, and sets the stage for Fall of the House of Slaughter.
House of Slaughter Vol. 6: Azure
Collects: House of Slaughter #26-30
Something Is Killing the Children Vol. 9
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #41-45
Something is Killing the Children Vol. 10
Collects: Something is Killing the Children #46-50
Fall of the House of Slaughter
Collects: Fall of the House of Slaughter #1-4
Something Is Killing the Children: Hope Is a Knife: A Novel
Deluxe and Oversized Collections of Something Is Killing the Children
Something Is Killing the Children Omnibus Vol. 1
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #1-20
This is the equivalent of Something is Killing the Children volumes one through four listed above.
Something is Killing the Children Omnibus Vol. 2
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #21-40
Something Is Killing the Children Deluxe Edition Book One
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #1-15
This is the equivalent of volumes one through three, aka the full “Archer’s Peak” saga.
Something Is Killing the Children Deluxe Edition Book Two
Collects: Something Is Killing the Children #21-35
House of Slaughter Book One Deluxe Edition
Collects: House of Slaughter #1-5, #11-15, and #21-25
House of Slaughter Book Two Deluxe Edition
House of Slaughter #6–10, #16–20, and #26–30
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