Advance Review: Atoning For The Original Sin In ‘Exorcists Never Die’ #5
by Tom Smithyman
Over the past several issues, the heroes of Exorcists Never Die have fought their way through manifestations of most of the seven deadly sins. In the latest chapter they take on the original sin of Envy.
It was Envy that caused Adam and Eve to sin in the first place, bringing about the downfall of humanity. But combat exorcists El and Syd aren’t going to be able to punch their way out of this one. Defeating Envy requires some literal soul searching, making this issue stand out a bit from the others.
Writer Steve Orlando focuses most of that introspection on El, the more aggressive of the pair. For years, El has been envious of her former lover Syd. She is jealous of his family name, the ease with which he walks through life and his talent. The fight against Envy is hers to win or lose. But given her insecurities concerning Syd, El is playing right into Envy’s hands.
It’s an interesting idea, but one that isn’t executed as well as it could be. We learn a lot more about El’s motivations after the battle, in what comes across as an exposition dump instead of a tidy denouement. And the flows – prayerful combat techniques that the exorcists employ – have been odd and largely unexplained dei ex machina. (In this case, almost literally.)
Despite the number of internal struggles he has to depict, artist Sebastian Piriz gives readers plenty to look at in this issue. Given its role in the Garden of Eden, Envy is depicted with snakes for hair, a al Medusa. Piriz clearly has some fun with the battles, and while the flows are unclear from a written perspective, he is able to bring them to life in colorful and dynamic ways.
There are two more sins for the exorcists to grapple with – pride and wrath – and only one more issue left in this limited series. It’s going to be a storytelling struggle to introduce both evils, defeat them and then save thousands of souls. Let’s face it, cramming seven deadly sins into six issues isn’t an easy thing to pull off. 
Exorcists Never Die #5 will be available for purchase on August 23, 2023.
Overview
Another issue and another sin. This time the combat exorcists take on Envy, which requires a different kind of fighting. The story’s resolution is a bit of a letdown given that most of the characters’ rationalizations come in the form of a long exposition after the big battle.
