PURGATORI (VOL. 2) #5 – Review

PURGATORI (VOL. 2) #5, from Dynamite Comics on February 23rd, 2022, brings the switch witch arc to a close as Purgatori learns which witch has switched witches to scratch the possession itch.

The Details

• Written By: Ray Fawkes
• Art By: Álvaro Sarraseca
• Colors By: Salvatore Aiala
• Letters By: Tom Napolitano
• Cover Art By: Antonio Fuso
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: February 23, 2022

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Was It Good?

PURGATORI (VOL. 2) #5 wraps up the titled “Witches Get Stitches” storyline with an anti-climactic ending that paves the way for bigger things coming up. The issue wraps up the events surrounding a coven of witches attempting to take control of Purgatori’s body in a relatively neat little package, but the neatness of the arc’s finale may be its biggest flaw.

Before picking any nits, this is still an entertaining issue all the way around. Purgatori, as presented in this series, is a charismatic and engaging character. It’s hard not to be fascinated with her, even if she is a bloodthirsty (literally) demon. Fawkes nails her personality as someone you want to know more about and follow on her adventures.

Sarraseca’s art is fairly good. It has a digital patina that you can’t help but notice, but this series is one of the better examples of digital done right. What helps elevate Sarraseca’s art is Aiala’s coloring work. The color shading and textures are nearly flawless and it takes above-average digital art and makes it better.

The nit to pick is how easily Purgatori beats the coven when it appears the witches may have an upper hand. Purgatori’s easy victory deflated the dramatic tension and the stakes to the point where it feels like the last five issues were simply a prelude to something better. It would have served this arc to make the final battle more convincing and challenging.

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]

If you don’t recall how Purgatori wound up in the coven’s lair, first read our PURGATORI (VOL. 2) #4 review.

We begin with Purgatori making a surprise visit to the coven’s lair to get a jump on the merged witches. All mysteries about the witches’ intentions are made plain as they attack with spells and magic to take total control of Purgatori’s body. There’s a brief fight with magic against muscle.

Meanwhile, Darwish is slowly recovering in the Kenyan wilderness when he’s visited by a supernatural being who looks like an angel. The angel tries to convince Darwish to accept great power so that he can find and destroy Purgatori. Darwish senses something is amiss and refuses the gift. He binds the angel with a spell to interrogate the angel and uncover the truth of what’s behind everything.

Meanwhile, the battle in the coven’s lair continues, but Purgatori quickly overwhelms and feasts on the merged witch. She stops just short of killing the human host but un-merges the spirits and absorbs them into herself.

We conclude the issue with a unique brand of torture, a long wait, and Darwish learning Purgatori has much bigger enemies coming.

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