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Something Is Killing the Children: Hope Is a Knife (Direct Market Edition) Main Cover - FOC PREORDER

Something Is Killing the Children: Hope Is a Knife (Direct Market Edition) Main Cover - FOC PREORDER

Regular price $30.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $30.00 USD
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Preorder shipping — your order ships together

Estimated release: October 13, 2026. Orders containing preorder items ship after the final item in the order is released and received. The shipping charge at checkout covers one combined package, not separate release-date shipments. Place separate orders for items you want shipped sooner. Publisher release dates may change.

FOC PREORDER

Something Is Killing the Children: Hope Is a Knife (Direct Market Edition)

Solicitation:
Direct Market retailers in the US, Canada, and International will receive a matching quantity of SIGNED bookplates by authors James Tynion IV and Kiersten White if they order a minimum of 3 copies of Something Is Killing the Children: Hope Is a Knife (Direct Market Edition) on or before FOC. These bookplates are intended to be given to customers that order the direct market edition. Orders for any other editions of Something Is Killing the Children: Hope Is a Knife will not qualify for this promotion. The Direct Market Edition features a unique cover exclusive to comic shops. In the thrilling prequel novel to the megahit BOOM! Studio series, monster-slayer Erica Slaughter races to solve a horrific murder before the townsfolk take matters into their own hands. As a member of the Black Masks, Erica Slaughter travels to towns all over the country to find and kill monsters that only children can see. It's a gruesome, traumatic job that often forces her to hide in the shadows and live a nomadic life. But it's all worth it if she can help save children from a fate that she suffered. She arrives in Badwater to determine whether or not a horrific murder of a twelve-year-old boy was done by a bear-or an unseen monster. Erica knows that if this is in fact the work of a monster, one of the children is calling it to Badwater-but who? And can she figure it out before the townspeople grab their pitchforks and take matters into their own hands? Whether or not you've already devoured the bestselling, Eisner Award-winning comics, this standalone vision of supernatural horror is a thriller ride of the highest order.

Preorder Information

  • Cutoff: Penguin/PRH FOC closes 09/07/2026 at 9:00 PM Eastern.
  • Payment and cancellations: Payment is required upfront. Orders cannot be cancelled after FOC because quantities are locked with the distributor.
  • Condition: Books are expected to arrive new and unread. Minor manufacturing or distributor shelf wear can occur; contact us promptly with photos if your copy arrives materially damaged.
  • Release date: Release dates are estimates and may change. Your order will ship after the item arrives from the distributor.
  • Fulfillment: Books are inspected and packed securely before fulfillment. If an item is damaged, shorted, or unavailable, we will try to replace it first. If no replacement is available, that item will be refunded.

Item Details

  • Publisher: Crown
  • Cover price: $30.00
  • FOC date: 2026-09-07
  • Release date: 2026-10-13
  • Writer: James Tynion IV
  • Cover / variant: Main Cover
  • UPC / ISBN: 979821740017153000

Final cover art, creators, and release details are subject to publisher updates.

Returns and Refunds:
See our Returns and Refunds page for full policy details.

Materials

Shipping, Returns & Refunds

Shipping
Please review our Shipping Policy for processing times, preorder handling, combined orders, transit damage, and carrier insurance details.

Returns & Refunds
Please review our Returns & Refunds Policy for complete details.

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Know before you order

Your Bandicoot preorder guide

A quick, plain-language guide to payment, timing, condition, and what happens if plans change.

Order cutoff
Sep 07, 2026
Estimated release
Oct 13, 2026

What is a preorder?

It reserves an item before its official release and before it is physically in our hands. Ordering early gives you the best chance of securing a copy when demand is high.

When do I pay?

Payment is collected at checkout. We use paid orders to reserve inventory and set our quantity with the publisher, distributor, or supplier.

What does FOC mean?

Final Order Cutoff is the deadline for comic shops to lock their quantities with the distributor. Once that cutoff passes, your copy has been ordered specifically for you and the order becomes final.

Are release dates guaranteed?

No. Dates come from publishers and suppliers and can move without notice. Your order stays active, and we will fulfill it after the item arrives.

When will my preorder ship?

We inspect and pack preorders after the distributor shipment reaches us. Tracking is provided through the checkout platform when it is available.

What if my order includes other items?

Preorder timing can delay a package that also contains in-stock items. Place separate orders when you need available items to ship sooner.

How are comics prepared?

New comics are inspected before fulfillment. Standard-size issues are bagged, boarded, and packed with protective materials appropriate for the order.

What grade is guaranteed?

Preorder comics are guaranteed to be 9.0 or better unless the listing says otherwise. We carefully inspect each copy, but we cannot guarantee a specific higher grade such as a 9.8 because minor printing and bindery variations can occur on brand-new books.

Will the final item match the preview image?

Publishers and manufacturers sometimes provide early artwork or prototype images. Final trade dress, packaging, colors, accessories, or other details may change before release.

Can I cancel or change my preorder?

Contact us as soon as possible. Comic preorders cannot be cancelled after FOC, and other preorders cannot be cancelled after quantities are locked with the supplier.

What if the item is damaged, shorted, or unavailable?

We will look for a replacement first. If we cannot secure one, we will refund the affected item to the original payment method.

What if the publisher cancels the item?

If the publisher or supplier cancels an item and no replacement is offered, we will refund that item.