Newburn Vol. 2
Chip Zdarsky, writer; Jacob Phillips, illustrator
Image Comics, 2024

There is a reason why Easton Newburn’s assistant, Emily Walker, is on the cover. Past mistakes have caught up to Newburn, and his allies have begun turning on him. Even Casey, his former partner (previously a dependable support for his activities), has started to look like an escape candidate. Fake passport specialist Amadou finds himself dealing with just about everyone. Emily has begun questioning her relationship with Newburn in her journal entries. And yet, she finds herself taking Newburn’s place with the crime families (in partnership with a journalist who has figured out a scam Newburn and Emily pulled on the families) while Casey returns to the city. Emily also has an ex who she wants to protect. So there are many moving parts, and along the way, we finally learn about a key event in Newburn’s police career. In the end Emily finds a way to deal with the families, and there is a nice surprise ending as well. This was a complex, action-filled conclusion to the series, and a great read.

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 7
James Tynion IV, writer; Werther Dell’Edera, illustrator; Miquel Muerto, colorist
Boom! Studios, 2024

After narrowly surviving the Duplicitype, Erica Slaughter must still reckon with the murderous Cutter in order to save the people of Tribulation. Separated from her Dolly totem and driven by desperate rage, Cutter begins behaving increasingly erratically. The local police finally started questioning her Interpol credentials, but they were too late to stop her. All this time the terrifying Duplicitype, the infamous monster wearing Erica’s likeness, also remained at large and continued killing while also pursuing Gabi (the victim who got away). And with Cecilia showing up onsite–bearing a Duplicitype poison–perhaps Erica has finally found the ally she needs. Erica has her doubts about the offer to rejoin the House of Slaughter, but she accepts the poison. There is a lot of loss in the epic final battle. Erica is again on her own (and presumed dead), but now she has a human enemy promising vengeance.