Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Exorcism Island Issue #1? 5 stars on 5. Issue #2? 5 stars on 5. But it seems creator Jordan Thomas couldn’t bowl over readers with a hat-trick, because the third chapter of this horror comic book series wasn’t as memorable or sinister as the others.
Issue #2 of ‘Exorcism Island’ ended with a small team of archaeologists uncovering an ancient statue, supposedly called the ‘dancing prince’. This discovery ends in a grisly bloodbath. Clearly, this ‘dancing prince’ is something profoundly evil. So, the new issue opens with the aftermath, with two priests arriving at the scene, which is laden with blood, guts, and bodies of the victims.
The issue kicks off with the reassuringly holy line, “You’re absolutely fucking certain it’s safe to go down there?” – a reminder that these priests aren’t exactly choirboys. Crude language aside, it’s clear they’re well aware of the Dancing Prince’s cursed reputation, and whatever orders they’ve received from the Vatican sound less like prayers and more like a cover-up. In-fact, maybe something worse than a cover-up.
This chapter feels slightly fragmented; however, it delivers a crucial confession from Father Amato, who unburdens himself about a dark chapter of his life to an older priest. It’s a familiar “sin,” nothing too shocking, but tragic nonetheless, and it helps explain why the demon in an earlier issue managed to get under his skin.
As far as Father Amato’s new home, the ‘Exorcism Island’ is concerned, it’s business as usual for the tired priests – grappling with possessed individuals. There’s just a tinge of mystery surrounding the evil ‘dancing Prince’ statue and what the priests intend to do with it. And the last few pages wrap up with a twist that signals more lethal danger for the men on the island.
Overall, this issue was interesting, but just nowhere near as entertaining as the first two issues. Although, for the first time, the story makes you wonder if the priests on the island are the ‘good guys’.
Rating: 4 on 5. Exorcism Island is on Kindle Unlimited.
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