Writer – Robert Kanigher
Artist – Russ Heath

A stranger knocks on the door and when greeted, offers up prints of ancient divers performing amazing feats. The Sea Devils are curious for diving is their bread and butter. Each of them, starting with Biff, takes a look at the prints and in turn, every one of them gets sucked into what is happening on the page, almost as if it were real. It is so real in fact, it is hard to think it is not and each of them finds themselves in peril until a moment’s respite sends them back to the present with none of the other Devils the wiser. As mentioned, it begins with Biff when he discovers himself fighting an underwater gladiator. After dispatching his opponent, he is brought onboard an ancient barge to face none other than Cleopatra. She exacts a promise from him to fight for her after which she promises to be his. If it is a dream, it is a magnificent one until he is pulled back to his life with nobody else having experienced it. When it is Judy’s turn to inspect the prints, she is out on the ocean where she encounters the mythical sirens, putting a stop to their most dangerous song and saving Ulysses from drowning. Her adventure is short comparatively and she is brought back to the present by looking into a mirror where it comes time for Nicky to take a turn. It only takes but a moment and he is soon tied to the prow of a sunken ship, an idol come to life who bewitches a mermaid. The mermaid is infatuated and wants Nicky to be hers for all time, much to his chagrin. Soon he is in a battle for his life against a rival suitor and while he is victorious the first time, he must fight again and it is not for the love of one mermaid lass but for all of them. Thankfully, he comes to with it all seeming like a dream and now it is only Dane who has yet to experience anything. Suffice it to say, author Robert Kanigher is not going to let him sit anything out so Dane must prepare himself and fast as a giant flame-headed beast is set to make short work of him and the rest of the Devils. Thankfully, Dane has always been a quick thinker for he figures out a way to take care of the monster before it can take care of them. Kanigher crafts a feature-length tale packed with action and more than enough fun to keep any reader entertained. It would have been nice to see Judy’s tale last a bit longer than it was, for hers might have been the most interesting had it been given room to breathe. As it is, Biff’s story featuring Cleopatra was the best of the bunch as it not only featured some great action scenes but also packed in a bit of drama and mystery in the form of Cleopatra. Would she have taken Biff as her consort or was it all a ruse to make him do as she wished? Altogether, this was a fantastic issue with some incredible artwork from the one and only Russ Heath who had his work cut out for him and yet managed to deliver on every front.

4 out of 5