James Tynion IV Shows Of A First Look At ‘The Deviant’ #1

In his latest free newsletter, The Empire of the Tiny Onion, we get a first look at The Deviant #1 from Image Comics and illustrated by Joshua Hixson. If you’re not a subscriber, then you’re missing out. And here’s why:

“SERIES PREMIERE: As snow falls over Milwaukee in 1972, a blood-stained Santa Claus commits unimaginable atrocities against young men. Fifty years later, a troubled young writer interviews this so-called “Deviant Killer,” who still maintains his innocence from behind bars. And as Christmas approaches once again, the past returns, wielding a sharpened ax. Eisner-winning writer JAMES TYNION IV (W0RLDTR33, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH) and acclaimed artist JOSHUA HIXSON (The Plot, Children of the Woods) unite for a pitch-black holiday horror story.”

As to why you’d want to pick this one up? Well, I’ll leave it to Tynion IV to sell it:

It’s haunting and serious, but it’s ALSO got a fucked up serial killing Santa Claus.

He goes on to say:

“This is me leaning on my deep and powerful love of David Fincher, and the stories of Hannibal Lecter. It’s my first creator owned book with no supernatural or science fiction elements weaved in. It’s a very human, very dark, serial killer story set during the Christmas season.”

And if you’re at NYCC 2023 this weekend, you can catch him between 11.30am -1pm in Artists Alley at the Scott’s Collectables, Table C-27, selling bootlegs of The Department of Truth #1 for $10 a pop.

The Deviant #1 is out on Wednesday November 15th from Image Comics