Outcast by Kirkman & Azaceta Compendium

Outcast #1-8

by Robert Kirkman, Paul Azaceta (Artist), Elizabeth Breitweiser (Artist)

This massive volume collects the complete best-selling horror series from THE WALKING DEAD creator, Robert Kirkman, and Paul Azaceta!

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!

Collects OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #1-48.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror

1048 pages, Paperback

Published November 9, 2021

About the author

Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of the original co-founders of that publisher.

Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.

In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good!! Started off with the feel of an exorcist story. We have a preacher going around trying to exorcise demons out of people. He enlists the help of Kyle Barnes because of his history. We learn that Kyle’s touch/presence, can drive demons out of folks. As the story progresses, we learn that he’s done this before and has a interesting past because of it. It’s a nice slow burn that slowly builds up to a a great supernatural tale with some great suspense. These demons, or this darkness, is trying to cross over from another plane of existence and it’s up to Kyle and others like him to stop this merge. Kirkman continues to impress me with his writing. Loved Walking Dead, been really digging his Fire Power and now this. I’m going to have to look into some more of his other stuff. Paul Azaceta does a nice job with the art portraying the darkness that this book oozes. Great October read!!

[Nate Deprey · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best blends of art and text I've ever encountered. Was it a stronger story when it was a smaller scale story about a tormented guy who's "gift" has cost him every part of his family? Sure! The last hunk of this story are huge splash page set pieces where the strength of Outcast is in the small details but ultimately Kirkman was telling a big story that may have needed the resolution he gave it. I will remember Outcast for the deep sense of unease the story and art created for those first forty some issues and the innovative way Kirkman and Azaceta told the tail right down to the mini insert, reaction panels included in almost every page that gave Outcast such a cinematic feel.

[Joshua K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot. The art is gorgeous and Kirkman actually wrote dialogue like how people actually talk, and not just endless monologues. But, theres no reason this had to be 48 issues.

[Sara Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent. I really loved both the art style and the story. It's a shame the show probably didn't cover the whole story arc. Though, I may now need to go watch the show with new eyes. I couldn't get into it before, but might have an easier time now that I've really enjoyed the comics.

[CabyBurrito · Rating 2 out of 5]

Outcast is a cool idea but just didn't stick for me.
Outcast by Robert Kirkman seems like a really cool idea. Demonic possession in a small town. Kyle Barnes and Reverand Anderson set out to exorcise any and all demons from Rome. On the outside, this could be a good idea.

Kirkman might have been possessed by a demon while writing this.
Outcast starts out very unsure of itself. The tone is gritty, and the story is very fresh. Kirkman said he wanted to follow up on The Walking Dead by doing something scary. This just isn't that. The story introduces some greater good, the demons, and their path to the "Great Merge". This idea is explained but still never really clicks. The ideas never blend well and the book drags.

Woah there Anderson
Throughout the story, it becomes clear that there is something bigger at play. That's when more Outcasts get introduced. Maybe I'm being picky but this is where it fell off for me. I liked it being small and just Kyle and Anderson. Kyle gets lightning powers which is cool but then everyone gets them and it's no longer special to Kyle. I personally really disliked everyone getting lightning powers, especially Kyle's daughter.

Too harsh
Maybe I'm being to harsh because I read the Walking Dead before this. That was great and this was just alright. This was never bad but it was never good. It was subpar and that's okay? The ending didn't hit me the way I think it was supposed to. I don't think I can recommend this one.

[Rolando Marono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empecé a leer outcast allá por el 2015 creo, más o menos. Salió el primer TPB y como todo lo de image de esa época, costaba solo 10 dólares. Estaba a la mitad de Walking dead y también estaba leyendo invincible, me gustaba la forma que escribía Kirkman así que no lo dudé.
Leí hasta el cuarto tomo y de ahí llego la pandemia, dejé de comprar cómics en inglés, me mudé de país, volví a Mexico y yo no de mis mejores amigos me prestó este tomo enorme con toda la historia. Y además me dijo: me gustó.
Así que con el mes de terror y mi misión de solo leer libros de terror thriller o suspenso, fue el momento perfecto para leerlo.
Este tomo incluye toda la serie, por lo que mi reseña tiene que abordar toda la serie así que seré general.
Lo que más me gustó de la serie fueron los giros, al principio nos la venden como una historia de posesiones demoníacas y como un elegido ha sido atormentado toda su vida por estos demonios. Parece que va a ser la lucha solitaria de esta persona contra las fuerzas del mal. Además, inteligentemente, Kirkman le añade un secuaz al protagonista Kyle: el reverendo Anderson. Y al enfrentarse a estos demonios los ves recitarles la biblia, etc.
Hasta que la historia evoluciona y nos dan respuestas y Kirkman construye una trama original e interesante.
El final se me hizo un poco apresurado, me hizo sentido pero no me encantó, quizá yo esperaba algo más triste. Pero es un buen final.
Además el mero mero final, es fuerte y le da puntos extras a esta historia.
En general es un buen cómic de terror. Creo que no lo alargó innecesariamente. Y eso que pudo. Pero es conciso, va al grano y es interesante.
Me alegra haber concluido esta historia.

[Sebastian Lauterbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

I only got this because of how much I've liked Oblivion Song and I was not disappointed. Both stories are a page turner, even though I've heard some not so great things about Outcast (which I can't confirm at all).

What this book does really well is portraying the bad guys. I hated them (in a good way) and wanted them opposed at every corner. They destroyed the life of the main character and were pricks about it. Well written overall.

In addition the story evolves very naturally, as it starts on a very small scale and grows larger slowly but consistently up until the end.

The artwork however is fine, but not amazing. I suppose the black ooze could have been more visually striking. At some point in the story multiple characters have short beards and I couldn't tell them apart. Still it doesn't stand in the way of the great story.

The compendium itself held up well and did not create a crease after finishing the book, so I can also recommend this edition.

[McKenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down. After reading a physical copy of first issue I devoured this series. (shoutout Hoopla). The first issue had me hooked. A horror series about "demonic" possession? By the Walking Dead author? (Okay I haven't read those yet but I've heard they're good!!) Sign me up! As I read on I felt the story didn't progress nearly as much as I had hoped. There were loose ends and I felt like some "answers" were a little too vague. The art was spooky at times (creepy smiles galore), however I found myself more pulled in by the story. I will 100% be checking out TWD. I need more horror based graphic novels in my life.

[Giuseppe Donnian · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I finished Invincible, I filled the void with The Walking Dead. When I finished The Walking Dead, I TRIED to fill the void with Outcast.

What started as what felt like Kirkman’s take on The Exorcist evolved into a cosmic allegory of Angels and Demons. The artwork shined at times, especially when focusing in on certain details whether relevant to the plot or abstract.

I feel the third act saved the story and made up for the slow start. Outside of Kyle and Reverend Anderson I felt some of the characters were forgettable and the Antagonist never really sank its roots for me.

Nonetheless, a spooky story that was enjoyable in its conclusion.

[Yash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love it when a race of alien creatures made up of raw cosmic energy all decide to possess people living in the middle of nowhere in West Virginia. Makes total sense. That, and the priest is too priest-y. 2.5

[Joshua]

I dunno about “horror.”

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an alright read, but it did take me quite a while to finish because I started to lose interest towards the end.

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

realistically closer to a 2.5 but reading Robert Kirkman’s little epilogue/post mortem got helped me appreciate Outcast a bit more. It’s got some issues (ha) but it’s a fun read

[Minki Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

+ Interesting premise of demonic possession that turn out to be something else
- Trails off halfway through and lost interest

[Jeff Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art is strong, story may be a bit cliche, but we'll see. Characters seem pretty consistent so far.

Still interested.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less absurd than a comic about punching the demons out of random possessed citizens should be.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

The slowest of slow burns. This series just keeps inching forward. Just enough plot to keep you turning the page in hopes of a big reveal. Don't expect things to be laid out cleanly for you. You're getting the story at the same pace as the characters.

[Gilang D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I lost interest when all the mysteries are explained, though I still finished it. A very straightforward and predictable story.

[Frederico Ramos · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/10 while the story had a good premise and kept a good pace keeping me intrigued the ending fell a bit flat. Felt a little anticlimactic of an ending and that it could have been explained a bit better as well as what the “demons” were.

[Elia · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting concept portrayed in a pretty downtrodden execution. There's a great way to tell an exorcism story, and it's been told in film by William Friedkin. This is a pale shadow without half the complexity. Oh well.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! I loved the mystery, characters and art.