The Beast has been amassing a huge fortune to fund a project that applies modern science to alchemy. He wants to transform his soul by witnessing the transformation of base materials into gold. He forces Tot to review the work of Gomez's hunchbacked father to find the errors. If the experiment fails Gomez plans to torture Tot and his own father to death. Vic sneaks into Gomez's fortress disguised as the guard that the woman killed. Once inside he stumbles onto the high tech lab underneath the ancient fortress. Once again he is overcome by hallucinations. The guards bring him before Gomez just as the experiment commences. There is an explosion. Tot witnesses Gomez's transformation. The experience throws the scientist into a coma. They stumble to the home of the woman who Vic saved from the guard where Vic collapses from exhaustion and his injuries. The next thing Vic knows is he is wheeling his catatonic friend onto a plane in Puerto Rico. Vic explains to his unresponsive friend that someone somehow removed his mask and put them on a plane out of Santa Prisca. Months later later Tot snaps out of his coma as Vic tells him about a strange man and his hunchback companion who have been rumored to have been seen helping the people of Santa Prisca.

This issue's recommended reading: Zen and the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams

Also out this month: The Shadow Annual #1...