Writer – Robert Kanigher, Gardner Fox
Artist – Alex Toth, Gil Kane, Mort Drucker
Inker – Sy Barry, Bernard Sachs

The final issue of Johnny Thunder opens on a gang of outlaws robbing a stagecoach of its fortune in diamonds. Stopping them is the one and only Johnny Thunder, and yet, while he might have caught the outlaws, somebody ambushes him and steals the gems. Having the gang under his thumb means that they could not have done it, but somebody has, and he means to find them. Robert Kanigher and Alex Toth deliver a fun tale to their audience, another reprint from an earlier western adventure, in which Thunder finds himself in the middle of a mystery, albeit one with at least a clue to go on. Soon enough, the perpetrator makes himself known, and Johnny can win the day, albeit with a little help. The Nighthawk appears in a second story, also a reprint, that finds a group of villains thinking they have found a way to outsmart the hero, so they can make off with a fortune in gold and cash. Suffice it to say, these bad guys have a way that makes it seem quite ingenious, but with the Nighthawk being who he is, he figures it out, which puts a wrench in their plans. By the time the story wraps up, there is only one man left standing, and readers can probably guess who that might be. In their last outing, Johnny Thunder and Mesa City are being bombed, under attack by someone looking to take over the town and put the final nail in Thunder’s coffin. The town is taken over quickly, for who can stand up to a cannon, never mind the gang of thugs who accompany it? There is only one man obviously, and he is immediately cut down the second he shows his face. Is that the end of Johnny Thunder? One should know that not everything is as it seems, and one can never count Johnny down for the count. Another great issue of Johnny Thunder that also happens to be its last makes it all the sweeter. Each tale in this book is packed with action, and that is thanks to the incredible writers and artists who participated in their making. Robert Kanigher and Gardner Fox know how to spin a yarn and hook their readers in while artists like Alex Toth, Gil Kane and Mort Drucker make it all look so exciting. One thing each of these stories has in common is that their hero always seems to be on the short end of things. The villains are always thinking they have come out on top, only to discover that what they perceive is not the truth, as the good guys always turn the tables on them. While it would be interesting to see the bad guys come out on top for once, it would make for a very unexciting adventure, and thankfully, the creators of these tales never go there. Fun stuff all around in a much-too-short series.

3.5 out of 5