Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay points, the comic book review blog to the ODPH Podcast!
For this entry, we’re diving back into an intense story that combines elements of horror, action, and drama. The one-upsmanship style chase between Father Vieri and Legion has taken some insane turns. Where the story braces to go now will surely keep fans on the edge of their seats.
THE DEVIL THAT WEARS MY FACE #5 by David Pepose, Alex Cormack, Justin Birch (Mad Cave Studios) looks to turn things up a few notches with this latest chapter.
Let’s take a closer look and see where we go from here.
The Devil That Wears My Face #4 by David Pepose, Alex Cormack, and Justin Birch. (Credit Mad Cave Studios. Cover By Alex Cormack.)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
On a burning ship, the spirit of Father Vieri is trapped inside its’ current vessel. Mortally wounded, time is not on the side of the Father. As Vieri makes his call, a name is mentioned that is answered. The name is Santiago Izan.
A spirit emerges. It claims to be the real Santiago Izan. Before there’s time to react, they’re taken down to Hell via demons.
Meanwhile, Legion (in Vieri’s body) stands over the fallen Brother Gabriel. Legion plans to explain the gapping hole in Gabriel’s body. His plans are interrupted by Cardinal Pentecost. Pentecost calls him out for his bizarre behavior. The conversation heats up. It’s interrupted by Maria, who knows that Legion is inside Vieri’s body.
Suffice to say, there are a LOT of moving parts with this story. The descent into the darkness challenges Vieri. Readers see his story take a few twists in finding the truth. The question becomes will he solve it in time?
As for Legion, can he thwart off the Cardinal and Maria? The challengers arise but a power play is made. Readers see a dramatic moment sends things heavily into Legion’s favor. This all boils over into the final pages where the ultimate showdown looks to be heading for an explosive finale.
The Devil That Wears My Face #4 by David Pepose, Alex Cormack, and Justin Birch. (Credit Mad Cave Studios. Cover By Alex Cormack.)
Pepose excells in juggling the vast character stories with this chapter. Both Vieri and Legion’s paths take intense shifts within these pages. Vieri’s path lets his true character shine as he tries saving a soul. The same can be said for Legion. He is pure evil and the writing gives him devious charisma while executing his plans. It’s a classic tale of good vs evil.
The build towards the close comes off steady and to the point. The shocking moments just flow and never feel forced. It gives both leads a final sell to the readers of the magnitude of the final confrontation.
Cormack and Birch spare no expense with the horror elements. The full page panel where Vieri gets pulled to Hell jumps off the page. The facial expressions of Legion convey the manic nature of the demon. Even when confronted, the eyes give away his demonic attitude. This plays into the final act. Seeing one last moment of action, Legion’s ultimate endgame comes to light with a full page panel screaming “The End Is Near”.
FINAL POINT: 9
The pen-ultimate chapter of Father Vieri’s & Legions deadly dance doesn’t disappoint. Pepose constructs the path to the final confrontation balancing horror and heroics. Cormack and Birch bring the hellish playing field to life with haunting imagery. Buckle in for a final showdown for the ages.
Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know your thoughts on The Devil that Wears My Face #5. Thanks for reading.
