The Exorcism at 1600 Penn is a great story about a haunting/possession in the White House. It's really creepy. It's interesting to see how someone has to deal with being president and a haunting at the same time. It shows what someone would do for their family. It's a different concept and it works. Horror fans will enjoy this graphic novel.

A bizarrely creative premise grounded in gifted illustrations and a riproaringly adventurous plot makes this well-done graphic novel magnetic and compelling, and quite likely apropos in light of our currently divisive Society. Well worth the reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.

I absolutely love horror comics and this one did not disappoint. I loved the original storyline and the writing; I just wasn't a huge fan of the art, which is just my preference.

This fast paced horror comic had my heart pounding. The storytelling was well done, the artwork was stunning and the comic as a whole was scary enough to spike my anxiety.

Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed the story for the most part. First, while this book centers around 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the publisher blurb does not tell the whole story. The book’s focus is on the teenage children of the first female POTUS. She is featured, but much off the story revolves around the teens.

Second, I have read a fair number of graphic novels and the artwork is just–weird. It’s physically dark, which I would expect from a horror novel, but there’s all sorts of weird shading. It was also hard to see expressions on the faces because of the weird drawing. Someone else suggested that the artwork was touched up with AI, which would make sense. There are some really great panels by other artists that are clear and don’t have the weird shadowing feature, and I enjoyed those immensely.

I did enjoy the political tension in the novel, as the president has to balance work and home while dealing with a blustering, power hungry senator who wants to start WWIII. Yeah, that doesn’t seem very realistic, does it? (Sarcasm font enabled.) Despite my misgivings with this ARC, I would still recommend it if I knew the artwork was corrected for the general release.

Curious concept and premise.
The first woman president of the US has a difficult job. Not only because she is the leader of a country. Also because….
Father Reid was an interesting character.
Moody comic. highly recommend.
3.5 stars.

A solid read. I enjoyed the narrative quite a bit, it’s too bad that the artwork is so dark towards the end that it’s tough to make out what’s going on.

A refreshing take on the possession trope. Told through a unique scenario this was surprising and fun to read. A definite recommended read for all fans of The Exorcist.

If the title of Hannah Rose May and Vanesa Del Rey's latest series, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, doesn’t grab your attention, the story inside certainly will. This supernatural horror comic thrillingly blends chilling political themes with the classic horror elements. May and Rey, two of comics' finest talents, deliver a truly unexpected horror that had me hooked from the outset.

Kelly Doyle has just been elected the first woman president of the United States of America, and boiling political tension could spill over at any second. Having to balance being a mother to two teenagers and navigating the shifting media landscape, all while preventing World War III, has Kelly spread thin, but she could never predict that the nation's hallowed halls would soon become a demonic battleground for good versus evil.

The timing of the original release of the four-issue miniseries might scare you away, but what lies inside the pages of The Exorcism at 1600 Penn is more supernatural horror than a traditional political tale...which with the current political climate was a relief. The First Family must navigate the challenges of public life while also facing demonic forces lurking within the White House. This unique blend adds an exciting and unexpected element to the comic. This story takes a surprising twist on political drama.

As we continued through the four-chapter story, we see elements of horror and political drama as expected, but we really dive into the family dynamics as the First Family adjusts to life in the White House–balancing caring for her daughter while it also being a possible threat to National security. Life in the public eye of being the first family as well as running a country is likely horrifying enough without having to worry about what supernatural forces may be at work. The balance of exploring the President's family and dealing with what lurks in the shadows is well executed.

The pacing throughout The Exorcism at 1600 Penn is wonderfully crafted, building tension slowly before delivering impactful moments that leave me edge. This emotional and thrilling story really captivated me as a fan of horror and political fiction (yes, I just watched the entirety of West Wing). Fitting directly in my wheelhouse, I looked forward to each page turn with anticipation and suspense. It's a fresh take on both genres that I wasn't really asking for, but somehow fell in love with along the way.

Each chapter has its own high moments, but the culmination in the fourth installment truly sent the story home. A tension and emotion-filled climax that made the entire journey worth the ride. While I said before the pacing was spot on, the ending did feel a bit fast, but not enough to take away from the overall story.

With a tale as good as The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, it definitely wouldn't have been nearly as good without the illustrations of Del Rey. Vanesa's gritty artwork enhances the eerie atmosphere of the story, allowing me to understand this story was more than a straight forward political fiction and we are in for an immersive ride. The tones are dark and the artwork can be chaotic at times, just like life in a horror story based in the White House. The visual elements such as the use of texting adds so much to the overall reading experience.

I was hooked after the premiere issue of The Exorcism at 1600 Penn and satisfied the feeling I felt from the outset carried throughout the entire story. Hannah Rose May and Vanesa Del Rey have created a gripping tale that defies genre conventions with its blend of political drama and supernatural horror. This miniseries showcases the kind of innovative storytelling that sets creator-owned comics apart from mainstream titles, more of what we want to see coming from outstanding publishers like IDW Publishing.

*The Exorcism at 1600 Penn* is basically *The West Wing* meets *The Exorcist*, with a dash of *Mom, I’m Scared!* Kelly Doyle, the first female president, already has enough on her plate-running the country, raising two teens, and preventing World War III. But then the White House decides to throw demons into the mix. Because, sure, why not?

The setup is killer (literally), and the book takes its time letting the horror creep in, making you wonder if the supernatural stuff is real or just stress-induced paranoia—until things get very, very real. The moody, almost sketch-like art by Vanessa Del Rey adds to the unease, and the mix of politics, family drama, and full-blown demonic chaos keeps things interesting. The ending doesn’t land as hard as it could, but it’s still a solid, eerie read. If you like your horror with a side of presidential panic, give it a shot.

So creepy. I love the art style though. The use of lines and colours to portray the story. I did find this one a bit harder to read in terms of smaller dialogue (using a mobile phone) but overall good graphic novel.

Prepare for the security clearance briefing like you've never seen!

The Exorcism at 1600 Penn is a unique and fresh take on the possession genre at one of the most iconic locations in history. This slow-burn horror graphic novel is sure to take readers on a journey that they won't soon forget. From briefing rooms to media rooms to the heart of the Catholic church, this book travels around to solve the ever-looming mystery of what the President of the United States is currently facing with her family. It's adventurous and grand in scale, and at times, I struggled to grasp it because I felt somewhat lost, but those details returned in force as needed, and the end of this story was genuinely written at the next level.

The illustrations in this story are also superb. They are disturbing and creepy in a way that elevates the plot!

Perfect for fans of Chucky (TV Series), Paradise, and the Exorcist!

I don't know much about comic books/graphic novels as this is only the first one I've ever read in full, but I enjoyed this one for what it was. I wasn't expecting the like... weird Christian nationalism (yeah, 'merica, thank you, Jesus, amen) undertone at the end, but I guess I should have seen it coming since it was about the US president's daughter getting possessed by a demon. That may have just been me reading into things a little too much, though. I was a bit confused by the artwork, and thrown off by the inconsistency of how the characters were drawn; one other reviewer on Goodreads suggested that maybe they attempted to touch up the artwork with AI, and I think that would make sense.

This was a super fun book. I liked how it incorporated paranormal and more realistic horror due to the nature of presidency. I wish it was longer!

This would be a great VHS movie! The phenomenal Irish author Hannah Rose May co-oping with the talented Cuban born artist Vanessa Del Rey used an iconic setting to bring fresh blood into the worn-out possession genre. America's first female president struggles to raise her adolescent daughter and son alongside her leadership duties, while facing a formidable threat on both the worldly and otherworldly stage.

I liked the slow plot-building and the family-centredness of the characters as they listened and looked after each other. There is a lot of text, but it helped me to consider the content to be serious and realistic. Vanessa Del Rey's distinctive drawing style (as if it were all done with charcoal pencil instead of the usual ink, with dark and solid color schemes predominating) set the mood of grim menace. I liked that the demonic presence was questionable for a long time. It could have been taken as a mere hallucination of the character (until the actual possession happened) - the pressure on the President and her daughter at the doorstep of world war three could understandably have triggered it. However, the supernatural is real in the world of this graphic novel, so eventually a very exciting blend of political thriller, family drama and infernal horror emerged. The ending hit less than I expected, but they still made a great, rich content to fill the playtime.

Thanks to the author and Netgalley, I read an advanced reading copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the art work that was used, although with the watermarking some of it was hard to make out. Totally understand the necessity, but it definitely affected being able to pick up on some of those important details – especially for the spooky stuff. The story line was great. I loved the world building and the set up!
Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication.

This was a great graphic novel. The intertwining of possession and politics made it even more interesting than I thought and overall it was a great storyline. I loved the art style used and think it went really well with the story.

Prepare for the security clearance briefing like you've never seen!

The Exorcism at 1600 Penn is a unique and fresh take on the possession genre at one of the most iconic locations in history. This slow-burn horror graphic novel is sure to take readers on a journey that they won't soon forget. From briefing rooms to media rooms to the heart of the Catholic church, this book travels around to solve the ever-looming mystery of what the President of the United States is currently facing with her family. It's adventurous and grand in scale, and at times, I struggled to grasp it because I felt somewhat lost, but those details returned in force as needed, and the end of this story was genuinely written at the next level.

The illustrations in this story are also superb. They are disturbing and creepy in a way that elevates the plot!

Perfect for fans of Chucky (TV Series), Paradise, and the Exorcist!

The world building and plot is good, I unfortunately couldn’t get over how so many characters can resemble caricatures at times though.

This comic delivers an intriguing twist on the exorcism genre by weaving in politics and demons within the White House. The plot balances dark supernatural elements with sharp political commentary, creating an unusual but effective backdrop for the story. The characters, especially the brother (Thank you for not being an annoying sibling this time), keeps the narrative engaging, and the setting of the presidential residence adds a level of tension and mystery. However, the art style feels a bit inconsistent. While the demons are depicted with a hauntingly impressive flair, the human faces can often look strange, detracting from the emotional weight of the story and I couldn't tell what the fuck was happening sometimes.

The conclusion offers a bit too much of a "fix everything with a bow" vibe, making the political and supernatural tension feel deflated. Despite these flaws, the comic is still a fun, unique read, with an intriguing mix of horror, politics, and the supernatural that keeps you invested but it's not quite great sadly.