El Depravado is a work by James Tynion IV and Joshua Hixson published by Norma Editorial, in which a comics writer wants to write his own work about a serial killer who has been in prison since 1973, so he goes to interview him to find out more.
Image comics posted in staples The DeviantA Christmas themed horror story very appropriate to enjoy this time of year. In this first issue of Editorial standard The first four chapters of the nine chapters of the story written by the well-known screenwriter and winner of the James Tynion IV Eisner Award.
The illustrations of El depravado, as well as the colors, are by Joshua Hixsonwhile the labels are the work of Hassan Otsmane-Elhaoua regular artist who also collaborated with another Eisner Award winner, Saladin Ahmedin his work Drago.
In The depravedthe protagonist, Michaelmakes a reflection on himself, something so simple in the hands of Tynion is a very entertaining read, with a large dose of intrigue, suspense and no concessions that surprises by the strength of the horror of the crime, more than by its exceptional appearance visual, in his psychological aspect.
Tynion makes the major aspects of the criminal investigation very present here, just like the agent of the FBI, Robert K. Resslershown many years ago and inspired Thomas Harris for his work The Silence of the Lambs, later transformed into a film; or more closely to the Spanish reader, to the psychologist and researcher Juan Enrique Sotocreator of Behavior analysis service of the Police who did not stop”Live in wonder”.
“He who fights with monsters should avoid becoming one of them in the process. And when you look into the abyss, he also looks into you” quote from Nietzsche in the book Serial Killers by Ressler and Shachtman
The plot
Self-defined as a Christmas storyEl Depravado is, truly, the story of a serial killer casecentered on a closed murder case Milwaukee (USA) in 1973, so half a century has passed since everything ended with the arrest of the main suspect Randall Olsenwho has been in prison ever since.
The Depraved begins in the city of Chicago in 2023where the comic book writer Michael He is doing Christmas shopping with his partner Dereknot being satisfied or satisfied with his life, but unable to identify the deep feeling of discomfort affecting him.
Derek believes it may be a consequence of his work, firstly he hated writing scripts for superhero comics – guys in tights as Randall says in the story – because the interview with the prison killer might have influenced him. In fact, it’s in Chicago, where heThe demons of the past resurfacesince in “The Windy City” a new murder occurs, with a modus operandi very similar to that of the 1973 killer.
Tynion IV’s work with Michael is a narrative marvelhighlighting the importance to the plot of the scene between Michael and Randall, when they meet in the visiting area of the prison courtyard. It is here that the true reasons behind the protagonist’s decision are revealed to the reader. In fact, Randall admits that it’s very similar to the movie The Silence of the Lambs.
Both Michael and the readers don’t know if Randall is telling the truth about innocence or it’s simply another element of the sociopath’s personality who wants to deceive with his knowledge in order to get out of prison. Michael doesn’t seem too concerned, agreeing with Randall’s analysis of Michael as someone: “a little cold, but sweet.”
Tynion’s slow and effective screenplay
Tynion’s writing is allusive and dense, suggesting horrors that lurk just beneath the surface of the nuanced plot and characters that offer important foreshadowing for the story to follow, while also building exposition. THE The characters are fascinating and complex at the same time.all with substantial flaws and limited perspectives that make them relatable and realistic.
Him the dialogue is ironic and tense, unadorned in its content or exposition, in fact, each conversation between Michael and the alleged Christmas Killer is surprisingly written and measured, with a natural vocabulary and turns of phrase that give the conversations a heartbreaking sense of reality and invoke reflection on the connections between male sexuality and murder.
From the beginning you can see that this is a horror comic about being a gay man. Tynion is not afraid to question the cultural and personal narratives surrounding homosexuality and serial killer as a polymorphic figure of deviance and isolation. The slow pace of Tynion IV is an effective decision to add depth to the main characters.
The structure of the comic is excellent, alternating between present and past to build a structured world that feels expansive and authentically inhabited by its characters. Furthermore, the narrative is built step by step, with a brilliantly sinuous rhythmallowing the story to integrate seamlessly, progressively increasing the tension, giving the chilling final climax incredible impact and unlimited interest for the next chapter.
Hixson’s depth and sophistication
The reader is trapped in this volume by some Stunning images provided by the art of Joshua Hixson. Hixson’s illustration is absolutely, stunningly beautiful, with a haunting impressionistic style and suffocating intensity. Furthermore, he shows a deep understanding of the human form and emotions.
Hixson works with dark, stylized inks, with strokes closer to brush strokes, giving the comic a typically timeless or vintage tone that integrates with the broad time scale of the story and giving the comic a Refined artistic quality underlying all the terrifying content.
The apparent contradiction between the refined nature of the illustration and the horrors it depicts is essential, because it sharpens them both, putting one in stark contrast to the other. The density of the inks also allows this amazing use of shadows and negative spaceboth as an atmospheric visual touch and as a symbol that develops the characters’ inner worlds.
Hixson has wonderful sense empathy for his entire figures, giving them an active and vital quality that makes them feel animated and full of emotion, while adopting a decidedly more artificial style. This extends to crime scenes, which are visceral and well composedalways able to bring out a little more discomfort with their intricate details, knowing how to use double-page cartoons perfectly.
The Spanish edition
Editorial standard published the first volume of The depraved In rusticwith a size of 17×26 centimeters, with an extension of 152 color pageswith translation by Hernan Migoyacontaining issues 1-4 of the original books published in the United States by Image Comics. Alternate covers from the series are included as extras.
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH FEAR AND INTRIGUMENT THANKS TO THIS NOIR MASTERPIECE BY JAMES TYNION IV
Snow falls in Milwaukee in 1973 and Santa Claus covered in blood commits unimaginable atrocities against some poor children. Fifty years later, a young comic book writer interviews this murderer nicknamed THE DEPRAVED, who continues to swear he is innocent from his cell. Now Christmas returns and with it the past armed with a sharp axe.
Award-winning author James Tynion IV (The Department of Truth, Something Kills Children), renowned artist Joshua Hixson (Batman/Fortnite: Foundation), and Eisner Award-winning literary figure Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou team up to give us a Christmas horror story ready to break taboos.