EXCOMMUNICATED #1 / Script by JEREMY ROBINSON / Art by TIAGO PALMA / Colors by MANUEL J. RODRIGUEZ / Letters by JIM CAMPBELL & ANDWORLD DESIGN / Published by VAULT COMICS

Sister Josephine was as faithful a nun as any to be found in Boston. As such, when the priest assigned to her church called her in to assist with an exorcism, she came running. Unfortunately, Father McDonough died in the middle of the ceremony and that was only the start of Sister Josephine’s problems.

While able to banish the demon, the possessed died along with Father McDonough. This would have been bad enough without the issue of there being no record of Father McDonough calling Sister Josephine and the Church needing someone to blame for the two deaths. Soon Sister Josephine is just Josephine and, ironically, depending on the charity of the Church to survive. But she does have one unexpected ally…. the demon she sent back to Hell!

Excommunicated is the sort of comic I think will read far better as a trade than in monthly installments. The summary of the first issue reveals far more of the series’ concept than the actual first issue. The issue actually ends with the demon reaching out to Josephine to establish the partnership teased on the cover and in the early press for the issue.

With that being said, this first chapter is an solid read. Josephine is an engaging hero and the mystery behind how she comes to be excommunicated is interesting. The artwork is suitably spooky and definitively detailed, with varied colors and clear lettering.

I doubt Excommunicated will hold much broad appeal. There is little to recommend it to audiences outside the supernatural horror fandom. Thankfully, genre enthusiasts will find a lot here to enjoy.