Purgatori Must Die, the latest Dynamite series to star the ancient vampire-demon, debuts in January with a star-studded list of cameos, including an appearance from Evil Ernie.
CBR can exclusively reveal a preview of Issue #1, written by Ray Fawkes (Batman Eternal, Constantine, Black Hammer) and illustrated by Alvaro Sarraseca (Carmine, Turok, Vampirella vs. Purgatori). The preview not only shows Purgatori getting into her usual gore-filled antics, but also shows a glimpse at the pantheon of deities appearing in Purgatori Must Die. Additionally, Evil Ernie appears as a seemingly comatose corpse in the trunk of a car -- until Hermes tosses the killer his trademark smiley face pin, transforming him into his usual psychotic undead form.
"The gods have put a price on Purgatori's head!," reads Dynamite's description of the series. "Purgatori's always pissing somebody off -- but this time she may have gone too far! It may have some connection to her growing insanely powerful and probably starting to kill and eat the gods. In fact, that last part for sure. And gods are like potato chips, right? It's not like she's going to stop at one. And so, the various pantheons have pooled their not-inconsiderable resources to offer up a big prize to whatever psycho manages to kill her. Who wants to try? Hey, who doesn't?! The creative team behind Vampirella Vs. Purgatori and the recent Purgatori miniseries reunite for the grand third act of this Purgatori saga! Guest-starring Evil Ernie, Vampirella, the Sacred Six... and more!"
Purgatori's Past Adventures
Purgatori Must Die serves as the third chapter in a trilogy, following 2021's Vampirella vs. Purgatori -- a series that saw both characters becoming reluctant "besties" -- and Purgatori: Witches Get Stitches, where the titular vampire found herself up against a coven of five witches. "Everything I've ever written about Purgatori has been building to this story -- the ultimate, no-holds-barred war that she's been itching for over two thousand years," Fawkes said of Purgatori Must Die. "Now it’s finally happening! If she's gotta go, you know she’s gonna go out with a bang!"
Originally created by Brian Pulido and Steven Hughes, Purgatori first debuted in 1994's Evil Ernie: Revenge #1, which was published by the now-defunct Chaos! Comics. Dynamite acquired the rights to publish Purgatori in 2010, and began publishing Evil Ernie comics two years later. The latter character recently celebrated his 30th anniversary with a new five-issue penned by Scott Lobdell (Red Hood and the Outlaws, Teen Titans, X-Men) in 2021.
Purgatori Must Die #1 comes from Fawkes and Sarraseca, with colors by Salvatore Aiala and letters by Tom Napolitano. The issue boasts covers by Collette Turner, Joseph Michael Linser, Antonio Fuso, Sarraseca, Blank Authentix and a cosplay variant by Rachel Hollon. It goes on sale in January.
Source: Dynamite Entertainment