When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee #1

When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee #1

by Gus Moreno, Jakub Rebelka (artist)

Father Barrera is a disgraced priest, haunted by his part in the tragic death of a child. As penance, he is exiled to the remote South American town of Puerto Cristina to apprentice under the enigmatic Father Stygian, controversial exorcist.
Exorcists are normally trained in the Vatican, but Stygian has his own way of handling demons… methods that predate even the Church. And unfortunately for Barrera, Stygian’s last apprentice committed suicide not long ago.
As Barrera seeks to unlock the mysteries of Stygian’s strange practices, he uncovers an island rife with evil and supernatural phenomena.
What do these possessions mean, and how are they connected to a mysterious hospital patient, one who's been in a coma for nearly half a century without aging a single day…
Rising star author Gus Moreno, whose debut novel This Thing Between Us was awarded a “Best Book of 2021” recognition by NPR, joins forces with visionary artist Jakub Rebelka (Cyberpunk) for a mesmerizing and thrilling descent into Hell itself.

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

Gus Moreno is the author of This Thing Between Us (MCD Books). His stories have appeared in Aurealis, Pseudopod, Bluestem Magazine, LitroNy, and the Burnt Tongues anthology. Some of his favorite books are American Psycho, Battle Royale, and Under the Skin. Some of his favorite writers are Margaret Atwood, Lucia Berlin, and Amy Hempel. He likes denim jackets, professional wrestling, neighborhood pizza, and anything by The xx. He lives in the suburbs with his wife and dogs, but never think that he's not from Chicago for one second.

Reviews

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just the beginning of a series- this has potential!

[maciemelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arts insane, writings insane, very good

[Machiavelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee #1 is dark, moody, and dripping with atmosphere. It’s definitely a slow burn—lots of setup, hints of bigger, stranger things coming, and a vibe that feels equal parts noir and nightmare.

The pacing might not be for everyone, but I really like how it leans into the unsettling mood instead of rushing the story. The art is a huge highlight—twisted, layered, and full of creepy little details that stick with you after you put it down.

Not a ton actually happens yet, but I’m hooked enough by the vibe and the promise of some unholy revenge to stick around and see where this goes. If you’re into slow, haunting setups with a bit of a pulp horror edge, this is one to keep an eye on. Heard good things about this so will be continuing and hopefully this leans in more and tempo picks up or build pays off. 3.5 stars

[Mosaic]

Don’t really have a rating yet. Just read it to see what kind of comic Gus Moreno would write. The art style is really weird. I like the wide shots a lot. Really expressive.

[Austin Feydt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It did its job! I’m immediately intrigued and INNNN

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww yes. An old exorcist training up a new one who appears to have killed a baby during a baptism. Better than his old assistant who killed himself. Can’t wait for the next volume.