TOUCHING EVIL #21, from Source Point Press on April 27th, 2022, brings the series to a close with Ollie’s final choice to become a killer and the consequences that come with crossing a line you can’t uncross.
The Details
- Written By: Dan Dougherty
- Art By: Dan Dougherty
- Colors By: Emily Zelasko, Wesley Wong
- Letters By: Dan Dougherty
- Cover Art By: Dan Dougherty
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: April 27, 2022
Was It Good?
TOUCHING EVIL #21 is possibly one of the better finales we’ve ever read because it presents hard choices with tough answers leading to unhappy consequences. Nobody comes out of this story unscathed, and the ending is thought-provoking for it.
When last we left Ollie, he crossed a line you can’t uncross. Murder is different when you make a conscious choice versus death coming via a curse you can’t control. Every moment in this issue is the result of a choice; a choice that compels you to ask “what would I do in the same situation?”. All credit goes to Dougherty for weaving the remaining threads together for packing the last pages with sadness, grief, and acceptance for the surviving characters, even those who don’t get a happy ending.
When the final moments come, and you realize what’s about to happen, it’s plain to see the way Dougherty ends the story is the only way it could play out and still hold on to the integrity of the story. We’re playing coy with the explanation to prevent spoiling what happens, but if you want more details, read through to the next section.
Dougherty’s art in this issue is consistent with the entire run, and possibly a little better for his mesmerizing panel angle in the limbo scenes. This is a very dialog-heavy ending, but the action scenes that pop up are impactful and meaningful.
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]
We begin with a flashback to Parristown where the first bearer of the curse stands alone among the dead. The dead who now inhabit his mind after his cursed touch killed them. Two travelers approach after seeing the smoke from the burning buildings, and the reverend begs one of the travelers to hear his story so he can pass on the curse.
Now, Brody lies dying from Ollie’s gunshot. As Brody’s life slips away, Ollie feels the full weight of choosing to murder someone. In an instant, he rushes over to Brody and gives him the one thing Brody’s always wanted – the curse. Once received, Brody instantly heals, absolving Ollie of the burden of becoming a murderer.
Later, Brody infiltrates the home of the man who made him “famous” to use the curse one last time. We conclude the issue with a ghostly conversation, a graveside conversation, and a watery grave.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
TOUCHING EVIL #21 is a heartbreaking and thought-provoking end to a dramatic series with an imaginative concept at its core. The threads end satisfactorily but definitely not on a happy note, and for this series, that’s the best of all possible endings.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com