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When the name Robert Kirkman comes up today, it is almost as synonymous with the zombie genre as George Romero. Thanks in part to his widely successful comic The Walking Dead, as well as the popular TV show by the same name, Kirkman’s work is known on an international scale. But he is a storyteller by trade, and not a mere one trick pony, having penned other successful titles for Image Comics as well as Marvel. And now, he lends his words to his newest endeavor, Outcast.

Paul Azaceta is Kirkman’s partner in crafting the look and feel of this book. Having worked with Image Comics before, Azaceta --- a personal friend of Kirkman’s --- brings his graphic talents to the page in a big way with his first ever monthly title. Coupled with the dark and brooding colors of Elizabeth Breitweiser, this book has the instant appeal of a good-looking horror story. The shadows are rich with detail and the light spots are few and far between, creating a mood and tone that is perfect for the subject matter.

"The writing is solid and sinks its teeth into the reader right from page one. The art is a perfect match in tone and detail."

Whereas The Walking Dead deals with zombies, Kirkman wanted to do something different with this story --- something more real. Without trying to stoke the religious debate on demons or exorcism, he presents a story that is fully invested in the idea that demons are in fact a real and serious threat in modern society. Whether or not the reader believes in demons is irrelevant, as the story starts right off with some very weird and non-human behavior. There are actual recorded cases in human history detailing demonic possession, and many of them do not have scientific answers. Much of that research was inspiration for William Peter Blatty’s novel The Exorcist, as well as the film, for which Blatty adapted the screenplay.

The realism of this story is strengthened by Kirkman’s ability to craft believable characters. Immediately the reader is thrust into the rough life of Kyle Barnes, and throughout the book, the details of that life are slowly brought into the light, showing how he is estranged from his ex-wife and child, as well as a mother in intensive care due to events from Kyle’s childhood. The local reverend is also introduced, and after being called to the bedside of a young boy who is exhibiting signs of possession, seeks out Kyle.

There is definitely something hurting some of the people of this small town in West Virginia, and Kyle is determined to get to the bottom of it. The wonderful thing about this story is how believable the characters are right away. The reader feels empathy for Kyle and sorrow for what he has endured, and compassion for the reverend and what he is trying to do for his congregation. The dialogue is sharp and only reveals as much as it should, never getting too long winded or full of exposition. In fact, it reads much like a screenplay would, which shows Kirkman’s growth as a writer during his experience with television. Even though this is a fairly new project, Kirkman has already optioned it as a television program, and if this first trade is any indication, it should be a strong story centered on an interesting premise.

The sheer power of this graphic novel resides in a two pronged attack of your senses. The writing is solid and sinks its teeth into the reader right from page one. The art is a perfect match in tone and detail, allowing the characters to shine in their own light and the shadows to become more important as the story plays out. Image Comics does a great job consistently putting out quality stories from talented writers and artists, and this book is no exception. If Kirkman’s previous work is any indication, this story is just getting its feet wet, and the true ramifications of demonic possession and the strange way the “demons” address Kyle as “Outcast” will be revealed. Get on this train now, so when the show hits, you can revel in the fact that you were among the first to be possessed by this creepy, cool story.

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