Writer – Denny O’Neil
Artist – E.R. Cruz

In this final issue of The Shadow, he faces off against what seems to be pure evil, the kind that comes straight from hell. Is it though? That is the question that Harry Vincent and Margo Lane find staring them straight in the face when they arrive in the town of New Gotham. While the two have been sent there by The Shadow, the reason, whatever that might be, is unknown but they will do whatever it is he needs. As they are confronted by hooded figures, they put up a fight as best they can but they are outmatched and while Harry is left for dead, Margo is taken prisoner. All of this leads to The Shadow who is back in New York looking for the man named Zarnovitch and after a little conversation with a former henchman, it too leads him to New Gotham. Things have taken a turn for the worse it seems as Margo awakens to find herself a sacrifice for Beelzebub unless she swears fealty to him and of course, that is something that she cannot do. Thankfully as readers might guess, The Shadow arrives just in time and while he does his best to take care of things, there are simply too many men against them. Just in the nick of time, Harry shows back up, a little worse for wear but still functional and they all escape back to a local church where the residing priest welcomes them. Soon enough they are attacked once more and awaken to find their lives in the deadliest of perils. Denny O’Neil and E.R. Cruz pull out all the stops on this final issue, packing it full of action and intrigue, though the big reveal was not as surprising as one might have hoped. It is nice to see something a little different in the book too, something other than the usual type of criminal though when it comes down to it all, in the end, they are all guilty of some evil and they must pay for it in one way or another. Also good to see is The Shadow finding himself a little overwhelmed and on the other side where the criminals he hunts usually are. It may not be for very long but it proves that the man is at least slightly vulnerable, something rarely seen when it comes to the character. As for Cruz, the man does an incredible job with the pencils, some of the pages so breathtakingly good that they should be framed and hanging somewhere for all to enjoy. Come to the rest of the story within these pages, one can rightfully guess that The Shadow escapes and wins the day, and the bad guys are routed with Margo and Harry a little worn out but ready for whatever comes next. A solid series where the artwork was usually just a little stronger than the story, including this issue, but one definitely worth seeking out and loving it for all that it is.

4 out of 5