The Cape: 1969 has been an action-packed and unusual series from the very beginning, but all throughout there’s been one important question on everyone’s minds: how did the Cape itself come to be? Issue four is the conclusion of the miniseries; it’s got lots of fire, but does it answer the burning question? Here’s the official description from IDW:

One man fueled by grief after the murder of his son, another fueled by dark magic and revenge—both headed towards a final confrontation that will settle the score once and for all. Watch the world burn in this shocking conclusion to The Cape: 1969.

Jason Ciaramella‘s writing takes a surprising and unfortunate downturn with this final issue. Last month we saw a darker side of Chase’s personality emerge as a side effect of his new powers, and one would expect to get some explanation for that. Ciaramella does include an introspective scene, where Chase considers this new aspect of himself, and we see a montage from the Witch Man’s life, but there’s no clear explanation and it’s hard to tell what’s going on. The other major question, how little Eric actually gets the magic cape, is also answered, but perfunctorily, at the very end. Ciaramella did a great job of  making The Cape: 1969 functional as its own series, but he really did the job too well: a closer tie to the sequel would have been nice.

Nelson Daniel‘s range as an artist is astounding. I’ve commented in previous reviews that I love the weightless quality he gives Chase and the Witch Man when they’re flying, and that’s still present. It’s further accentuated when Chase comes to rest in a tree that seems tpo spindly to bear his weight. On the other hand, Daniel draws one of the most bloody disgusting panels I’ve seen in a book this year. It’s shocking. There is one confusing panel, however, when Chase is shot in the leg. It looks particularly painful; the angle makes it appear he’s been hit in the crotch. Only in a later panel can you tell it’s actually his leg.

High expectations for this conclusion to The Cape: 1969 may be disappointed, but the writing is serviceable and the art makes me wish I, too, could fly, regardless of the consequences.

 3/5