Advance Review: Greed Is…Not So Good In ‘Exorcists Never Die’ #5
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
Depicting the sin Greed as a dragon protecting its hoard of gold and riches was a smart one, as it leads to the best script of the series and some great visuals. Shockingly, even with some grand images, the creative team manages to sneak in some smaller moments to enrich the story further.
Overall
8/10Despite what Gordon Gekko may have proclaimed in Wall Street, Greed is definitely not good.
Greed, of course, is one of the seven deadly sins, which is why it features prominently in the most recent issue of Exorcists Never Die. In the series, two so-called combat exorcists, El and Syd, are battling their way through Los Angeles’ Hellscraper where a soul auction is being held. They are hallway through the sins when then encounter Greed in the form of a dragon surrounded by riches.
But the real temptations for the exorcists are not earthly riches. El is looking for fame, though not fortune. She is tempted by the prospect of stopping the auction and being lauded and rewarded for her efforts with a promotion. Syd, on the other hand, dreams of a peaceful life with El.
Writer Steve Orlando turns in his best script of the series to date with personification (dragonification?) of Greed. He’s written sharp dialogue for the wyrm that makes Greed the most dangerous villain the team has met. Greed has bested other champions before and is confident in its ability to do so again. The dragon plays with the pair at first, just as a monster often plays with its food.
Orlando’s script gives artist Sebastian Piriz plenty to work with. His dragon is fierce and foreboding and literally seems to be drooling gold. He nicely juxtaposes El’s defiant words with an unsure look on her face as she tries to stare down Greed. Clearly the exorcists are more worried than they are letting on. It’s a small detail that adds considerable depth to the characters.
The exorcists are expected to take on Envy in the next issue. But even bigger challenges for them get hinted in this issue. While it may be bad news for them, it should be good news for readers.
Exorcists Never Die #4 will be available for purchase on July 26, 2023.
