Horror Strikes the First Family
The Exorcism at 1600 Penn is a tale of supernatural horror wrapped inside a political thriller and family drama. In less skilled hands, this could become a convoluted mishmash. Fortunately, Hannah Rose May’s script, aided by Vanesa R. Del Rey’s art and colors by Jordie Bellaire, deftly weaves these themes together in an emotionally gripping narrative.
The story centers on the Doyle family: Kelly, who is the first female President of the United States, her husband Eric, and their two teenage children Kevin and Mar.
They are a close-knit family. Despite their squabbling, the two siblings are supportive of each other. Their personalities, however, are quite distinct. Kevin, the eldest, is outgoing and quick to make friends. He’s so anxious to fit in that he’s easily led astray by scheming classmates. In contrast, Mar is aloof and keeps to herself. She’s sensitive to negative feedback about her family and doomscrolls through streams of hateful comments about her mother’s presidency.
The family is plunged into a world of rising tensions. The children attend a new Catholic school, where they are the center of attention and scrutiny. Kevin relishes the limelight. Mar despises it.
In the Oval Office, their mother faces a raft of challenges. A conservative Senator seeks political advantage by attacking President Doyle. Government agents are suffering from the mysterious Havana Syndrome, creating both a governmental threat and a political crisis. President Doyle is constantly juggling her duty to her office and the responsibilities of parenthood. The press hounds her about everything from her administration’s policies to her personal issues.
Against this background of roiling tensions, things go further off the rails as supernatural forces intensify the horrors of the real world.
Mar begins to have seizures with no apparent medical explanation. Is she suffering from psychological stress or has the mysterious Havana Syndrome invaded the White House? Or is something else at play, something otherworldly? Kevin worries a sacrilegious practical joke he was goaded into performing is causing his sister to be punished for his misdeed.
This complex story works because the characters are so well established. The slow burn of the story’s first act draws the reader into their lives and amplifies the impact of the horrors that follow. With strong characters and authentic dialog, the confluence of real world threats with supernatural forces makes a provocative tale of terror.
The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, 128 pages. Available August 19, 2025 from IDW Publishing.
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