In Review: The Phantom VS. The Singh Brotherhood #1

Synopsis: THE PHANTOM WALKS. EVIL DIES. It’s all come down to this—The Phantom vs. Arif Singh and his Brotherhood! After the Brotherhood’s failed attack on Bangalla, Singh was all set to rot in prison. But concrete walls cannot stop the man who controls one of the most notorious criminal enterprises in…

The Story

Picking up after the events of The Phantom vs. the Red Dragons, Kit Walker has returned to Skull Mountain, where he ponders recent events and considers what to do about Asif Singh, who appears to have consolidated a significant power base from inside prison.

Various members of the Brotherhood have been allowing themselves to be captured, almost as though they actually want to go to prison. When Asif broadcasts a video showing him and his fellow prisoners executing a fake Phantom, Kit gears up as the Ghost Who Walks and heads to the prison to put a stop to him.

To enter undetected, the Phantom uses a network of tunnels built by a former prisoner who used them to escape. This allows him to gain the element of surprise, overpower Asif’s men and taunt the crime boss into believing that the Phantom truly is the Ghost Who Walks rather than a flesh-and-blood human being.

The Phantom then orders Asif to stand down, warning him that the Brotherhood will not be happy that his actions have exposed them as weak.

Artwork

Russell Olson does a fantastic job with the artwork in this book. While the action sequences are handled brilliantly, they were not the highlight for me. The standout moments are the panels in which the Phantom corners Asif and uses a degree of trickery to frighten him. The fear etched across Asif’s face is brilliantly rendered, creating a truly compelling image.

Overall

Another exciting slice of pulp goodness from Mad Cave Studios.