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

Like many things throughout The Phantom’s long tenure, whether it be villains or promises or what have one, they usually come back at some point and in this particular case, it is the word given by the Ghost Who Walks to protect some endangered apes. As it does most often, it all begins in the past as some poachers are looking to line their pockets and while some aim to stop them, they are no match for the evil that resides within the poachers. Thankfully, The Phantom is there to stop them and send their leader to prison, though not before a little tragedy. Cut to the present day and once again, poachers are looking to make their mark and one of them is that very same man who went to prison all those years ago. Not only is he looking to bury some apes, he is looking to bury those who were responsible for his imprisonment including The Phantom if he is lucky enough to get his hands on him. Luke McDonnell cannot be praised enough for his very emotive pencils, the man is able to express the deepest of emotions by what he puts down on the page. One could almost read this story without dialogue and be able to fully understand what is going on throughout, so good a job does McDonnell do. That being said, there is a script to accompany all this and it is by none other than Mark Verheiden once more and the man proves to be just as integral a part of this book as The Phantom is. Like many a tale of The Phantom, it features man as the villain, as it should be for that is what caused the first Phantom to take up the mantle, and though one might think it starts to get a little long in the tooth, it never does. There are many facets to mankind as its cruelty and evil can reach infinite depths and Verheiden intends to plunge into them to tell these stories much to the joy of readers everywhere. Even better is when The Phantom delivers his brand of justice upon these evildoers and he does so here, protecting both an innocent woman and the apes in her charge on the preserve. Sadly, it is not the happiest of endings but it is a good one and one cannot help but sit on the edge of their seat waiting to see what happens even though one could most probably guess. Another great book from a fantastic series.

4 out of 5