Writer – Stuart Kerr, Ralph Griffith
Artist – Bill Bryan
Letters – Gary Bishop

The final issue of Dark Oz goes out with a bang, almost like the creation of the universe itself. The goblin army has reached Oz and they are what they have become thanks to the Wickedest Witch – a well-oiled killing machine. The first to fall is the Quadlings who have had a change of heart and look to defend Ozma and the land of Oz from the scourge that descends upon it and because of that, they are obliterated. Not long after the rest of the defenders of Oz fall before the horde – Hungry Tiger, Sawhorse, the Gump and even Tik Tok. There lies but one hope in the returning Scarecrow who brings with him the Book of Undo, a mighty tome that has the power to put things right and the only person who can use it is Ozma herself. While she prepares, the Wizard tries his best to hold back the Wickedest Witch, to no avail and after he falls, so too do Scarecrow, Scraps and the Tin Man as if they were but nothing at all. It is a slaughter and it is sad to see but hope does remain in the form of Ozma who has regained her faith and it has made her strong and resolute and gives her the courage to do that which has never been done before. This was, by all accounts, a fantastic issue even if it did end in tragedy and readers do have to wonder just where it is going to go, though an educated guess can be made. When the book ends, all that remains is Ozma, leaving it on a cliffhanger and if a reset is forthcoming after this issue, will Dorothy and Tattypoo remember who they are? As seen in the last issue of the Wonderland miniseries, they were headed back to Oz, so was it before Ozma cast her spell or after? That in itself should make things interesting for if everybody comes back will they or will they not remember what happened previously? There are a lot of questions to be had, Stuart Kerr and Ralph Griffith leaving the book wide open for anything. It was good to see the two complete the first chapter of their story which began way back in the title when it was simply called Oz before it met an untimely end and even better was bringing Bill Bryan along for the ride whose artwork would dazzle not only in this issue but all those before. Bryan would fill this book with many scene-stealing moments, most of them more on the sad side than not and all of it thrilling as the creators of this tale would take readers on a whirlwind of a ride until finally, it came down to a battle of wills and in the end, to the soul of Oz itself – Ozma. Taken all together, this was a great series that promises more and if this book was any measure to go by, that which follows can only be just as good.

5 out of 5