Artist – Howard Purcell
Inker – Sheldon Moldoff

The Sea Devils are off doing their thing when they encounter a monstrous being, essentially making this just another day of the week. This one differs slightly, though, as they and the creature get sucked down a fissure and then into what looks like a flying saucer. Nicky is somehow left behind, dead or alive, it is unknown, and the question is on everyone’s mind. As for the creature, he too is brought aboard the ship and undergoes a startling transformation, turning from monster to man. They are all taken to a fantastic kingdom ruled by a golden goddess and a woman who is called as such, for she is a magnificent sight, both regal and beautiful. She is painted as a villain by Lucas, the man who was turned into a monster, and she also just so happens to be looking for a mate. That lucky man will rule by her side, but only if he can defeat Valdo, a deadly sea creature. So it is that the Goddess has set her sights upon Dane, and soon a deadly battle takes place beneath the waves between the man and Valdo. There is a moment when it seems Dane might lose, but as the leader of the Devils, one should never count him out, and he perseveres. Howard Purcell and Sheldon Moldoff continue to guide this title through many fantastical adventures, with this latest example being just one of them. They also tend to do a pretty good job of it, and it was quite a lot of fun. Some of the elements within have appeared before, so it did feel a bit repetitive, but overall, it is a solid representation of what this title is all about. The best thing about it all is seeing Nicky save the day in the end, as he does not always get the spotlight, which is more often reserved for Dane. To his credit, Dane does do a lot of the heavy lifting in this issue as the Golden Goddess has set her sights upon him, but she is also wise to his plans of escape, and so as the book moves towards its conclusion, things get a little harder for the leader of the Sea Devils. There is an interesting twist at the end of the tale, one that was a little out of the blue, which made it all the better, and while there is probably no hope for a sequel to this tale, it would be interesting to see whether it is needed or not. Featuring some decent writing, if not more than a little familiar, and some great artwork, this was a reasonably good issue.

3.5 out of 5