On Sale Date: September 2008
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Tan Eng Huat
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Jose Villarrubia
Editor: Daniel Ketchum
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Cover Artist: Marko Djurdjevic
Dan Ketch, Johnny's brother and also a former Ghost Rider, was revealed to be an agent of Zadkiel in Ghost Rider (2006) # 23. Blaze last saw Ketch in Ghost Rider: Finale, and has assumed since that he was dead. The story of how Dan became Zadkiel's agent is revealed in Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch (2008) # 1-5.
The library below Caretaker's shed contains books on the histories of each Ghost Rider throughout history. The volumes shown on panel were for Johnny Blaze, Michael Badilino, Noble Kale, Daniel Ketch, and two previously-unseen Riders named Shoba Mirza and Katshiro Koike (presumed, last letters of name are obscured). Of these Riders, Noble Kale hasn't been seen since Ghost Rider: Finale and Shoba Mirza makes her first appearance in Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch (2008) # 1. Michael Badilino appears next in Ghost Rider (2006) # 30, but he is no longer a host for a Spirit of Vengeance.
When Sister Sara absorbs the knowledge of the Caretaker's library, she sees a vision of numerous Ghost Riders throughout history. This includes Dan Ketch from Ghost Rider (1990) # 1, Daimon Hellstrom and Johnny Blaze from Ghost Rider (1973) # 3, Michael Badilino circa Ghost Rider (1990) # 46 and Noble Kale as ruler of Hell from Ghost Rider: Finale.
The Caretaker's caves contained doorways to various mystical places on Earth, including the Florida Everglades (home of the Man-Thing), Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York (where Dan Ketch first became the Spirit of Vengeance in Ghost Rider (1990) # 1), the Quentin Carnival (where Blaze grew up, last seen being burned to the ground in Ghost Rider (2006) # 5) and Tibet.
Blaze actually had one brief prior encounter with Blackout in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 1.
This is the first on-screen appearance of Zadkiel, who was first mentioned in Ghost Rider (2006) # 14.
If anything, I have to give Jason Aaron credit for having balls large enough to tackle the Ghost Rider's origin, considering how convoluted its become over the years. I honestly did not expect this story, as I'd pretty much accepted that Marvel had swept it all under the rug and settled on the "deal with the Devil" origin while ignoring the Noble Kale and Medallion of Power additions. I really wouldn't blame ANY writer for ignoring that mess, but here's Aaron going for it all head-on. My hope, and honestly my expectation, is that when we come out the other side of this run we will have one clear and concise origin for the Ghost Rider. Is it too much to hope for? Maybe. But I think Aaron has it in him. Just look at all of the hints and nods to the past that are contained in this and the previous issue. Noble Kale, Vengeance, the Medallion, Pastor Kale, Salem Fields - all mentioned or alluded to. I was giddy as a schoolgirl while reading through this arc because each page was like a message to old school GR fans saying "it's okay, trust me, the past is not forgotten".
As for the story in this issue, it certainly had a lot going for it at the start. Johnny versus Blackout, the Caretaker's death and passing of the torch, the revelation to Blaze that Danny's still alive - this is one important issue to the overall story, more so in fact that any other in Aaron's short run so far. I do admit to being a bit disappointed in the Blaze/Blackout fight lasting a mere 3 pages, but at least it ended in a wonderfully clever sequence. "You're like the clapper with fangs" had me laughing out loud. Here's hoping that Blackout survives to make a return appearance in Aaron's run, because he writes the character well.
Tan Eng Huat continues as the book's regular penciller, and I'm certainly fine with that. I've been a fan of Huat since his days on Doom Patrol around the turn of the century, and while his work now is much looser and grittier (enhanced, I'm sure, by the color art replacing the traditional inker position) it's still got the same manic energy that he brought to his older work. It's quirky for sure, and I could see some more traditional readers not quite enjoying it (and I even admit to missing Roland Boschi, who I felt was pitch perfect for the book's tone), but I enjoy it nonetheless. He did a knockout job on the reveal of Zadkiel, an important moment considering how much the character has been played up in the past year. A bad visual design could have broken the character, but Huat's work on the last page cements the impact that such a figure like Zadkiel should have.
Overall, I haven't been this excited about reading Ghost Rider since, well, the early 1990s. Jason Aaron came out with both barrels firing in his opening arc, and things are getting deeper as we go along. I can't wait to see where this is heading,
Three years ago, Sister Sara trains as one of the nunchuck nuns of The Sacred Heart Convent for the Sisters of the Holy Sepulcher. In the present, Sara pleads with Johnny Blaze to help her find her grandfather, who she dreamt about despite having never met him. A truck driver that had assaulted Sara puts his hands on her, but she swiftly disables him with her martial arts training. She tells Blaze that her grandfather is the Caretaker of a nearby cemetery, which convinces Johnny to help her. They arrive at the Caretaker's shack that's burning to the ground, and find the Caretaker himself bleeding to death against a headstone. He greets Sara as his granddaughter and thanks her for answering his call after apologizing for leaving her at the Convent as a child for her protection. Sara is the last of his bloodline and must continue his work on Earth. Blaze demands answers about Zarathos, Noble Kale, Zadkiel, and the Medallion of Power; answers that are to be found in the caves beneath the Caretaker's burning shack.
In the catacombs, Dan Ketch and Blackout find a large library containing hundreds of books. Each volume is imprinted with a name of a former Ghost Rider, including Johnny Blaze, Michael Badilino, Noble Kale, and others. Ketch tells Blackout to keep Blaze away from him as he sets fire to the Book of Daniel Ketch. Outside, Blaze asks Caretaker how to get into the tunnels. He's then attacked by Blackout, who slams him through the ground with a stone grave marker. Blackout jumps into the cavern after Blaze, leaving Sara and Caretaker above. He tells Sara that she has to get in the tunnels and stop them before they destroy everything he's worked to preserve; he's dying and she has to be the Caretaker now. She leaves for the tunnels, and the Caretaker finally dies after apologizing to her.
Sara finds the library before the fire completely consumes the books. She touches one of the books, and suddenly the information contained within the library - the knowledge of every Ghost Rider throughout history - floods into her mind. Terrified, she runs into the nearest room and finds a warehouse of guns, knives, shovels, clothing, and motorcycles. Elsewhere, amidst a room of doors that lead to various mystical points on Earth, Blackout and Ghost Rider have their showdown. Blackout causes the lights to go out, but a few moments later the lights turn back on - Blackout is unconscious in Blaze's arms.
Moments later, Blaze, now human again, rides through the burning library. Through the smoke and flame he sees Danny, his long-lost and thought-deceased brother. Before Johnny can catch him, Dan runs through a door labeled "Tibet". Sara stops Blaze from following, saying that all of the answers he seeks about the Ghost Rider are now locked inside her mind. She's the Caretaker now, and if he wants his answers she has to ride with him. Johnny agrees, and the two ride his bike through the door to Tibet.
Meanwhile, the Caretaker awakens in a white room. He is in Heaven, surrounded by a host of angels with black wings. Caretaker says that he and his lies served Heaven and he demands his eternal reward. Zadkiel removes his flaming sword and severs the Caretaker's soul into pieces to scatter to the four corners of Heaven; and wherever he screams will know the name of Zadkiel.
In the catacombs, Dan Ketch and Blackout find a large library containing hundreds of books. Each volume is imprinted with a name of a former Ghost Rider, including Johnny Blaze, Michael Badilino, Noble Kale, and others. Ketch tells Blackout to keep Blaze away from him as he sets fire to the Book of Daniel Ketch. Outside, Blaze asks Caretaker how to get into the tunnels. He's then attacked by Blackout, who slams him through the ground with a stone grave marker. Blackout jumps into the cavern after Blaze, leaving Sara and Caretaker above. He tells Sara that she has to get in the tunnels and stop them before they destroy everything he's worked to preserve; he's dying and she has to be the Caretaker now. She leaves for the tunnels, and the Caretaker finally dies after apologizing to her.
Sara finds the library before the fire completely consumes the books. She touches one of the books, and suddenly the information contained within the library - the knowledge of every Ghost Rider throughout history - floods into her mind. Terrified, she runs into the nearest room and finds a warehouse of guns, knives, shovels, clothing, and motorcycles. Elsewhere, amidst a room of doors that lead to various mystical points on Earth, Blackout and Ghost Rider have their showdown. Blackout causes the lights to go out, but a few moments later the lights turn back on - Blackout is unconscious in Blaze's arms.
Moments later, Blaze, now human again, rides through the burning library. Through the smoke and flame he sees Danny, his long-lost and thought-deceased brother. Before Johnny can catch him, Dan runs through a door labeled "Tibet". Sara stops Blaze from following, saying that all of the answers he seeks about the Ghost Rider are now locked inside her mind. She's the Caretaker now, and if he wants his answers she has to ride with him. Johnny agrees, and the two ride his bike through the door to Tibet.
Meanwhile, the Caretaker awakens in a white room. He is in Heaven, surrounded by a host of angels with black wings. Caretaker says that he and his lies served Heaven and he demands his eternal reward. Zadkiel removes his flaming sword and severs the Caretaker's soul into pieces to scatter to the four corners of Heaven; and wherever he screams will know the name of Zadkiel.
 |
| "And explain the Mephisto/Satan/Lucifer thing, too!" |
THE ROADMAP
Blaze discovered that the Ghost Rider curse was given to him by the angel Zadkiel in Ghost Rider (2006) # 18.
Dan Ketch, Johnny's brother and also a former Ghost Rider, was revealed to be an agent of Zadkiel in Ghost Rider (2006) # 23. Blaze last saw Ketch in Ghost Rider: Finale, and has assumed since that he was dead. The story of how Dan became Zadkiel's agent is revealed in Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch (2008) # 1-5.
The library below Caretaker's shed contains books on the histories of each Ghost Rider throughout history. The volumes shown on panel were for Johnny Blaze, Michael Badilino, Noble Kale, Daniel Ketch, and two previously-unseen Riders named Shoba Mirza and Katshiro Koike (presumed, last letters of name are obscured). Of these Riders, Noble Kale hasn't been seen since Ghost Rider: Finale and Shoba Mirza makes her first appearance in Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch (2008) # 1. Michael Badilino appears next in Ghost Rider (2006) # 30, but he is no longer a host for a Spirit of Vengeance.
When Sister Sara absorbs the knowledge of the Caretaker's library, she sees a vision of numerous Ghost Riders throughout history. This includes Dan Ketch from Ghost Rider (1990) # 1, Daimon Hellstrom and Johnny Blaze from Ghost Rider (1973) # 3, Michael Badilino circa Ghost Rider (1990) # 46 and Noble Kale as ruler of Hell from Ghost Rider: Finale.
The Caretaker's caves contained doorways to various mystical places on Earth, including the Florida Everglades (home of the Man-Thing), Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York (where Dan Ketch first became the Spirit of Vengeance in Ghost Rider (1990) # 1), the Quentin Carnival (where Blaze grew up, last seen being burned to the ground in Ghost Rider (2006) # 5) and Tibet.
Blaze actually had one brief prior encounter with Blackout in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 1.
This is the first on-screen appearance of Zadkiel, who was first mentioned in Ghost Rider (2006) # 14.
CHAIN REACTION
This is the second of a two-part story that serves as a lead-in to the next large story-arc starting next issue.
If anything, I have to give Jason Aaron credit for having balls large enough to tackle the Ghost Rider's origin, considering how convoluted its become over the years. I honestly did not expect this story, as I'd pretty much accepted that Marvel had swept it all under the rug and settled on the "deal with the Devil" origin while ignoring the Noble Kale and Medallion of Power additions. I really wouldn't blame ANY writer for ignoring that mess, but here's Aaron going for it all head-on. My hope, and honestly my expectation, is that when we come out the other side of this run we will have one clear and concise origin for the Ghost Rider. Is it too much to hope for? Maybe. But I think Aaron has it in him. Just look at all of the hints and nods to the past that are contained in this and the previous issue. Noble Kale, Vengeance, the Medallion, Pastor Kale, Salem Fields - all mentioned or alluded to. I was giddy as a schoolgirl while reading through this arc because each page was like a message to old school GR fans saying "it's okay, trust me, the past is not forgotten".
As for the story in this issue, it certainly had a lot going for it at the start. Johnny versus Blackout, the Caretaker's death and passing of the torch, the revelation to Blaze that Danny's still alive - this is one important issue to the overall story, more so in fact that any other in Aaron's short run so far. I do admit to being a bit disappointed in the Blaze/Blackout fight lasting a mere 3 pages, but at least it ended in a wonderfully clever sequence. "You're like the clapper with fangs" had me laughing out loud. Here's hoping that Blackout survives to make a return appearance in Aaron's run, because he writes the character well.
Tan Eng Huat continues as the book's regular penciller, and I'm certainly fine with that. I've been a fan of Huat since his days on Doom Patrol around the turn of the century, and while his work now is much looser and grittier (enhanced, I'm sure, by the color art replacing the traditional inker position) it's still got the same manic energy that he brought to his older work. It's quirky for sure, and I could see some more traditional readers not quite enjoying it (and I even admit to missing Roland Boschi, who I felt was pitch perfect for the book's tone), but I enjoy it nonetheless. He did a knockout job on the reveal of Zadkiel, an important moment considering how much the character has been played up in the past year. A bad visual design could have broken the character, but Huat's work on the last page cements the impact that such a figure like Zadkiel should have.
Overall, I haven't been this excited about reading Ghost Rider since, well, the early 1990s. Jason Aaron came out with both barrels firing in his opening arc, and things are getting deeper as we go along. I can't wait to see where this is heading,
 |
| Wow, that was emasculating. |
No comments:
Post a Comment