PURGATORI (VOL. 2) #4 – Review

PURGATORI (VOL. 2) #4, from Dynamite Comics on January 19th, 2022, removes the scales from Purgatori’s eyes (Biblically speaking) to figure out the coven’s plan. Along the way, we see the origins of how Purgatori’s mental chaos began.

The Details

• Written By: Ray Fawkes
• Art By: Álvaro Sarraseca
• Colors By: Salvatore Aiala, Mohan
• Letters By: Tom Napolitano
• Cover Art By: Antonio Fuso (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: January 19, 2022

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Was It Good?

PURGATORI (VOL. 2) #4 has a really strong high point, a confusing down point, and a lot of decent material for everything else. How much weight you give to one piece versus the other is up to you.

Let’s talk about the really strong high point. Purgatori’s personality as presented by Ray Fawkes is a hoot and a half. There’s just something about her casual confidence in her strengths and even more casual indifference to her evil deeds that somehow makes her unsettlingly charming. You can’t help but like her but you don’t want to get too close in case she gets annoyed and tears your head off. Charming may not be the best word to describe Purgatori but it’s the closest that comes to mind.

The confusing down point is the depicted actions of the coven in this issue. Somehow the dead witches have merged with the living witches, but it was originally presented that the witches “wanted” to be killed by Purgatori so they could enter her mind. Are the dead witches no longer inside Purgatori? Are their minds in Purgatori but their souls are outside? The goal of the plan makes sense. The execution of the plan is starting to not make sense, and that’s a no-no for comic clarity.

The art, however, is great in this issue. The standout for this run continues to be the coloring by Aiala and Mohan. The shading work gives every surface, on both characters and backgrounds, a rich texture you can practically feel on the page. There may be a few confusing points in the story, but there’s nothing to complain about in terms of art.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

If the coven’s plan is new to you, first read our PURGATORI (VOL. 2) #3 review to get the lowdown before the showdown.

We begin immediately after the events of the last issue with Purgatori threatening to drain a critically-wounded Darwish after the witches’ attack. Darwish blasts her away with a magic spell, and the pain clears Purgatori’s head long enough to see reason. She recalls how difficult it’s been over the centuries to keep her mind straight as her hunger also burdens her with the full memories up to the very end when she kills them. Up to now, Purgatori carries the memories of thousands of lives in her head, and the witches use her burden to try and confuse her and push her to anger.

Meanwhile in London, the surviving witches are at odds over completing the ritual. Juliet has merged with the souls of her departed sisters (somehow) and she wants Lisa to join her to complete the ritual. Lisa has cold feet over the plan and wants to back out, forcing a deadly confrontation.

Darwish manages to use a healing salve on himself while talking Purgatori down from her confused state to convince her to see through the witches’ plan. We conclude the issue with Purgatori experiencing a light bulb moment, the coven’s ritual getting back on track, and an unwelcome guest making a surprise visit.

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