Outcast is a demonic possession horror comic series from writer Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead) and artist Paul Azaceta. The Image Comics release has just dropped issue #11 so check out my review right here.
Kyle Barnes has been plagued by demonic possession all his life and now he needs answers. Unfortunately, what he uncovers along the way could bring about the end of life on Earth as we know it. It begins here – with this terrifying new horror series from THE WALKING DEAD creator Robert Kirkman and artist Paul Azaceta.
Like the issue says, “A Line is Crossed” – but after reading yet another intense and emotionally jarring chapter I think several lines have been crossed. After having a devastating conversation with his ex-wife in the last issue, Kyle has an even more stressing one when his daughter sees him before he finally leaves the front porch. It’s another heart-breaking moment for Outcast, which has been tugging quite heavily on my emotions these past couple chapters. Robert Kirkman’s character writing has been extremely strong in this series and artist Paul Azaceta has been delivering gut punches left and right to effectively deliver the appropriate impact in which the story calls for. Just the look on Kyle’s face when his daughter says she loves him before he’s swept away by his sister says it all and that’s brilliant story-telling without even saying a word.
While Kyle’s sister is searching for answers when it comes to what really happened that horrible night when she assumed her brother tried to kill his daughter after savagely beating his wife, the reverend has a chance encounter with who I’m assuming is an agent of Satan (but who can be so sure in such a mysterious series which is still slowly unravelling 11 issues into it). Their exchanges are intense this chapter and threats have been made from both men which look to be leading to yet another violent conclusion in the next issue now that they’ve made their sides very clear.
The meat of issue 11 is the encounter between Kyle and his little girl, who seems to be aware that her dad isn’t the monster that her mother has led her to believe. I like that — it makes me happy. The fact that Kyle has taken the heat for his wife’s possession in the past has bugged me since it’s ruined much of his life, but as this issue comes screeching to a halt, maybe there really is more to why he believes that it actually was his fault…
As we wind down, Outcast sets up the conclusion of it’s second six-issue arc with one of the most disturbing few pages of any comic that I’ve read all year. Let’s just say I’m going to be weary if my daughter wakes me up in the middle of the night insisting that there’s a dog in the house… Holy shit.
Rating: [star rating=”4.5″]