Despite the police catching the supposed Deviant Killer in 1972, a similar set of murders committed by a masked killer dressed as Santa has resurfaced in the present day. But how was the man found guilty of the crime caught, and what led to the police officer charging him for it? The Deviant #3 flashes back to the supposed investigation of Randall in the wake of the two boys murdered by the cop who got attacked by the Deviant Killer. 

After holding the cards close to his chest for the previous two issues, James Tynion IV lets the reader peek behind the curtain and see what led alleged murderer Randall to get arrested and end up in prison. Tynion does not excuse Randall’s other reprehensible actions but showcases the gray shades of humanity within our alleged monsters. Although the issue does not advance the story’s plot significantly, it provides greater context to the crimes that Michael has been investigating for his comic book series within the narrative. 

Similar to the past two issues, Tynion dives deeper into the fears and anxieties directed at queerness. By placing the point of view on homophobic policeman Paul for the issue, he not only critiques the harmful stereotypes associated with queerness but illuminates the difficulty for the LGBTQ+ community in late 20th century America. Outside of the usage of “faggy,” the police describing Randall as “funny” and how Paul questions him furthers the commentary on the idea of queerness aligning with deviancy and how alleged boogeymen are created. Randall cannot exist as a gay man who committed horrific actions but can only exist as a monster defined by his queerness to the police and how people remember the crime.

In addition, I still greatly enjoy the Christmas setting for not only contrasting the horror tone of the story but providing a sense of melancholy and isolation relatable to the queer experience. Even in a season of cheer and joy, it can be hard to enjoy it due to the internal baggage we carry. This decision also grounds the narrative by placing it in a more realistic setting to highlight the horrific nature of the murders. The flashback showcases how an unthinkable crime can significantly impact the residents in a close community.

Joshua Hixson’s artwork and colors remain a strong point for the series. He effortlessly balances the mundanity of a city like Milwaukee while contrasting it with visceral imagery. It feels perfectly expressive while not sacrificing the characters’ humanity or the story’s seriousness. His more muted color scheme also pairs with the tone well and never feels like Christmas overshadows the story. He makes sure Christmas is a backdrop element but not standing in the limelight with excessive reds and greens. Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s lettering fits the naturalism of the story and never feels out of place with the narrative. 

The Deviant continues as another strong original series by Tynion that is not afraid to look at and critique these serious topics through a queer horror lens. Even if January has arrived, each new issue feels like a new Christmas present, and I get more excited towards its release each month. There is no horror comic book series like it on the market right now.

Story: James Tynion IV Art and Color: Joshua Hixson
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Read

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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