Writer – Mark Verheiden
Artist – Luke McDonnell
Colours – Anthony Tollin
Letters – Bob Pinaha

On a day like any other, Kit and Diana are enjoying a day to themselves when a shadow passes over Kit and his mood turns. Diana thinks it strange and wonders what it can be when she is enlightened by Guran who proceeds to tell her a story of The Phantom’s past and the evil that comes with greed. Mark Verheiden and Luke McDonnell take readers back a few years and to another country where The Phantom has been sent to bring a son home for his father. The son is searching for gold and wealth and what he perceives to be a better life, something his father knows is foolish yet is a lesson he was unable to impart upon his boy. Once there, The Phantom finds those whose lives are ruled by desire, a need for more than they currently have and for most of these people, it is something always out of reach. As it is, The Phantom is here for one thing and one thing only and yet, that is going to be considerably harder to accomplish than he originally thought. Standing in his way is a man who needs help, the thugs who are looking to bury said man and who also aim to eat up every gold claim in the area for their corporate masters. Gold it seems, brings out the worst in quite a few people and The Phantom is going to have to teach some of these people a lesson before he leaves with his quarry, should he be able to leave at all. Verheiden crafts a fine story, packed with action and emotion as The Ghost Who Walks looks to save a life before it is too late. In the end, he might not have been able to rescue the boy he was sent for, but he did manage to turn things around for another which was great to see. Feeling as guilty as he does in the present day is a little sad as he still made a difference despite the loss. McDonnell draws each and every page as well as ever and he continues to prove he was the perfect choice to chronicle the events that take place in this title. Also good to see was The Phantom in action as he takes his own brand of justice to those who look to hurt, maim and kill those weaker than them. As for Diana, she may not have understood things at first but slowly, one day at a time, she begins to learn just who Kit is right now and what the burden of having to bear the mantle of The Phantom brings with it. Really good stuff when all is said and done.

4 out of 5