Slaughterverse
SLAUGHTERVERSE
THE SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN UNIVERSE
JAMES TYNION IV · WERTHER DELL'EDERA
BOOM! Studios · 2019–PRESENT
🔴 4 MAIN COMIC BRANCHES · 87 CORE ISSUES · ONGOING
Original Creators: James Tynion IV · Werther Dell'Edera
Contributing Writers: Tate Brombal · Sam Johns · Kiersten White
Main Artists: Werther Dell'Edera · Chris Shehan · Letizia Cadonici · Antonio Fuso · Adriano Turtulici
Principal Colorist: Miquel Muerto
Genres: Supernatural Horror · Dark Fantasy · Monster Horror · Occult Mystery · Psychological Horror
Format: Shared fictional universe · Comic series · Miniseries · Specials · Novel
Publication Status: ONGOING
🩸 ABOUT THE UNIVERSE
Slaughterverse is a shared supernatural horror universe created by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'Edera, beginning with the acclaimed comic series Something Is Killing the Children in 2019.
In this world, humanity lives alongside terrifying creatures that emerge from the fears and imaginations of children. Most adults cannot perceive these monsters, leaving their young victims defenseless against horrors nobody believes exist.
Standing between humanity and these creatures is the Order of St. George, a secret international organization of highly trained monster hunters.
Its members belong to different Houses and wear distinctive colored masks representing their positions and responsibilities.
At the heart of the universe is Erica Slaughter, a rebellious Black Mask hunter whose refusal to obey the Order's brutal traditions gradually exposes the corruption, secrets, and internal conflicts of the organization.
The larger saga explores the lives of other hunters, the history of the Houses, the origins of their rituals, and the dangerous political struggles threatening to destroy the Order from within.
Although the different series have their own protagonists and narrative arcs, they all belong to the same continuity.
📚 THE COMPLETE UNIVERSE
4 MAIN COMIC BRANCHES
01 — SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN
2019–Present · Issues #1–50 + #0 · ONGOING
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Werther Dell'Edera
Main Series — Erica Slaughter
Children are disappearing from the quiet town of Archer's Peak, Wisconsin. The few survivors describe impossible creatures that adults cannot see.
A mysterious young woman named Erica Slaughter arrives to hunt the monsters, revealing the existence of an ancient organization devoted to fighting supernatural threats.
As her journey continues, Erica's growing conflict with the Order of St. George becomes as dangerous as the creatures she hunts.
Status: Ongoing. Issue #50 published October 2026.
02 — HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER
2021–2025 · 30 Issues · 6 Volumes · COMPLETE
Writers: Tate Brombal · Sam Johns · James Tynion IV
Artists: Chris Shehan · Antonio Fuso · Letizia Cadonici
The Order of St. George
A companion series exploring the secret lives, traditions, and internal conflicts of the monster hunters.
The six volumes form two major narrative trilogies:
The Butcher's Trilogy
- The Butcher's Mark
- The Butcher's Return
- The Butcher's War
The Colors Trilogy
- Scarlet
- Alabaster
- Azure
The stories explore the tragic history of Jace Boucher, Aaron Slaughter, and members of the Scarlet, White, and Azure Masks.
Status: Complete. All 30 issues collected.
03 — BOOKS OF SLAUGHTER
2022–2025 · 3 Specials · COMPLETE
The Maxine Slaughter Trilogy
Three connected stories following Maxine Slaughter's journey through different branches of the Order of St. George.
The trilogy explores the hidden histories, political relationships, and traditions of the Houses.
Complete Contents:
01 · Book of Slaughter (2022)
02 · Book of Butcher (2023)
03 · Book of Cutter (2025)
Status: Complete.
Complete Edition: Books of Slaughter Deluxe Edition (2026) — 176 pages.
04 — FALL OF THE HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER
2026 · 4 Issues · COMPLETE
Writer: Tate Brombal
Artist: Adriano Turtulici
The Succession Crisis
With the Old Dragon approaching death, the Order of St. George enters a dangerous political crisis.
The leaders of its Houses compete to determine his successor, while Cecilia Slaughter, Colin Slaughter, and Maxine become entangled in a deadly struggle for control.
The events mark a major turning point for the organization and lead toward Something Is Killing the Children #50.
Status: Complete.
Complete TPB: 144 pages — October 27, 2026.
📖 RELATED LITERATURE
SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN: HOPE IS A KNIFE
2026 · 304 pages · Standalone Novel
Authors: James Tynion IV · Kiersten White
The first full-length prose novel set in the Slaughterverse.
Erica Slaughter arrives in Badwater, Idaho, to investigate the mysterious death of a twelve-year-old child.
As supernatural terror and religious hysteria threaten to consume the town, Erica must uncover the truth before another child becomes the next victim.
Status: Published October 13, 2026.
The novel tells a standalone story within the established universe.
🗂️ MAJOR COLLECTED EDITIONS
SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN
Omnibus Vol. 1 (2025)
512 pages · Issues #1–20
Omnibus Vol. 2 (2026)
512 pages · Issues #21–40
Volume 9 (2026)
144 pages · Issues #41–45
Volume 10 (December 2026)
160 pages · Issues #46–50
The main series continues beyond these collections.
HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER
Book One Deluxe Edition (2025)
400 pages · Issues #1–5, #11–15, #21–25
Book Two Deluxe Edition (2026)
400 pages · Issues #6–10, #16–20, #26–30
Together they collect the complete original series.
BOOKS OF SLAUGHTER
Deluxe Edition (2026)
176 pages · All 3 specials
FALL OF THE HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER
Complete TPB (October 2026)
144 pages · Issues #1–4
🔗 RECOMMENDED READING ORDER
SIMPLIFIED UNIVERSE ORDER
01 · Something Is Killing the Children #1–40
02 · House of Slaughter #1–30
03 · Books of Slaughter — Complete Trilogy
04 · Something Is Killing the Children #41–49
05 · Fall of the House of Slaughter #1–4
06 · Something Is Killing the Children #50 onward
This is a practical reading order organized around major story blocks, not a strict issue-by-issue publication chronology.
Most companion stories can be read independently after becoming familiar with the original series.
Hope Is a Knife may be read separately as a standalone novel.
📝 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
Something Is Killing the Children #0 (2024)
A special story exploring Erica Slaughter's past.
Road to Slaughter (2026)
A short prologue connecting developments in the wider universe.
A Monster Hunter Walks Into a Bar (2025)
Additional Erica Slaughter material originating in the Hello Darkness anthology.
Swamp Thing Is Killing the Children (December 2026)
An announced DC crossover. Optional; not required for the core collection.
Other promotional specials, variant covers, and art-focused reprints are not necessary to follow the principal narrative.
✅ UNIVERSE SUMMARY
Universe Founded: 2019
Original Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Main Comic Branches: 4
Core Comic Issues: 87, excluding issue #0 and additional short stories
Completed Branches: 3
Ongoing Branches: 1
Standalone Novels: 1 published
Main Protagonist: Erica Slaughter
Central Organization: Order of St. George
Continuity: Shared universe
Overall Status: ONGOING
Last Verified: October 2026
Official Publisher:
https://www.boom-studios.com/