Mad Cave Studios’ ‘The Devil That Wears My Face’ Issue 1 – GVN Talking Comics Review

In the Beginning

Father Vieri is a Roman Catholic Priest in the mid-1700s. Despite having many spiritual doubts, he possesses (so to speak) a special talent for exorcism. During his time at the church, he has successfully battled demons and similar entities. However, the political environment surrounding the church’s leadership is a demon in its own right. Being a lower-ranking priest, he has limited influence in these matters and no real interest in it. Nevertheless, his expertise in exorcism has led to an important mission – exorcising a powerful demon who has taken over the son of a powerful family in Spain. If successful, this could result in substantial financial support for the church from the young man’s family.

However, many priests have failed and been ravaged by the demon that has taken their son. Will Father Vieri succeed where those before having failed? This is the beginning of Mad Cave’s latest work, the six-issue miniseries The Devil that Wears My Face, written by David Pepose and illustrated by Alex Cormack.

Thoughts

Writer Pepose has likened his narrative to a blend of The Exorcist and Face-Off. Having read the first issue, I can confirm that this comparison is accurate. The story is imbued with the ominous and eerie atmosphere reminiscent of author William Peter Blatty and Director William Friedkin’s legendary horror masterpiece.

While at the same time, also incorporating the captivating intrigue found in John Woo’s iconic film, Face-Off. Not a combination that might have occurred to me, but it works so well, that I am more than hooked.

When tackling such a grim topic, it’s essential for the artist to capture the unsettling mood it requires. In this instance, Alex Cormack has achieved this feat with great success. He’s utilized the various chances given by Pepose to stir up a creepy sensation and send shivers down the reader’s spine. Cormack has skillfully illustrated the scenes with a feeling of apprehension and a decent amount of blood and gore, intensifying the overall effect. This initial issue lays the foundation for an incredible story. Just in time for the Spooky Season.

Mad Cave Studios The Devil that Wears My Face by David Pepose, Alex Cormack, and Justin Birch is available on October 4th. It can be found on Mad Cave’s Subscription site and where great digital comics are sold.