Soon after I discovered Outcast, I immediately felt attracted to it. Once I found that the paranormal themes included demonic possession and lost spirituality, I was drawn even closer to what was hiding beyond the pages.
The story chronicles the life of Kyle Barnes, a man frequently plagued with encounters of demonic possession —and not his own possession, but that of his loved ones. With a scarred past and unforgiving future, Kyle Barnes and his reverend companion attempt to unravel the truth behind his encounters to discover what makes him so unique.
There are no predictable or common tropes in Outcast. Although the entire demonic possession slant to horror is something we are all too familiar with, Robert Kirkman finds a way to make it his own. Similar to what Kirkman pulled off with the The Walking Dead series, there was never a moment that I wasn’t completely invested or surprised by the outcomes of the story. In addition, there is nothing in Outcast that feels familiar or played out. It is, at its core, a well-told and completely eerie comic book series.
Paul Azaceta’s artwork on Outcast also completely encapsulates the true essence of the story. There were moments where, as the reader, I was forced to look into the eyes of someone possessed. As they stared into Kyle’s soul and recited what lay hidden beneath his cold façade, I felt a darkness come over me as though I was watching a full feature film. As the victims began to mutilate themselves, I felt disgust and at times, it was difficult to continue.
The most remarkable component to Outcast is how unbelievably real it feels. The trials and tribulations that both Kyle and Reverend Anderson encounter are realistic and are never too embellished or impersonal. As Kyle revisited his memories, I was overwhelmed with anticipation. I wanted to absorb more of his pain while learning about his dark and unsettling past.
Outcast is a disturbing, yet completely unique horror series. The style is dark and gritty, with unsettling Southern-style “deliverance” undertones. I highly suggest this comic book series as a comic book for summer. Not only will Outcast help you pass the time, but it will have you anxiously aching for more the entire time.
