It's official: I am addicted to this story. I just added it to my pull list, because they are doing everything right. First, I want to say if you haven't read issue #1 of Seven Secrets, then don’t read the rest of this article, but know that if you like secret organizations, mystery, and bad-ass action, you should go and buy a copy now. If you did happen to pick up a copy of the first issue, please continue on to the next paragraph; there will be no spoilers for you!
Quick recap: Mal had imprisoned the Chang-Benitez Gang to protect them from the overzealous and vastly overpowered Blue Sun militia. That’s until the Bandit King broke them out, seemingly playing a game of cat-and-mouse with the good sheriff, and taking the heat for the various capers of the Chang-Benitez gang. Except, plot twist, the Bandit King is none other than Mal!
Something Is Killing the Children is not for the faint of heart. It’s badass, but it also doesn’t shy away from hard-to-see moments. Children get killed in some pretty horrible ways. Tynion and Dell’edera don’t want to give you the safety net of being able to look away. This isn’t a news report or a headline you can scroll past on Facebook; they want you right there in the school while the violence is happening. Stories and fiction are usually the safety net, to keep readers at a safe distance while exploring social issues and concerns, but these creators don’t want you to feel safe. They want you present as our heroes stay seemingly one step behind the oncoming series of tragedies.
I’m so glad I took the time to read the prequel series, Descender, because it seriously pays off in this latest issue of Ascender. I’m not going to ruin it for you, but if you started to read this series without reading the previous one, then I highly suggest you dive into it before reading issue #12. Now, on to the show…