Things have not been going so well for the motley crew that forms the world's first and best line of defence against magical threats. They've saved the universe from the rampaging Spectre and made a splash in the media. They even seem to have outlived the curse that dooms all Shadowpact teams to death and destruction, but now a new threat looks likely to change all that...

Following the Infinite Crisis, which saw Ragman, Nightmaster, Encantress, Blue Devil, Nightshade and Detective Chimp teaming up to take on The Spectre, the living spirit of divine vengeance, the five mismatched heroes - and one hard-drinking chimp - have taken on the burden of policing the world of magic.

The group come under attack from an army of supervillains under the command of master dark magician Doctor Gotham. With half the team incapacitated, will the Shadowpact be able to save an entire city - when Gotham magically causes a volcano to erupt?

When a strange summons brings them head to head (and horns to horns) with an infernal beast bred for battle: Etrigan the Demon! He's waging civil war against Hell, and the Shadowpact is caught in the crossfire - especially Blue Devil, who's been tapped to take the Demon's place in the satanic army.

Will Blue Devil replace Etrigan as Hell's new Crown Prince of Rhyme? Will the rest of the team survive long enough to learn? And can a demon who speaks in verse help to break the Shadowpact curse?

Bill Willingham breathes new life in to the superhero genre, but it may not be to everyone's taste.

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Pete Boomer