UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA #4 (SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT/IMAGE COMICS)

The thrilling conclusion of this rendition of the timeless horror classic is upon us. As the “Ghost” has taken Christine to his unground lair. It is up to Inspector Dubert to save her and bring the “Ghost” to justice. Will the “Ghost” face the music of the night, or will Christine pass the point of no return?

Universal Monsters: Phantom of the Opera #4 - Written By Tyler Boss - Art By Martin Simmonds - Letters By Becca Carey - Edited By Alex Antone - Published By Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics

Credit: Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

Christine follows her angel underground to his humble abode. Once down in the “Ghost’s” home, he reveals to her that he wants her to stay with him forever. He has even prepared a room for her and is willing to fill it with any comforts she needs. Meanwhile, Inspector Dubert along with Anatole discovers the secret door behind the mirror in Christine’s dressing room. They follow the stairs underground in search of Christine. Christine gets upset because she doesn’t want to live in this underground bunker, not even with her angel. She discovers and uncovers who the “Ghost” really is, and he is far closer to her than she could’ve ever realized. Now that the Inspector and Anatole have joined the party, how will this new revelation affect how this story plays out?

WRITING:

This final issue puts a punctuation point on this wonderful series. Tyler Boss tales this timeless classic and breathes a modern feeling into it, well still keeping it grounded in its roots. The finale plays out like the classic musical in the beginning, but morphs into something new and very intriguing quickly. The reveal of who the “Ghost” actually is will catch everyone by surprise but is a welcome and logical addition to this classic tale. Boss really messes with the fans of this classic as they will think the story is following suit before switching and becoming something new. This swerve ending is fantastic and really sets this version of the story apart from all the other renditions.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this issue is striking and perfectly matches the story’s tone. Martin Simmonds uses watercolor techniques to create a captivating, slightly eerie atmosphere on every page. The visuals capture the story’s period setting while adding a haunting sense of mystery. This strong visual style pulls readers in and keeps them engaged throughout. The artwork in this series has been stunning, and this final issue follows suit. The artwork will surely land Simmonds some nominations for best art in a lot of year end award shows, including the Fanlight’s.

Check Out My Review of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA #3

Final Thoughts:

Universal Monsters: Phantom of the Opera #4 finishes up this new take of a legendary tale. The series has been fantastic and full of a lot of deviations from the source material while still paying proper homage. This new and original ending is just the icing on the cake and makes this version stand apart from all others. Couple that with some of the best artwork of the year and you have a must-have addition for anyone’s collection.

FINAL GRADE: 9.5/10

Let me know your thoughts on Universal Monsters: Phantom of the Opera #4 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!