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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2015 15:36:21 GMT
A theory from my tumblr page for Outcast, outcast-fandom.tumblr.com Spoilers for Issue 8: A Vast and Unending Ruin: Okay, so ever since I read A Vast and Unending Ruin, I’ve had this idea floating around in my head that maybe the creatures possessing people aren’t demons. At least, not all of them.
The first thing that made me think of this was when Mildred said something along the lines of “A day here is worth a thousand there”. My first thought in response to that was why demons would want to escape hell. Of course, there could be a reason for that, but there are other things, too…
Anderson said that demons are natural tricksters, and that they’re interested in corrupting souls, not murdering people. Both of those things are probably true, yet any “demon” we’ve seen as shown the opposite.
It seems likely that what Joshua, Blake, and Sherry said to Kyle about him being an Outcast and that they need him are true, since Sidney does call him Outcast, and says something that suggests they need Kyle in Issue 2.
Also, none of the supposed “demons” have shown any interest in corrupting souls. Allison tried to kill Amber, and Blake really did kill Terry. Mildred, Brian, and Sherry were just kind of hanging around, while the only harm Joshua did was to his host body(should I really be referring to the “demons” by the names of their host bodies?). Sarah did abuse Kyle, but I don’t see that as her trying to corrupt him.
Of course, I’m not sure if what Anderson said it true. I suppose I do have one question, and that’s if we saw everyone that Kyle and Anderson talked to in Issue 8. If none of the exorcisms worked, then I’d be inclined to say that he doesn’t know anything, but if at least some people were successfully exorcised, and we only saw those who weren’t in Issue 8, then I think Anderson probably knows what he’s doing, but that the things they’re dealing with aren’t actually demons.
Anyway, if they aren’t demons, then I think I have a pretty good idea of what they are. Damned Souls. People who went to hell, but who found a way out, and are now awaiting “The Merge”…. whatever that is.
I feel pretty confident about this theory… but I guess I’ll have to just wait and see. I will say that it would be pretty cool, if this theory is right, for Kyle and Anderson to run across an actual demon, and Kyle’s ‘powers’ have no effect on it, and that’s when they start to maybe question things a little more. Hey, this got publish in the "Outpost" of Issue 13, cool!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2015 16:08:00 GMT
My "review" for Issue 13: This Little Light: What an incredible opening for the new arc! Seriously, this was one of the best single issues, and just perfect to open up a new arc. The first introduced our characters and establshed the tone for the series, the second gave a little more direction, letting us have a few answers wile presenting us with even more questions, and this third arc seems like it's finally going to be going straight into the thick of things-if this issue is anything to go by, anyway. As always, Paul Azaceta and Elizabeth Breitweiser have done some amazing work with the art and coloring. I really love how Azaceta manages to illustrate the character's emotions, and just how much of a desperate struggle he makes the exorcism scenes to be. The pops of red and orange against the usual cool tones of blue and purple really work in harmony with Azaceta's art, and just overall, this issue really showcases a lot of what makes the art of Outcast great. This was definitely one of the more action-oriented issues, but it also gives some answers to things that had only been assumed before now. Seeing Kyle and Anderson work together was great, and things have taken a darker turn(darker than usual, anyway). There's not a whole lot I can find myself able to say about this issue in singing its praises, although it heartily deserves it, because I want to get right to talking about what actually happened, so entering spoiler territory: (For the record, I continue to call them demons even though it is contrary to my theory simply because it's easier and we just don't know yet).
Seeing the demon that had possessed Megan try so many different things to stop Kyle and Anderson as they themselves struggled to cast it out was fantastic. I've talked before about how much I love seeing exorcism's in this series as a desperate struggle simply to survive, but the exorcism of Megan in this issue really cements that. As Kyle and Anderson struggle to hold Megan down as the demon lashes out hurting them in any way it can, we see something new as this demon holds on for as long as it possibly can.
I was on edge when it tried to smash Megan's head open when it knew it was losing, and I actually gasped when it threw Mark out the window and tried to follow. It was great to see it go from a dangerous monster to a devious trickster instantaneously, and the small expressions we see on Megan's face in the smaller panels as it draws Mark to the window was fantastic.
While the exorcism here was a struggle for out heroes, it also showed how much they learned. When the demon jumps at Kyle just as the one in Joshua did in the first issue, we see him throw it against the wall rather than allow himself to be knocked down. We see Anderson doing all he can to help, no hesitation in throwing on the lights or filling the bath with water. Seems like our "heroes" are getting the hang of it, but as we also say, it might not be enough as these demons are more dangerous than they previously thought.
As for what Sidney is doing there, what he could have said to Mark, what he'll do with Holly.... Well, it was an excellent cliffhanger.
Oh, and showing the birdbath below the window with the light on at the beginning of the issue was a nice touch. I really hope Mark isn't dead, but at best, he'll probably be paralyzed... Very likely he broke his back or something... I love this series, and I can't wait for the next issue to see just exactly where this arc is going.
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Post by Autobot Sonic on Nov 28, 2015 22:55:14 GMT
Well, I'm getting Volume 2 for Christmas. I'll be able to join back in here when I'm done reading it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2015 3:41:26 GMT
Covers for issues 15-17: I really like the one for Issue 17. Honestly, my favorite covers so far have been Issue 13 and Issue 7. The one for Issue 8 was pretty good, too.
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Post by Autobot Sonic on Dec 31, 2015 2:49:47 GMT
Just finished Volume 2... Really interested with the whole Sherry subplot. Zyphon don't tell me if this has been solved since Volume 2, but is it possible that Kyle's tears have like holy water capabilities or something? Can't wait to see how he and Anderson get Megan exorcised.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2015 3:10:41 GMT
Still have to do my little review for Issue 14.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 2:15:15 GMT
I'm going to, over the next few days, be trying to keep my outcast blog on tumblr ( outcast-fandom.tumblr.com ) updated with content. This includes:
A review of Issue 14
My theory of what's going on with Anderson
A Recommendation of Wytches to fans of Outcast
A comparison of how Outcast and Wytches handle the horror genre
Plus maybe a few other things if I can think of a topic to write about + find the motivation to write about it. Basically, I want it to become active so that other people will participate and perhaps even submit some stuff of their own. I've got 41 followers and almost all of them are totally silent.
But, before I write entire essay length pieces for each of those, my basic opinion:
Issue 14 was really good, and I like the juxtaposition of a character focused issue right after a more fast-paced action issue. Great way of cooling things down for the new arc after the fairly action-packed opener that was issue 13.
Anderson's not crazy, nor has he lost his faith. The situation he's in has simply forced him to focus on things from his past (I'll be revisiting the first and second arcs to back this up).
Wytches is very good, you should read it. To Outcast fans in particular, it's similar in that it's a very character-focused horror comic with a unique artstyle, so you might like it because of that.
Mostly focusing on how they both are very character focused, have deliberate pacing(i.e. a thought-out, balanced number of fast paced and slow paced issue), and use the horror elements almost as a framing device to focus on the interactions between characters. They're both very much about how the horror effects these characters, as well as the interactions between the characters; which is very different from most things in the horror genre. I'll try, with this piece, not to act as if I'm some sort of expert, because I'm not.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 2:23:34 GMT
Just finished Volume 2... Really interested with the whole Sherry subplot. Zyphon don't tell me if this has been solved since Volume 2, but is it possible that Kyle's tears have like holy water capabilities or something? Can't wait to see how he and Anderson get Megan exorcised. I'm kind of curious.. Do you stand with Kyle or Anderson on what happened with Sherry? I'm kind of torn on it myself, somewhere in-between I suppose. Obviously her being possessed by a demon wasn't a good thing, but it's hard to say if she's better off now...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 21:45:15 GMT
Just going to copy past my review on Issue 14 from tumblr. A great way to follow up “This Little Light”, one of the most action-packed issues to date. Issue 14 is a more slower-paced character focused issue that continues the power struggle between Reverend Anderson and Sidney. First off, as usual, I want to start off this review by finding as many ways as I possibly can to sing the praises of Elizabeth Breitweiser and Paul Azaceta without being redundant. First off, I love the cover for this issue. Sidney as been a menacing figure in the series since his first appearance in the second issue, and it’s great to finally see him get the spotlight in one of the covers. I love how sparse it looks, especially when placed side-by-side with the cover for last issue, which was a gorgeous display of color. I feel like that stark contrast fits the same one created by the sudden, but not unwelcome change in pace. Obviously, the two two-page spreads that more or less open this issue are amazing. The subdued colors with small splashes, from the sirens and red and blue of the sirens in the first, and the blue of Megan’s eyes in the second. After the frantic and desperate struggle of an exorcism from Issue 13, these two spreads, showing first the scene after the fact, and then the characters, really help to show all of the pain being felt in the aftermath of the exorcism. The art in this series is truly amazing, able to fit the desperate moments of the exorcism in the last issue, and the quieter moments of dealing with the aftermath of that exorcism in this one. Aside from the art, a lot of what I have to say about this issues enters into spoiler territories, so as usual, the rest of this review of sorts will lie behind a “read more”: I really like the idea that the next few issues will, at least in part, show how Megan struggles with what the demon made her do, how Chief Giles has to pull strings, and how Mark recovers. I think the fact that the exorcism lasted only a single issue, but that the effects of it will be (potentially) shown for many more issues to come really illustrates what kind of story this is, and the approach it’s taking. Outcast’s character-focused approach to telling a horror-story has always been one of the strongest draws of it, for me, and it seems like we’ll be seeing a lot of that in issues to come. Aside from that, we see a culmination of sorts to the confrontation between Sidney and Anderson. While I plan on doing a separate “theory” of sorts on that in the future, I of course want to talk about it now. It’s probably no secret that Anderson is my favorite character in the series. A man who struggles with his faith, but ultimately sticks to it because he has to believe that there is good in the world, a flawed man with a good heart, who’s faith sometimes blinds him to what’s happening around him, Anderson has always been one of the most complex characters in a cast full of very complex, flawed characters. I especially like this since he’s the character in the role that’s usually the easiest to leave as being as one-dimensional as possible. For me, it seems like ever since the end of the first arc, Anderson’s been locked in his own struggle with Sidney. It’s clear that Sidney scared the hell out of him in Issue 6, and that’s he’s been struggling with that ever since. We’ve seen him confront Sidney once before, and we’ve seen him try to convince himself he’s not afraid, even question his faith. I saw this Issue as something of a culmination of all that. It’s clear to see that Sidney tricked Anderson. If he is the Devil, then this makes sense, acting as a trickster, playing the victim as he provokes Anderson into attacking him. Sidney wanted Anderson out of the way, and when trying to scare him didn’t work, he played off of Anderson’s fears and doubts to trick him. When Anderson says, “Thank you, Lord…” in that final panel, I see that as Anderson believing that God gave him the strength to defy Sidney, when in reality, he played right into the Devil’s hands. In a lot of ways, Issue 14 is both an end and a beginning, and I actually see it as a surprisingly packed issue, not just one to help us all cool down after Issue 13. I really hope that they manage to keep this up for the rest of the third arc, and, as always, I’m really looking forward to the next Issue.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2016 2:08:03 GMT
Issue 15 may be one of my favorite issues, and the third arc is also shaping up to be my favorite arc by a long shot. Like, the last three issues have been some of the best of the whole series one after the other.
Also, the premiere date for the TV Series should be announced some time before Issue 16 premieres according to Kirkman. If it's not online before Issue 16, then he said it'd be included in the letter hacks.
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Post by Autobot Sonic on Feb 2, 2016 23:14:04 GMT
Just finished Volume 2... Really interested with the whole Sherry subplot. Zyphon don't tell me if this has been solved since Volume 2, but is it possible that Kyle's tears have like holy water capabilities or something? Can't wait to see how he and Anderson get Megan exorcised. I'm kind of curious.. Do you stand with Kyle or Anderson on what happened with Sherry? I'm kind of torn on it myself, somewhere in-between I suppose. Obviously her being possessed by a demon wasn't a good thing, but it's hard to say if she's better off now... I'm more with Anderson on it. Either way she's not in control of her body, but at least with what Kyle did to her she can't do any more harm.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2016 20:27:26 GMT
These are actually some of my favorite covers so far.
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Post by Autobot Sonic on Feb 16, 2016 20:40:02 GMT
These are actually some of my favorite covers so far. Gotta say, that volume 3 cover looks sick. Know when it comes out?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2016 20:42:14 GMT
These are actually some of my favorite covers so far. Gotta say, that volume 3 cover looks sick. Know when it comes out? June 22nd.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2016 16:45:55 GMT
Latest issue was great. I'm getting behind. I need to type up for reviews of Issue 15 and 16 soon, especially since my Outcast tumblr blog is gaining a bit of traction.
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