The Deviant #2

The Deviant (Single Issues) #2

by James Tynion IV, Joshua Hixson (cover_art)

The Deviant Killer was apprehended half a century ago. So whos behind the grisly slaying of a young man in a Chicago department store…and why does Michael see so much of himself in the man locked behind bars for the original murders? JAMES TYNION IV (W0RLDTR33) and JOSHUA HIXSON (The Plot) cut deeper into their Christmas horror tale, just in time for the holidays.

Genres: Comics, Horror, Christmas, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Queer

35 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2023

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desperately needed a recap for this one. I think this would be much better as a trade.

Still, it's an interesting story and I'm keen to follow it. Some hectic ideas floating here and I'm very curious about the truth of things.

Artwork is dark and vague but it works for this series.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Issue #2 in The Deviant series provides a deeper look into three main characters...

Michael—the comic book writer investigating the murders.

Paul—the police officer, who was struck with an axe by killer Santa oh-so long ago.

Randall—the man behind bars.

Little reveals here and there make readers feel for each of the characters in different ways. Makes you wonder—Who is the “bad” guy? It might not be as clear cut as you think.

The color is still my favorite part of the art. Vibrant color leaps off the pages! In small, subtle ways too. Like the heavy, grey sky looming over the interview going on in the prison yard below. The soft snow floating through the air all around the two men almost makes the scene pretty. I liked the contrast.

Looking forward to more of the mystery in issue #3 out on Jan. 17, 2024.

[Garth · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 - 365 Days of Horror

Day 356: Solid Tynion mystery.

[Andrew Merida]

Pre-ordered and very pleased.

I reread the first issue before reading this one. The ending of issue one had me invested to know what became of - despite being shorter than issue one, its still heavy on the story telling. Reading The Deviant pairs well with dark Christmas music. I recommend Myuu playlist on Spotify while reading. Looking forward to issue three! Until then, have a jollyful holiday season.

[TheElder36 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book so far...

The Deviant has been great so far. It's a show burn mystery. I could see it being more so a movie, but who knows. I flew through this issue, and I wish that there was more. Like some of Tynion's other books, it doesn't read like a comic.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

tynion doesn't miss

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh good old homophobic trump lovers. Never gets old that they look like morons. Anything this issue was intense with self reflection and a very "oh shit" ending. This is shaping up to be another Tynion banger.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that we are continuing to see the structure of what this story is really about even when it’s not clear to our writer. This is not a story that supposed to prove the innocence of a man arrested for killing people in a Santa costume, but a story about a comic book writer confronting and seeing their own sexuality for the first time. While it unfortunately comes from a very dark place that by the end of this issue is taking a dangerously close step towards our writer, it still comes from a place they need to explore and understand. This issue has Michael go and talk to Paul, the cop we saw in the first issue chase after the deviant killer at the farm house, and as we now see…ending up catching an axe to the face because of it, leaving a very nasty scar. Paul could not be more exited to talk to Michael, when he first arrives, and his family welcomes him with open arms and coffee. Paul immediately goes in on why he has Christmas decorations around his house, as even Michael admits he wouldn’t blame him if he took them down, but Paul admits that it was his wife’s idea to make sure he stopped seeing two strung up boys every time he saw a Christmas tree and in a way she helped him to piece his life back together and build it up. This leads Paul into asking about Michael’s own life and his relationships, which he admits he is not married but has been with his partner for 7 years. That’s wild to Paul, Kelly would have killed him if he waited any longer than six months. But as Michael talks longer about his partner and how Derek has talked about it, the conversation takes a turn as Paul realizes Michael is gay. There is a very immediate tonal shift that even makes me tense up, but unfortunately this is something Michael is very clearly used to and is able to take in stride to continue expressing who he is. But for Paul…he sees it as an attack. He ushers his wife away at the earliest moment when she delivers coffee, like he can’t bear to have her in the same room, and after seeing Michael’s rainbow sticker on his laptop he starts to ask what the comic is about and if this is some kind of “gotcha thing.”

Michael didn’t get a lot out of Paul, as he tells Randal later at the prison when they meet once more. Paul believes a homosexual was the one to carve his face up, and instead of hating that one person he seems to have criminalized an entire group of people because of it. But today is the day that Michael starts being honest, in a sense, with Randal. He admits that this story isn’t about him, he wouldn’t even know where to start writing that story, but he was hoping to continue talking to Randal about his story and when he personally first heard about it when he was a kid and how he saw himself in Randal. But Randal admits he isn’t curious to hear about his childhood, and instead the conversation shifts to who Michael currently is and who his partner is. Randal admits that it would have been nice to have a boyfriend himself, and to have a different life altogether. He doesn’t get emotional often and he thinks Michael is a kind person, but overall really appreciates that he is one of the few that was able to see the humanity inside of him instead of the killer everyone else paints him as. But as the issue comes to a close the story takes another dark turn. We jump over to Chicago to see cops and federal investigators on the scene at the mall where we ended the last issue with the deviant killer marking his return. And he once again marked it with a terribly gruesome sight. Cutting open and wrapping Christmas lights around the elf performer in the locker room to look like a Christmas tree. But what makes this a federal case? That would be what the cops found on the scene…the driver’s license for our writer, Michael Schmitz. Our fed is heading right for Wisconsin and I hope he is able to get there first. I do find it somewhat odd that it appeared our writer was in this Chicago store in the start of the first issue. How would the killer know to target him all the way at that point, how does he know to target Michael at all? There are so many pieces here laid out that I can’t wait to see pieced together.

[AviChaim Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this issue, though it’s not without its flaws. The story continues to head in an intriguing direction, especially as Michael wrestles with his connection to both the prisoner and the Santa Killer. My main criticism lies in the overt political commentary that Tynion injects into the narrative. I don’t mind subtle metaphors or underlying themes, but when an author’s political views become so blatant, it breaks my immersion. I read comics to escape the real world, not to be reminded of it, and those few pages pulled me out of an otherwise engaging story. That said, the series remains compelling overall, and I’m curious to see where it goes next. I still recommend it, but because of those distracting moments, I’d give this issue a C+.

[Laïni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues with Michael interviewing different individuals involved in the case.

As parallels are drawn between the characters, he can't help but get more and more involved up in the story, while the murderer becomes bolder with time.


I'm sorry, but seeing the kind lady put the MAGA cup on the table just sent me. I laughed out loud, the whole scene was hilarious.

[Claudia Riendeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery under the tree... There is not much action in this one. A lot of remembering and analyzing the childhood of the main character. The encounter with the imprisoned killer are quite dull and I think this story should be read in one sitting not nine volumes. The interest is lost after the first one. The true crime vibes should be more present to keep my interest until the end.

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only problem with reading single issues is having to wait for the next issue to arrive! Such a cool/spooky comicbook! Its very silence of the lambs (which is something that is referenced) and I love every bit of it. :)

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, so much of this depends on where it goes. If it goes into gay identity and serial killers, I don't want to go there. But then again it might not go there at all...

[Saku · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐✨

[Haruka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read!

[Claire Giannino · Rating 5 out of 5]

ooooo I really liked that ending! these are good i'm going to keep going

[Aryanna Tunstall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A troubled young writer tries to tell the story of horrific Santa Claus slasher 50 years after the fact, but is he doing it for the right reasons?

[Oakley Roynon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

i really enjoyed this! i think the ending felt a bit clunky and rushed, to get to the reveal, but i thoroughly enjoyed the journey!

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing a creeptastic story. Disturbing!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ The body is decorated as part of Christmas tree. And there is his driver licence found in the scene……