The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace started off with a bit of a slow burn, methodically diving into the pressures of taking up a crown, dealing with alcoholism, and being haunted by a family curse. Hannah Rose May and Kelsey Ramsay ramp up the horrors in the second issue, starting by showing the demon that haunts Theo Belmont. I mean “demon” in the literal sense; while the first issue could be passed off by using demons as metaphors for the alcoholism that Theo’s been struggling with, The Exorcism at Buckinham Palace #2 flat out confirms the man is being haunted by something.
That something has yet to reveal its name, but Ramsay doesn’t hold back on how terrifying this demon is. Under her pencils, it takes the form of a writhing mass of shadows and tentacles, hovering above Theo’s head. To really hammer home the horror factor, Heather Breckel uses a shift in her color palette that slowly drains the surroundings of vibrancy whenever the demon arrives. Add in some truly gnarly lettering from Jodie Troutman, and you have a figure that’ll haunt your nightmares.
The art team doesn’t wait to scare the viewers, opting to open the issue with a dream sequence that quickly turns nightmarish as the demon invades. Ramsay, Breckel, and Troutman essentially create the comic book version of a jump scare, and it works. It also leads to another element of Ramsay’s work that I appreciate: the facial expressions. Once Theo catapults out of his nightmares, his eyes are wide open with terror, and sweat is sliding down his skin. Another sequence features the Prime Minister with his head bowed, as he contemplates his next course of action following the sinking of a royal vessel; it shows how power weighs on those who wield it.
IDW
In addition to its gripping art, The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace #2 features a compelling story courtesy of May. She’s not only willing to dial up the horror, but also continues to play into the family dynamics within Buckingham Palace. It turns out that Theo isn’t the only royal haunted by this demon, or the only one with health issues, but while he has his wife, Lydia, to lean on, the rest of his family isn’t as lucky. May also continues to have a handle on how the pressures of media can build people up or utterly rip them down, as an interview gone wrong leads to the demon sinking its claws deeper into Theo. It’s been a fixture of her work, and she sells it in a way that feels all too real.
May also forges the strongest link to The Exorcism at 1600 Penn with this issue. Again, you don’t have to have read that series to enjoy this one, but this issue raises all sorts of possibilities. What other demons are out there, and what historical landmarks are they haunting? I’d love to see what May has in store, especially as the idea of traveling the world to fight demons has fueled many a comic.
The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace #2 doesn’t let up on the horror, fully introducing the demon plaguing the royal family and hinting at a larger world to explore. As a guy who often shirks away from horror films, I’m fully hypnotized by this series.
The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace #2 will be available wherever comics are sold on April 29, 2026.
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