‘Touched by a Demon’ Review: Good Intentions, Terrible Results

There’s a whole genre of feel-good TV about someone swooping in to fix a stranger’s life. Now picture that someone with horns, a questionable résumé, and absolutely no idea what he’s doing. I just finished all four issues of Touched by a Demon, and I didn’t expect something this cute to be this twisted, or this much fun.

The One-Woman Show Behind the Demon

Touched by a Demon is written and drawn by Kristen Gudsnuk, the creator of Henchgirl and Making Friends, so this is a true solo project. Making Friends was an IndieBound bestseller and a YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens pick, and iZombie creator Chris Roberson called this new series extremely funny and super smart.

What Is Touched by a Demon About?

Think of the old TV drama Touched by an Angel, but with a demon whose idea of helping people tends to wreck their lives, even though his heart is in the right place. Bifrons is a low-level demon who is tired of tormenting souls in Hell and misses the days when he lived in Heaven, so he opens a life coaching business in the mortal realm, hoping enough good deeds will earn him a second chance from God. His assistant Zuzu and a damned soul named Elaine are along for the ride, and the question hanging over all of it is whether a creature of evil can really change its nature.

Cute Art, Twisted Spirit

I’ll start with the art, because it’s very cute and charming, and it makes the whole book feel inviting even when the story turns dark. I also love the concept: a demon who decides to help humans through life coaching instead of torturing their souls. The very first client sets the tone perfectly, a girl whose home life is a lot worse than it first looks, and the way her case wraps up made me laugh out loud. I was curious whether the series could keep the humor, the charm, and that little twisted spirit going once the surprise of the setup wore off. It could, and then some.

Each Case Gets Stranger

The cases keep going wrong in the best way. The demons bring a new member onto the team (and make sure she keeps their secret), there’s a spirit possessing a smart speaker in the office that had me cracking up, and Bifrons has conversations with a priest, Father Angelo, that I could have read a lot more of. Some of the cases are a bit dark, but they’re always humorous, and the book never loses its warmth.

Then there’s the wish-granting case, which is a true “wtf” moment. An office worker is offered five wishes, things get very weird very fast (one scene had me asking out loud what was happening), and before long a detective is asking questions about a missing family. I have never read anything like it, and I mean that as a compliment.

Good as It Lasted

I enjoyed the final chapter too, and honestly, I would have happily read more. But it was good as it lasted, and the good news is that Gudsnuk has said she has plenty of ideas for a second installment. Until then, the trade paperback is out October 13, 2026, so it’s easy to read the whole thing in one sitting if you missed the single issues.

More Dark Horse Books We’ve Reviewed

If Touched by a Demon worked for you, we’ve reviewed a few more Dark Horse books worth a look. The Guy in the Chair is a spy thriller about a tactical analyst in love with the field operative he supports. The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos follows a teenage mad scientist who discovers a world of monsters, heroes, and a cult of hunters. And Let This One Be a Devil digs into the legend of the Jersey Devil in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.

FAQ

Is Touched by a Demon worth reading? Yes, especially if you like dark comedy with a very cute face and a lot of heart.

Do you need to read anything before Touched by a Demon? No. It’s a standalone four-issue series.

Who is making Touched by a Demon? Kristen Gudsnuk writes and draws the series.

Is Touched by a Demon a one-shot, miniseries, or ongoing series? It’s a four-issue miniseries, running from January to May 2026.

When is the trade paperback out? The collected edition is out October 13, 2026, at 112 pages for $19.99.