After four increasingly tense issues, IDW’s The Exorcism at 1600 Penn wrapped up today with issue #4. Spoilers past this point, but the seeming demonic possession of the first daughter in the book was, indeed, demons… Not the scientific attack of Havana Syndrome, as the book played with over the course of the series.
“I always said that the title itself reveals what’s happening, but the journey to get there would be full of twists and surprises,” writer Hannah Rose May told Comic Book Club over email. “Given the title, we were signaling the direction of the story from the beginning, but my goal was to keep readers questioning how we would get there.”
To find out more about the book, including the surprisingly hopeful ending of the series, read on.
CBC: This last issue has a dreamlike quality to it, which may be down to Vanesa Del Rey’s art. But contrasting the exorcism scenes swirling into each other versus the rigid panels of the epilogue, what led to that choice?
Hannah Rose May: When I first started developing the mythology for the series, I wanted the demon to feel as though it had been in hibernation, waiting for the right host to take over. As the issues progress, so too does the darkness on the pages, representing the demon’s growing power. By Issue 4, I wanted it to feel as if the demon had transformed the White House into its own lair, pulling our characters into its world. We all felt there was something deeply sinister about the idea that the White House, this symbol of hope and light to the world, had become consumed by shadows. Vanesa not only brought that vision to life but, as always, elevated it.
After issues of making us wonder whether this was Havana Syndrome or demons… It’s demons! Was there any point in the process where you went another way? Or making it murkier? Or was it always going to be demonic possession?
I always said that the title itself reveals what’s happening, but the journey to get there would be full of twists and surprises. Similar to what I did with Rogues’ Gallery, where what seems like a simple robbery turned home-invasion suddenly takes a much darker turn, I wanted to play with expectations here as well. Given the title, we were signaling the direction of the story from the beginning, but my goal was to keep readers questioning how we would get there. From the outset, I knew this was a demonic story, but I wanted to use Havana Syndrome and its real-world effects as a way to keep the mystery alive and maintain suspense.
The story is also squarely focused on the family dynamic — how tough was it to balance exorcism, politics, and family, as well as just keeping the plot rolling along?
Having great partners, like the editors at IDW (shoutout to Heather Antos!), makes all the difference. In my opinion, the best horror stories still hold up as great dramas even without the scares. At its core, this is a story about a family navigating change, each member processing it in their own way. By the end, they must come together to overcome their differences, ultimately emerging stronger and more united.
You end in a pretty hopeful place which is surprising for a political thriller, let alone a horror story. How does this represent your feelings towards politics/America? Or is the story the story?
It’s less about political commentary and more about the structure of a haunted house story. Typically, a family moves into what seems like their dream home, only to discover it’s actually a nightmare. I loved the idea of using the most famous house in the world, the White House, as that setting. Like Top Gun: Maverick, we aimed to keep the politics ambiguous, focusing instead on the characters and the eerie atmosphere rather than getting lost in the details of real-world politics.
Still, the final image has encroaching shadows… Is there more to come? The Exorcism At 1601 Penn? Or is it just that there will always be problems in the country?
I always like to leave the door open for more stories, but for now, the Doyles are safe from the clutches of darkness. The real question is… is the White House? And if not, for how long?
The Exorcism at 1600 Penn #4 is on sale now from IDW Publishing.
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