PURGATORI MUST DIE #5, from Dynamite Comics on 6/7/23, brings the titanic battle for all Creation to a close. Will Purgatori consume the universe, or will she find a better path?
The Details
- Written by: Ray Fawkes
- Art by: Alvaro Sarraseca
- Colors by: Salvatore Aiala
- Letters by: Tom Napolitano
- Cover art by: Collette Turner (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: June 7, 2023
Is It Good?
PURGATORI MUST DIE #5 brings Ray Fawkes’s take on the soul-eating demon vampire to a close with imaginative action (more on that in a minute), heaps of snarky personality, and a somewhat satisfying resolution. Purgatori fans will be well and truly pleased with this mini-series.
When last we left Purgatori and Darwish, Purgatori consumed an entire universe contained inside a snake entity (Satan?) who understood what Purgatori was going through. Now, the battle is joined as the collective of Dynamite’s supernatural anti-heroes, each possessed by a god, attack in unison to bring Purgatori down or die trying.
Ray Fawke’s finale has three highlights that make this ending a keeper and a great ending to a generally great mini-series.
First, Purgatori is just so darn likable. You shouldn’t like her. By all accounts, Purgatori is the villain in this story. Yet, you can’t help but be thoroughly amused by Purgatori’s snarky confidence and easy charm. She has a devilish quality about her that convinces you she can and will do terrible things but have a lot of fun doing it. Fawkes effectively nails Purgatori’s personality.
Second, Purgatori reaches a point in her ascension where she can draw on the collected power and experience of billions of souls. The scenes play out as a fascinating level-up for her character, and you could instantly imagine all kinds of scenarios where that shiny new toy could come in handy.
Third, the ending is the best possible outcome for all parties involved. Fawkes puts all the toys back in their toy box, but it’s a slightly different toy box, so Purgatori’s status quo has changed enough to open up possibilities for the future.
How’s the art? It’s better than serviceable. Alvaro Sarresaca joins a growing list of artists who are illustrators at heart who rely heavily on digital platforms to “assemble” the art, so you definitely see side effects from the assembly. The panels look layered instead of a cohesive drawing, and the textures look filled in. That said, Saraseca is one of the better illustrators working in comics, and this style is the closest we’ve seen to expert comic pencils/inks.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our PURGATORI MUST DIE #4 review to witness how Purgatori ate a whole universe.
We begin with Purgatori settling into her newfound ascension with the minds, talents, and power of billions of souls within her. She returns to the outskirts of Eden to face off against the Dynamite anti-heroes possessed by the gods to do battle.
When the possessed strike with magic, weapons, and magic weapons, Purgatori can hear millions of souls giving her advice to defend, dodge, and attack. Wizards provide spells, military leaders provide tactics, and warriors provide fighting moves.
The gods make some progress, but eventually, Purgatori overcomes all covers by creating a pocket of frozen time, which gives her an idea. We conclude the issue with separation, a deal, and a choice.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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PURGATORI MUST DIE #5 ends the mini-series with a monumental battle for the fate of the universe and the continued existence of the gods. Ray Fawkes nails Purgatori’s strangely beguiling personality, the final battle is imaginative/clever, and the ending tweaks Purgatori’s status quo just enough to be satisfying.
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