Continuing his investigation of the Deviant Killer, Michael Olsen interviews accused murderer Randall again to learn more about his side of the story. During the process, Olsen begins to see more of himself in the supposedly arrested Deviant Killer and examines his personal history with the monster that haunted his childhood. And with the Deviant Killer murdering again, Michael gets placed in the crosshairs of the investigation as the prime suspect. 

James Tynion IV and Joshua Hixson take the reader deeper into the rabbit hole as Michael approaches the dark mirror in The Deviant #4. I am again amazed at how well the series examines not only the ways that homophobia creates fear-mongering in a community but also the impact it has on the members of the LGBTQ+ community. Michael initially has difficulty seeing beyond the supposed horror of Randall before coming to terms with the similarities they share as queer men. The alleged gay boogeyman who represented his internal fears about his sexuality is surprisingly human. Even the discussion of Jeffrey Dahmer at the beginning between Michael and his boyfriend Derek connects the story to the real world due to how a figure like Dahmer impacted the public viewpoint about the LGBTQ+ community. Paul’s gay bashing of Michael in public reinforces how homophobia and transphobia are back on the rise due to bigots viewing queerness as deviancy. Even the reappearance of the Deviant Killer signals this resurgence as well. 

I also appreciate how Tynion deepens the relationships of Michael, Derek, and Randall. Michael and Randall are dark parallels, while Derek worries about the story’s impact on his boyfriend. Understanding Michael’s darker interest, Derek still worries about him as the detective exploits his fears. That unknown buries itself into the back of his skull as Michael becomes more distant and less open. Simultaneously, Michael slowly lets down his guard to Randall where. They form a quid pro quo as he offers to discuss his childhood if Randall talks about his experiences with the trial. Michael cannot help but lean closer into the void as it slowly sucks him into it. 

I love Hixson’s pacing and framing of the intimate dialogue scenes in The Deviant #4. Especially with Michael and Randall, as it becomes a dance of sorts that the pair engage in. In addition, he nails the subtle body language to help convey the characters’ genuine emotions. His coloring truly showcases a broad spectrum from a thrilling rave to the colder jail cell; Hixson is a perfect artistic partner for Tynion. Lastly, the grounded psychological horror tone could only exist with the letter Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s work. 

I still have a lot to think about The Deviant and the themes it explores. I appreciate Tynion and Hixson crafting a queer horror tale that dives into the murky waters to see what lies beneath the surface. The Deviant pulls off the masks of the monsters who haunt us and forces us to see them as they are. Monsters may not exist in the world, but others deem some humans monstrous.

Story: James Tynion IV Art: Joshua Hixson
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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