Advance Review: Great Artwork Saves `Exorcists Never Die’ #6
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
Artist Sebastian Piriz’ illustrations have been a highlight of this series from the beginning. But it’s the story itself that ultimately fails the reader in as this limited run reaches its conclusion – which robs readers of a true ending to the tale.
Overall
8/10Sebastian Piriz has literally been through hell and back during Exorcists Never Die – and he has taken his readers with him on the journey.
Piriz, the series’ artist, has repeatedly wowed his audience with physical manifestations of the seven deadly sins (well, six of them anyway – more on that later). Sloth was a disgusting blob of grossness. Greed was a dragon protecting its hoard. And in this final issue, we’re treated to a double feature – Pride as well as a lord of hell.
To defeat these dark villains, combat exorcists El and Syd use so-called flows – fighting techniques connected together and inspired by different angels. Every time Piriz illustrates these flows, they end up being high points of the issue.
This lord of hell is something else – both visually and in the way he acts. Piriz gives him a different look than the other antagonists. He’s a black-shrouded skeleton carrying a bloody sword. But he’s drawn in an ethereal way that set him apart from anyone else in the series. Clearly the heroes have arrived at the big bad.
Writer Steve Orlando shares his customary sense of humor with this villain. This lord of hell has been around a long time and defeated many angels. He’s not about to be intimidated by a couple of mortal martial artists. “Fire and lightning?” he asks as the exorcists try to unleash a flow. “How flaccid.”
The problem with this issue – and ultimately the entire limited series since this is the last chapter – is the ending. Or rather lack thereof. After battling the lord of hell, there’s still one more deadly sin out there. So even though this series is over, the story is not. In other words, it ends in an unsatisfying way. At best it’s a setup for a second volume. But readers were promised a story – and they deserve an ending.
It’s unfortunate that this enjoyable series ends by robbing readers of the conclusion they deserve. At least they have some memorable artwork to look back on.
Exorcists Never Die #6 will be available for purchase on September 27, 2023.
