The Exorcism at 1600 Penn
What happens when 
the leader of a major political superpower is compromised? What if a supernatural evil possesses someone who has control of our nation’s military or its nuclear weapons? In a world that’s already fraught with political tension, such a story might be considered either utterly taboo or absolutely necessary to discuss, but The Exorcism at 1600 Penn doesn’t wade too deeply into our current political morass; rather, writer Hanna Rose May and illustrator Vanesa Del Rey chose not to reinvent the demonic wheel in this straight-up story of possession that happens to take place at one of the most famous and powerful addresses in our country.
The story opens with Kelly Doyle finding her feet as the first female elected as President of the United States, which means her husband and children, teenage siblings Mara and Kevin, must also adjust Soon, Mara begins displaying some odd behaviors that can initially be chalked up to adjusting to a new school but soon become not only a source of concern for the family but a political concern for Kelly. Soon, Kevin and the rest of the family discover the truth; a demon has gotten into Mara and it sees destroying Kelly’s family as its mission until it realizes that Kelly’s office means it can spread human misery (and even violent destruction) on a much larger scale.
Fans of possession tales will be very familiar with the plot structure here: a person who seems well-adjusted starts behaving strangely, then that behavior escalates until the harried family, seemingly at their wits end, must accept that something supernaturally evil has entered that person. May’s story, however, adds an interesting wrinkle by adding the pressure of occupying the White House. For daughter Mara, it means dealing with the pressure of being a member of the First Family, and the bullying it engenders, which creates the right mindset for something demonic to enter. For mother Kelly, it means watching her daughter’s condition worsen while trying to handle an international crisis and her falling approval ratings. Having this situation happen to the first family also raises the stakes when said demon begins plotting to possess Kelly who, once again, controls the nation’s nuclear weapons.
Possession films like The Exorcist and Paranormal Activity aren’t known for their bright colors and Del Rey’s illustrations set the proper tone for this slow burn horror story. Apart from the characters looking like they stepped from a 14th century woodcutting page before dressing in modern clothes, the colors are very muted, save for angrier colors like red. The result is, while not necessarily looking realistic, a palette and overall appearance that doesn’t disturb the brooding atmosphere of the overall story. This art style also allows the demon, when it finally reveals itself, to be both unreal and real enough to appear threatening. Even the Capitol Building, which usually appears in illustrations and photographs a pristine white, is an ashy gray, which in itself might be a political statement.
Overall, the book is less politically charged and more demonically charged. It shows some element of political intrigue, but at its heart, it’s a story about well-meaning good people battling demonic forces. Adult readers who want a richly done demonic possession tale should check this book out, but they shouldn’t expect anything close to political satire.
The Exorcism at 1600 Penn
By Hannah Rose May
Art by Vanesa Del Rey
IDW, 2025
ISBN: 9798887243177
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Creator Representation:Â Irish,
