The Devil That Wears My Face
Writer: David Pepose
Artist & Colorist: Alex Cormac
Publisher: Mad Cave
Collects: Issues #1-6
Publication Date: June 25, 2024
The Devil That Wears My Face delivers an exciting tale that’s equal parts the horrors of The Exorcist meets the intensity of Face/Off. Set in the 1740s between both Rome and Spain, when a struggling Vatican church appoints exorcist Father Franco Vieri to rescue a Spanish nobleman’s son from possession, the exorcism goes wrong, causing Vieri’s spirit to be swapped with a demon’s. With the priest now trapped in the ‘possessed’ nobleman’s body, and the demon known as Legion, now inhabiting Vieri’s, the story shifts from religious political drama into a high-stakes battle of stopping evil incarnate from taking over the world.
It is here where The Devil That Wears My Face has a lot going on for it. David Pepose’s story masterfully raises the stakes per issue, creating a back-and-forth intertwining between Church politics and demonic personal struggles – metaphorically and quite literally. I was also impressed with how in-depth the Vatican is depicted between the Cardinal hierarchies as it seems a lot of research was had.
The world-building is top-notch, with a detailed depiction of the church and its internal politics. The inclusion of Freemason rivalry also adds an interesting layer, and the idea of demon control within the church, even at the level of the pope, is both fascinating and chilling regarding the sins committed by those in power.
Still, at its heart, this is a cat chasing mouse story about good versus evil, with good represented by loose cannon agent Father Vieri, the church’s hotshot exorcist. His former boss, Cardinal Mancini, harbors a deep-seated dislike for him, as do many of Vieri’s superiors, as the series leading exorcist does his job mostly out of a sense of duty – stopping evil because he’s one of the best who can.
As for the rest of the cast, there’s Santiago, the son of a wealthy silver miner who somewhat serves as the series’ deuteragonist. His storyline explores themes of identity, faith, and redemption, as his possession by Legion, along with his complex relationship with his deceased brother Hector, adds important depths to the narrative that play out later.
Most important though is Maria, Santiago’s significant other, who spends most of the series fighting alongside Father Vieri/Santiago. Maria serves as a supporting role in this story, a potential love interest, and prophetic sidekick who adds some much-needed momentum.
Together, these three characters’ intertwined stories enrich the plot, especially as they face their respective demons, providing a poignant counterbalance to the horrors that await them – each tale is distinct and well-developed, contributing to the rich tapestry of the narrative.
Alex Cormack’s artwork is stunning, featuring breathtaking architecture, scenic shots, and body horrors that delight (the creative eye symbolism sets a delightfully creepy haunting). Overall, the atmosphere generated by Cormack’s illustrative works feels visceral, with subtle haziness that turns to clarity at the right shock, enhancing the horror for just when the moment is right.
I can’t stress enough, that there are a lot of clever page turns here meant for dramatic reveals and a slew of demonic tropes looking like something straight out of the exorcist movies. There’s a lot of scary horror here and none of it feels irrelevant, as the comic does a good job of when to use possessions, mutilations, and gore to keep the reader on edge.
Kudos also to Cormack’s colorful layers, which do a wonderful job of creating a haunting atmosphere. Perhaps most surprising, was the masterful lettering in the series by Justin Birch, with some great onomatopoeia work and some very thoughtful fonts and color palates that evoke a Hellblazer-esque vibe.
What sets this comic apart is how seamlessly it flows to deliver the promise of its premise. The collaboration in this comic shows striking a perfect balance between mystery and revelation, as the tension of stakes escalates per issue rather nicely. As for the horror elements? They’re beautifully executed and the rivalry between Vieri and Legion, will evoke some very Van Helsing versus Dracula vibes.
One minor critique however is the bombastic nature of the ending, which feels a little bit jarring at the end. Vieri’s religious background revelations are outright surprising to me, though I do appreciate the representation, and while there’s room for a sequel, the conclusion ends things in a bit of a chaotic state. I also love the overall takeaway theme about our own demons.
Overall, The Devil that Wears My Face is a thrilling blend of horror and supernatural drama, juggling a large cast while maintaining a gripping pace. The ending is utter chaos but it does leave the door open for more stories in this dark and fascinating world.
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