 |
| Cover Artist: Paris Karounos |
Original Price: N/A
Title: "Transformation"
Writer: Chris Cooper
Artist: Paris Karounos
Inker: Derek Fisher
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Jim Hoston
Editor: Glenn Herdling
SYNOPSIS
Talk radio star Russ Armtree is telling his New York City audience to "rise up" against the "scum that's holding America down". Suddenly, the lights in his studio go off and Armtree is killed. The show's new host, speaking with "the word of Zarathos", tells the listeners that Russ was right - they need to destroy.
Dan Ketch rides through the city while its gripped in an insane riot with half the population attacking the other half for no reason. Dan sees a group of insane rioters assaulting a young woman, and he crashes his motorcycle through the crowd to stop them. The rioters advance on the crashed Ketch, but he's able to transform into Ghost Rider in time to save his own life. Ghost Rider gives one of the rioters his Penance Stare, which causes her to reveal that a voice on the radio is what's caused them to go crazy. Ghost Rider uses his chain links to incapacitate the other rioters, determined to find out who is causing the madness and stop them.
ANNOTATIONS
This mini-comic was the first in a series packaged with Toy Biz's line of Ghost Rider action figures. This issue came with the Transforming Ghost Rider/Danny Ketch figure.
There's really no place to fit this series into established continuity. It obviously takes place after "Siege of Darkness" and Ghost Rider (1990) # 50, but the relationships between Ghost Rider, Blaze, and Vengeance certainly don't fit the characters at the time.
The identity of the radio show announcer that kills Russ Armtree is revealed to Blackout in Ghost Rider Special Edition (1995) # 4.
REVIEW
This is the first issue in the series of mini-comics that tied in with the Ghost Rider action figure line, and it does its job of introducing the character to new readers well.
There's really not much to say about this comic, considering its only 6 pages long. That doesn't give much room for a good story to develop, but that's not really the point of this comic, is it? If anything, its purpose is to get the kids that buy the action figures to get a sample of the comics as well. In that respect, its successful, as it gives an abbreviated showing of what the character was about in the regular comic series.
Chris Cooper, besides being one of the editors of the Midnight Sons titles, seemed to be Marvel's go-to-guy for the few Ghost Rider tie-in comics that the company produced for their toy division. At least they went with a writer that knew the established back story, given his involvement with "Siege of Darkness", and not someone else unconnected to the regular books. Of course, making these comics (and the toys, for that matter) a sequel of sorts to "Siege of Darkness" is a problem in itself given the reader reaction to that crossover. The Midnight Sons books had moved away from the "Siege" type stories by 1995 as well. But complaining about stuff like this is a moot point; they were trying to sell toys, not produce compelling literature.
These mini-comics are the only place I've seen artwork by Paris Karounos, and he has a nice handle on Ghost Rider. The size format doesn't do the artwork any favors, though, and I wonder how it would look at normal comic size. I especially like the shot of Ghost Rider giving his Penance Stare, with his eyes becoming more round with the energy radiating outward. Nice stuff.
I doubt many current readers have seen these mini-comics and tracking them down now outside of buying the toys is nigh impossible. I'd imagine they'd fetch a hefty price tag if you did find them, though, and they're certainly not worth it unless you're a hardcore, diehard Ghost Rider fan.
Grade: B-
No comments:
Post a Comment