Review: The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace #3
From IDW Dark
From the horror imprint of IDW Publishing, IDW Dark has the final issue of The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace out now!
Death is coming for Theo Belmont. As the heir to the throne, all of England has its eyes on him, and the pressure is enough to drive any sober man to the bottle. But it’s not the drink Theo is drowning in—it’s the shadow of something far more evil, something that’s about to take full control of the crown, and then, the world.
That is, until Buckingham Palace calls in a favor. Father Reid has come to London to end the Belmont Curse!
Writer: Hannah Rose May
Artist: Kelsey Ramsay
Bringing this mini-series to a close, The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace #3 does an excellent job of tying together the threads from the previous Exorcism storyline while also laying foundations for where the franchise could go next. Rather than simply focusing on delivering a climactic confrontation, the issue takes the time to explore the wider implications of what has been happening, making the finale feel both satisfying and significant within the larger universe being built.
This is a surprisingly dense read in places, packed with political intrigue, religious themes and deeper exploration of the demonic forces at work. The possession itself becomes much more than a simple battle between good and evil, as the story digs into the motivations behind the demonic plan and what the corruption of such an important institution could mean. The royal setting continues to give the series its own identity, allowing the writers to play with ideas and scenarios that would not work nearly as well anywhere else.
The exorcism sequence is undoubtedly the centrepiece of the issue and is handled extremely well. There are plenty of moments that will resonate with UK readers, particularly the use of recognisable political and cultural elements, but none of it feels exclusionary to readers from elsewhere. The Prime Minister’s involvement, especially the memorable chanting sequence, adds an unusual but entertaining flavour to proceedings. I also appreciated that the story acknowledged Rome's intervention and addressed the historical relationship between the British monarchy and the Catholic Church. Given the King’s role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the centuries-old split from Rome, it would have felt strange not to mention it, and the comic uses that history to lend extra weight to the unfolding events.
What I enjoyed most was how effectively the issue maintains tension. Just when it seems the characters have gained the upper hand, the story throws another obstacle in their path. There are several well-executed bait-and-switch moments that convince you the resolution is within reach before pulling the rug out from under both the characters and the reader. These twists never feel cheap, however, because they emerge naturally from the rules and mythology the series has established. By the time the final explanations are revealed, they fit surprisingly well within the context of both the royal institution and the supernatural threat at the heart of the story.
The character work also benefits from these shifting fortunes. The highs and lows experienced throughout the exorcism create genuine uncertainty about how events will unfold, and the emotional stakes remain high. Everyone involved is pushed to their limits, which helps make the climax feel earned rather than inevitable.
Visually, the book remains consistently strong. The artwork captures both the grandeur of Buckingham Palace and the increasingly oppressive atmosphere created by the demonic presence. As corruption spreads through the palace, a real sense of darkness creeps into every corner, and the artists do an excellent job of making the familiar setting feel unsettling and dangerous. The colouring deserves particular praise, using shadows and darker tones to emphasise the horror elements before punctuating key moments with vivid bursts of colour. Those brighter shades become especially effective during the closing pages, where they provide a striking contrast to everything that has come before and help the finale leave a lasting impression.
Overall, this is a strong conclusion that delivers on the promises made throughout the mini-series while opening the door to something much bigger. It successfully combines horror, religion, politics and British history into a unique supernatural thriller that stands apart from many other exorcism stories. With hints that the franchise may expand beyond the United Kingdom and explore further possessions and exorcisms around the world, there is plenty of potential for what comes next. Given the quality of this series, I’m certainly interested to see where the creative team takes the concept in future instalments.
