Outcast, Vol. 8: The Merged

Outcast #8

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

The beginning of the end is upon us. Allison has been possessed...but it's unlike any possession we've seen before. How will this affect Kyle's mission to save the world now that the great merge has begun?

Collects OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #43-48

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy, Fiction, Thriller

168 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 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

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not all that impressed with the finale.



I'm not a big fan of the art style because for the majority of these books I've thought that the characters have a tendency to blend together.
So the murky art combined with a murky plot didn't do much to make this ending much of anything special. And that kind of sums up my feeling about this whole title. I was initially drawn in by Kyle and the idea of the Outcasts, but as the story moved away from horror and closer to sci-fi my interest gradually dwindled.



The big battle between Light and Dark is really nothing more than a fight between humans and creatures from a dying dimension. And no matter how many evil grins they gave, I just couldn't forget that they were fighting for their lives, too.



And just why the fuck did that Light being wait till now to show up? Popping up out of nowhere! Hey, y'all! I'm here to save you. Just hold hands and stand in a spiral and all will be well.



But I can't complain that Kirkman didn't give this one a proper wrap up. He did his audience the courtesy of tieing up all the loose ends and not leaving us wondering what happened with the characters.
If you've been reading this series then you know what you're in for, and I don't see a reason that you should avoid this. Finish it out if you've come this far.
However, this really isn't a series I'll be running around trying to get people to read.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

And so Outcast comes to a close. It was about as good as could be expected given Azaceta's limitations as an artist. There were too many pages in the final confrontation that were just flashes of light or shadow for me to give this a higher rating. I did like how Kirkman finished this off with a long epilogue, giving all of the characters an ending or new beginning.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Let’s just say that one way or the other, this is all going to be over soon.” (and this reader says, AMEN.)

Yes, it’s over, and well, maybe I shouldn’t say, but yeah, the good guys win, big surprise. As Kirkman says in an afterword, all my stories are about the importance of family, so there you have the catharsis in the horror tale. In Rome, West Virginia (you know a little historical information about the fall of Rome, centuries ago? A set-up?) we are ramped up to eleven on the social chaos meter. (Pretty generic) murder/burning/mayhem in the street ensues as the fight for the moral life of Rome is in question. This is something that has been promised volume after volume, so when it finally comes, it is mostly anticlimactic.

So The Great Merge is upon us at last and it will only get worse if it ever can get better . . and the once skeptical wife of Kyle, Allison, is now the fulcrum, the key to moral survival in the battle between the Darkness and the Light. She’s possessed--oh, no!--but not by demons, but by the . . . light, an angel! Also, we learn that the way to win is by holding hands and fighting this thing together, eh. We CAN send the darkness back, we can repel it. Together. With light shooting into (or out of?) everyone's eyes. Okay.

The main thing that continues to make this at all engaging at this point is the sketch dark artwork by Paul Azaceta, colored by the remarkable Elizabeth Breitweiser, as has been the case for some time. A couple of side moments worth mentioning? An exorcism performed by the non-religious Kyle on once evil (you made the wrong choice, dude) Rowland’s three possessed kids. And our preacher in the end is happy to be in prison to save souls? And we see Kyle reading the Bible? A few interesting moments, I'll admit.

I thought it was good, but not all that memorable, finally. It begins so promisingly, but hey, then you have to deliver with something surprising or memorable, dude!

[Artemy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know, guys, I thought it was pretty good. But then again, I always liked Outcast more than most folks here on GR. Now I'm really looking forward to re-reading this series in a year or so for another Spooktober. Man, I miss the moody darkness of those early volumes.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great ending sort of.

The great merge is here and as the Outcasts and the evil entities gather outside that fence and the final war starts, we see the tensions on each side, some wanna leave, some tell about their anxieties and whatever is inhabiting Allison and then when the war does happen, we see what the spiral means and the battle between light and dark and Kyle at the center of it, almost losing at one point but he drives it out or does he? So many questions and such a great but predictable ending and the fallout and the status quo at the end and the question of: does evil truly ever end? Maybe a philosophical argument for another day.

And I love how Kirkman always brings it to be about family in the end and here too, a family picnic and his letter in the end was awesome and its great to see so many dark themes represented here but the idea of we can get through it together was good. Its a feel good ending and one can relate to Kyle not in the sense of their realities but in terms of messed up past and a bring ending on the horizon. There are scenes which may feel rushed but then again its the limitations and predictability of any medium but I like it. It maybe divisive but it was good to know about Kyle Barnes and how he prevented the great darkness and showing that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Highly recommend the entire series :)!

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this wasn't a very satisfying series, but I still like this conclusion to the story. It probably would come off better read at one shot in omnibus form instead of with all the gaps I had during my read-through.

I'd be inclined to check out the TV series, but it was canceled after the second season and the storyline was probably still quite a distance from this ending I'm guessing.

[Bill Coffin · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the time of this writing, this volume is not yet out, because issue #48, the series finale, had not published. But by the time we get to the end of #47, we just don’t care any more what happens to anyone in this story. It’s all become huge flashes of light and speeches and plot holes, and one just keeps thinking, can we just Merge and be done with it, already? Sheesh.

[Benji Glaab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending to a solid series. Highly recommend it's similar in ways to walking Dead with the slow dialogue pace with sporadic action thrown in. Rather than a saga feel Kirkman seemed to have better direction with the plot in this one.

[Kiarash · Rating 4 out of 5]

خب جلد آخر این کمیک هم به پایان رسید. تقریبا به تمام سوالات پاسخ داده شد و کرکمن داستان رو خوب جمع کرد و الکی کش نداد. در کل روند صعودی داشت و تقریبا هر جلد نسبت به جلد قبل بهتر شد خصوصا از جلد پنجم که داستان وارد مسیر اصلی خودش شد. پتانسیل این که اسپین آف داشته باشه هم داره ولی احتیاجی هم لزوما بهش نداره. فقط حیف که سریالش بعد دو فصل کنسل شد و با بودجه بیشتر و بازیگران بهتری نساختنش چون نگاه متفاوتی نسبت به سوژه "تسخیر شدگی" در ژانر وحشت داشت. طراحی ها مناسب فضای داستان بود و خوب حس کلی رو منتقل می کرد هر چند گاهی در طراحی برخی شخصیت ها مشابهت های زیادی پیش می اومد اگر کسی خیلی بخواد ایرادی از طراحی ها بگیره

در مجموع بهترین کار کرکمن نیست ولی کمیک خوبی هست فقط باید بهش فرصت داد چرا که نویسنده خیلی سر صبر داستانش رو روایت میکنه و جوری نیست که هر جلد با یک غافلگیری بزرگ به اتمام برسه. ارزش امتحان کردن داره

[Devon Munn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid ending for this series I have invested time in since 2016. While it's not as exciting as I thought it would be it still was well written and had some pretty good moments. Like I did read the last 2 issues back to back lol

[Whitney (The Cover Collector) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

[Rojda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series was okay. Nothing special but also not too boring. 🤔

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review for the series in full:

Kirkman is good at this. I loved Walking Dead thoroughly, and this follows a similar framework of horror that's really held together by the relationships of the people within the story.

Most of the volumes were really excellent. The panel design and art are quality. The characters are realistic, which is something that usually bugs me in horror stories (especially in comics).

The story does a wonderful job of weaving these fantastical stories into the otherwise mundane and exceptionally imperfect lives of normal people. The hiccups of everyday life aren't forgotten just because they've discovered a greater conflict, and I like that aspect of the narrative.

My only real critique overall is a bit of overindulgence when detailing backstory. Especially in the final volume. For some reason, a lot of books and TV shows love to wait until you're at the home stretch to layer on exposition, which seems intentionally obtuse. If the world building is strong enough, you don't need to plop it into the climax of the story as a crutch.

I really enjoyed Outcast overall, and I appreciate the pacing and the tight wrap on the conclusion. Very good.

[CS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bullet Review:

That was...interesting.

Pros: This ending was better than The Walking Dead (likely because Kirkman actually had a plan for the end instead of...nothing).

Cons: When Kirkman talks about the things that happened that he didn't expect (Allison becoming the Deus Ex Machina for one), I 100% agree - this issue especially is full of so much that really doesn't align with the earlier volumes and feels much more like an author trying to finish a series.

So not the best ending, but at least it's a definite ending.

[Brian Rosenberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Outcasts Vol. 8
Collects issues 43 -48.
It’s over.
Fallout at the farm after the big clash that occurred in the previous volume. The riot was not limited to just the farm but also spread to the town of Rome.
Allison is POSSESSED but it’s a different form of possession than we have witnessed before. She is POSSESSED by the Light and vows to “… save your world and mine.”
Roland shows up at the farm along with his POSSESSED kids in need of the gathered Outcasts. They succeed in exorcising his kids. He was afraid of his kids turning out like their parents.
Reverend Anderson confides in his son about his crisis of faith.
Angelica mobilizes the POSSESSED and they march on the farm. Allison says, “Let them in.”
The News broadcasts the standoff. Even the President of the United States is watching, doing more than hinting he’s also POSSESSED.
The Great Merge begins.
A gunshot ends this issue. Allison is the bullseye.
The aftermath. Allison survives. Both Kyle and Reverend Anderson are incarcerated.
Kyle is released and meets Roland in the parking lot. Roland has questions Kyle can’t answer.
Kyle meets with Reverend Anderson, still behind bars.
“This is where I belong. This where I’m needed.”
He tells Kyle he is content and what he witnessed when Allison was shot but warns Kyle to “…always remain vigilant. We can never underestimate evil.”
The series ends with a picnic, Kyle and his family.
Overall, not a bad series. The final volume seemed anti-climactic, like waiting for a huge fireworks display and you get a few balloons instead. I really liked the few panels with the President this volume. Very unexpected. Not nearly as good as The Walking Dead but probably a smarter read than Kirkman’s The Astounding Wolf-Man series. I’ve not seen the streaming series so I don’t know how the two compare.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was satisfied with this ending. It did a good job of wrapping things up while also leaving some things open to interpretation. The final showdown had some great splash pages. Every character gets touched on in this final volume too. This was a series that I enjoyed throughout the entire run. Well paced, even if it was on the slower side (which I enjoy).

[Nes🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a whole I rate this series 4 stars!

The story was really interesting and kept my attention which is wonderful since I have the attention span of a nat.
I won’t lie the priest was the most annoying character, which I guess was the point? Maybe depending on how you agree with his views. I do feel like some things could’ve been explained a little better because I still found myself a little confused on some stuff. Overall this was a great story with compelling characters. The ending wasn’t my favorite, I wish things were more wrapped up regardless if it was a sad ending or a happy one just some kind of conclusion.

[Chiara ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great cliffhanger on issue #47! Looking forward to reading the final issue next month. I'll write a proper review of the whole comic once the final chapter is released.

[Shahab · Rating 4 out of 5]

خب،
اوتکست/مطرود تموم شد.
-استایل کلی آرتش رو دوست داشتم.البته که ایراداتی داشت.پس‌زمینه‌ها نسبتا کم جزئیات بودن.توی بعضی پنل‌ها،لباس کاراکترها بیشتر شبیه به سانسور های صدا و سیما بود تا لباس.و اینکه بعضی کاراکترها واقعا شبیه هم بودن(براین و ورژن ریش‌دارِ کایل،مگن و اون خانومِ که توی مدرسه کار می‌کرد و....).
-داستان نسبت به ویلن‌ها فاز مشخصی نداشت.انگار نویسنده (کرکمن؟) اینجوری بوده که "خب این بندگان خدا هم حق دارن چون دارن برای ادامه‌ دادن بقاشون می‌جنگن،ولی خب ژانر مد نظرم ترسناکه پس همینجوری محیطایی که توشون ظاهر می‌شن رو دارک و شیطانی می‌کنم،نیششونو باز می‌کنم،هم زمان که لطیف و باشعورن زبون به خوردشون می‌دم و می‌فرستمشون که با چاقو روی ملت پنتاگرام بکشن و...".
از طرفی حس می‌کنم تلاش شده بود که کاراکترهای رولند و انجلیکا با ابهت جلوه کنن...رولند که عملا کاری جز داد زدن و مشت زدن انجام نمی‌داد،انجلیکا هم که اصلا نکته‌ی با ابهتی راجع بهش وجود نداشت.در کل ویلن خوبی ندیدم من.
-توانایی کاراکترهای مثبت هم اصلا جور نبود.در ابتدا نور و تاریکی در تعادل بودن،بعد تاریکی نور رو شکست داده و از اون قلمرو طرد کرده‌.بعد دیده خب بُعدی که توش سکونت دارم داره منفجر می‌شه،پس می‌رم یه بُعد دیگه.اگه تاریکی به نور غلبه کرده،چجوری کسایی که اون نور رو به ارث بردن می‌تونن تاریکی رو از اجسام بندازن بیرون؟چه از نظر کمی و چه از نظر کیفی (رو حساب داستان تعریف شده.) تاریکی باید نور رو بزنه...درک نمی‌کنم.
-از نظر احساسی منو خوب درگیر کرد...و فکر می‌کنم این تنها عاملیه که باعث می‌شه نسبت به هشت والیومی که خوندم احساس پشیمونی نکنم.

در کل اوتکست داستان واقعا بدی نبود و می‌تونم بگم که تا حدودی لذت بردم.فکر می‌کنم بزرگ‌ترین مشکلش همین پرداخت کم (کاملا بی‌منطق و متناقض نیست،بیشتر ناقصه.) باشه.
---------------------------------------------------------
-پایانش گرفت منو.
-انجلیکا خانوم با کمالاتی بود.

[Chad Jordahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've liked this series, but this volume was just ok for me. I like this type of realistic art, and the colors are excellent. Story-wise, it sort of felt like Kirkman ran out of steam, or was somehow compelled to wrap it up sooner than he wanted to. On the last page he left a crack open for a potential future sequel, but that also felt obligatory instead of a great idea beaking out of its shell.

On a more positive note: I started to be more interested when I started to think of the story as a metaphor for people who are posessed by bad ideas, by tribalism, by a violent mob mentality; and on the positive side, for people who join in a positive, welcoming, supportive community. I don't know if Kirkman intended any of this, but it's interesting to think of the opposing sides with these correlations in mind.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outcast Vol. 8: The Merged collects issues 43-48 of the Image Comics series written by Robert Kirkman with art by Paul Azaceta.

The final battle of darkness vs light with humanity on the line.

This was a very solid conclusion to the Outcast comic series and brings the story full circle. Our protagonist finally gets what he has been fighting for the whole series: family. Kirkman delivers a great epilogue where all the major players are touched upon. Kirkman does it again.

Paul Azaceta’s art was great throughout the book. My one complaints is there there were a number of characters who looked very similar. Thankfully, not to the point where the reader should become confused. I can’t really see any other style used for this tale as it perfectly captured the tone. This is a really great horror comic series that is also a pretty fast read. I definitely recommend it to all other horror comic fans.

[Paul Allard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a review of all the issues in this volume except the last one (Image did not provide that one). Having missed out on Volume 7, this volume surprised me a little when it began but I caught up quite quickly. It's been a while since i read any of the previous work. This book brings the whole tale to a conclusion. It's quite good but i haven't really warmed much to the story, the artwork or the subject matter which is why it doesn't get a higher rating. All the principal characters are involved and it moves along quite well. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review..

[Chris Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a quietly enthralling series. It moves at a slow pace and includes many elements that are difficult to fully grasp - the great merge, the beings possessing so many individuals in town. The series was sustained by an eerie atmosphere (Azaceta draws some of the creepiest smiles I’ve ever seen), but breaking up the slow burn in the last two books was a series of exciting showdowns between the outcasts and the possessed. This was a satisfying conclusion to the series, and I’m glad Kirkman decided to conclude it rather than let it drag on.

[Terry Mcginnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great conclusion to the series.

[༶ Laura ༶ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein solides Ende. Insgesamt hat sich die Story extrem hingezogen und war in Teilen eher langweilig. Alles in allem 3⭐

[hannah]

could i explain the plot to someone? absolutely not. did i have the time of my fuckin life reading this series? absolutely.

[Kunal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been following the whole series as TPBs, so pardon my forgetting where each volume ended. But when I picked this one up and started reading it, it already felt like things were coming to end. only I wish it was more with a bang ( yes i know it happened) than the slow fizzle this felt like. Don't get me wrong, i still enjoyed the series as well as its last volume. Just that I did not expect the final battle to come to an end within a matter of few pages.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Individual issue reviews: #43 | #44 | #45 | #46 | #47 | #48

Total review score: 2.58

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finished! It had been a while since I read the previous volume but there isn't too much here to get lost in. In the final battle between good and evil (with blurred lines in between) we get a big clash and... it's done. Kind of anti-climactic but really didn't see any other way it could finish.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of ends with a shrug...