THE EXORCISM AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE #2 (IDW DARK)

The Shadow has its claws firmly dug into Prince Theo and the Royal Family. As the next King of England is dealing with this supernatural attack, the country is dealing with the possibility of going to war over a perceived attack. Can everyone hold together and overcome or will the demon that is possessing the Royal family win out?

The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace #2 - Written By Hannah Rose May – Art By Kelsey Ramsay – Colors By Heather Breckel - Letters By Jodie Troutman – Edited By Heather Antos - Published By IDW Publishing

Credit: IDW Publishing

***POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING***

STORY OVERVIEW:

Theo is recovering from his relapse after the terrible interview with Gareth, but he is really struggling with the Demon that is trying to take him over. Meanwhile, the King is trying to salvage his grandson’s reputation, well grieving for the loss of his other family members, and dealing with the cancer that is killing him. The Prime Minister is trying to keep England out of a war while he tries to figure out what actually happened to the Britania and keep from starting World War 3. However, when the puppet master that is really pulling the strings is revealed, how will everyone react and what will be their next move?

WRITING:

The second issue of this series is a slow burn that when it takes off it really hits hard. Hannah Rose May captures the sullenness and despair of the story well, also revealing a little more of the endgame. The depressed atmosphere of the story kind of lulls the reader in, which makes for even more impact when the story picks up. May weaves the different storylines together seamlessly and makes the story easy to follow even though there are a lot of moving parts. Any one of these storylines would make for a compelling story but mixing them together really puts the story over the top. The only detraction for the issue is it feels a little disjointed as it starts off as a slow burn to only feel rushed going into the final pages. This is mostly caused by the series only being three issues, so this middle issue is burdened with building up and bringing us towards the endgame at the same time. This would not be an issue if May had a longer run in this arc, that’s why it’s only a minor detraction.

ARTWORK:

The artwork featured in this issue enhances the narrative seamlessly, vividly immersing readers in its world. Kelsey Ramsay’s illustrations capture the story’s energy, with her somber style signaling an atmosphere of despair and focusing on a deeply fractured family and nation. These artistic elements enable readers to experience the sorrow and uncertainty felt by the characters, amplifying the story’s emotional resonance.

In terms of impact, Heather Breckel’s choice of dark colors underscores the gloom of the tale, making each image appear even more foreboding and heavy. This sense of depression and menace is reinforced by the lettering from Jodie Troutman, whose work complements the tone and mood impeccably throughout.

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF THE EXORCISM AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE #1

Final Thoughts:

The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace #2 builds up and brings this story to a crescendo all at once. The tragedies that are falling on the Royal family and the country as a whole give this story a dark cloud that the reader can feel. The art matches this tone perfectly and brings another level of eerie to the supernatural portion of the story. Being a penultimate issue the pacing feels a little disjointed but only due to the shortened length of the mini-series. With all that being said this series and issue is very good and is a worthwhile read for any fan of the genre. Grab a copy at the LCS and buckle up for an eerie ride that won’t disappoint.

FINAL GRADE: 8.6/10

Let me know your thoughts on The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace #2 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!