Cover Date: March 2009
On Sale Date: January 2009
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Javier Saltares
Inker: Tom Palmer
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Dan Brown
Editor: Daniel Ketchum
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
On Sale Date: January 2009
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Javier Saltares
Inker: Tom Palmer
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Dan Brown
Editor: Daniel Ketchum
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Cover Artist: Clint Langly
Danny and Eleven arrive at his apartment, where they find Shoba Mirza - the Hindu woman that was also a Spirit of Vengeance - convulsing on the floor while her hellfire blazes out of control. Eleven explains that Shoba escaped from Verminous Rex but now her power is overwhelming her, causing her to overdose. The only way to keep her soul from being devoured is for Dan to leech her power away, which Shoba begs him to do. Dan absorbs Mirza's power, which kills her, but he is only able to hold it in with the help of Zadkiel restricting the power's flow. When the ordeal is over, Eleven congratulates Danny on his new career for life, which prompts Ketch to demand answers about who he's really working for. Eleven explains that Zadkiel was there when the Spirits were first sent out and was there when the first overdose happened. The war in Heaven doesn't matter to them, what's important is the Ghost Rider hosts who need to be saved from themselves before their souls are destroyed forever. This job has now fallen to Danny, who realizes that by accepting the job he'd have access to as many free doses of power that he wants.
Dan and Eleven re-enter the dimensional tunnels, with Shoba's memories telling them where to find Verminous. They enter the nest and find Verminous Rex transformed into a giant-sized Spirit of Vengeance, surrounded by his rat-creatures. Ketch attacks Rex, but finds that he doesn't have enough power to defeat him. Dan loses his power before Rex can drain it from him, causing Verminous to toss him aside as worthless. Danny tells Eleven that he doesn't need another dose, he needs full control of the power if he's to have any hope of beating Rex. Eleven contacts his boss, who agrees to the conditions - Danny explodes with hellfire, transforming him into a vastly more powerful Ghost Rider.
Daniel Ketch was last seen in Peter Parker: Spider-Man (1990) # 93, where he merged with his ancestor Noble Kale to once again become the Ghost Rider. Dan's brother Johnny Blaze subsequently became the Spirit of Vengeance's host in Ghost Rider (2001) # 1 and Danny had seemingly disappeared.
Daniel finally reappeared as an agent of Zadkiel in Ghost Rider (2006) # 23. Though that issue was published several months before, it actually takes place after the Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch mini-series.
Mister Eleven first appeared in Ghost Rider (2006) Annual # 1.
Verminous Rex first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 89 and made his last appearance as one of Blackheart's false “Spirits of Vengeance” in Ghost Rider: Finale.
More of the present day Spirits of Vengeance from around the world are introduced in Ghost Rider (2006) # 30, and the history of the Spirits in America is told in Ghost Rider (2006) # 33.
The idea of the Ghost Riders taking control and driving their hosts insane is not a new one, as this is exactly what happened to Michael Badilino, who as Vengeance went mad and eventually committed suicide in Ghost Rider (1990) # 76.
First thing this review, let's talk about the artwork. In the reviews for the previous issues, I wasn't a huge fan of the Saltares/Palmer team. In fact, I've never been much of a fan of Tom Palmer in general, as he has a tendency to overpower the pencils of the artists he works with, which causes them all to look nearly identical. However, with this fourth issue I have to say that the art team is finally starting to click for me. Not only is it better than their work on the earlier "Danny Ketch" issues, but it's far and above the work they did at the tail-end of Daniel Way's run on the ongoing series. The work in this issue has a grittiness that a story like this deserves, with everything sort of filtered through a dark, distorted lens. My absolute favorite panel of the issue is the reveal of Verminous Rex, which melds rat-creature with Spirit of Vengeance in such a way that it's terrifying.
Story-wise, Simon Spurrier is continuing the downfall of poor Danny Ketch, throwing the kid ever further down the spiral of addiction. While I still think Spurrier went a little too heavy-handed with the drug addiction angle in earlier issues, this issue hits all the right notes by allowing Danny to be something other than pathetic for once. Yes, he's collapsed in a parking garage whilst detoxing, but Danny still hasn't lost his smarts; as pointed out by Eleven's narration, Ketch immediately realizes that he's about to get all the power he wants. Even with Shoba Mirza dying in his living room, he immediately jumps to "dosing up" before he even considers helping the girl.
While Mary LeBow doesn't get as much screen-time this issue, the other supporting character - Mister Eleven - continues his job as narrator. Just like with Mary, I've come to really like Eleven during this series (he's so much more interesting than he was in the Annual that introduced him, that's for sure) and the contrast between what he tells Danny and what he tells the readers. We already know that things are going to end badly for Ketch, so Spurrier correctly makes the journey as interesting as the end point. Also, something I failed to mention in last issue's review is how happy I was to see Verminous Rex make a new appearance. Not long ago I would never have guessed that villains created at the end of Ivan Velez's run on the 1990s series would ever appear again, but then we get both Verminous Rex AND Doghead making comebacks in the same year. Wonder how long it will take for Pao Fu and Wallow to show up?
So, the "Danny Ketch" book is one of those rare mini-series that actually gets better and more interesting with each new issue. There's just one issue to go and it's promising a huge throwdown. I can't wait!
Night after night, Danny Ketch and the crow Mister Eleven search the tunnels beneath a parking garage for any sign of Verminous Rex. Despite slaying numerous rat-creatures, Danny is unable to find any trace of Rex. While they hunt at night, Eleven leaves Dan to rest during the day; but when Mary LeBow tracks Dan to the parking garage she finds him going through withdrawals while waiting for his next "fix". Despite his protests, Mary drags Danny to a diner where she tries to talk to him about Eleven. When Dan says that he knows he's working for Heaven, Mary replies that she's learned that Heaven is under siege. At that moment, Eleven crashes through the window and tells Danny that they have to leave right then. Dan apologizes to Mary and leaves with the crow.
Danny and Eleven arrive at his apartment, where they find Shoba Mirza - the Hindu woman that was also a Spirit of Vengeance - convulsing on the floor while her hellfire blazes out of control. Eleven explains that Shoba escaped from Verminous Rex but now her power is overwhelming her, causing her to overdose. The only way to keep her soul from being devoured is for Dan to leech her power away, which Shoba begs him to do. Dan absorbs Mirza's power, which kills her, but he is only able to hold it in with the help of Zadkiel restricting the power's flow. When the ordeal is over, Eleven congratulates Danny on his new career for life, which prompts Ketch to demand answers about who he's really working for. Eleven explains that Zadkiel was there when the Spirits were first sent out and was there when the first overdose happened. The war in Heaven doesn't matter to them, what's important is the Ghost Rider hosts who need to be saved from themselves before their souls are destroyed forever. This job has now fallen to Danny, who realizes that by accepting the job he'd have access to as many free doses of power that he wants.
Dan and Eleven re-enter the dimensional tunnels, with Shoba's memories telling them where to find Verminous. They enter the nest and find Verminous Rex transformed into a giant-sized Spirit of Vengeance, surrounded by his rat-creatures. Ketch attacks Rex, but finds that he doesn't have enough power to defeat him. Dan loses his power before Rex can drain it from him, causing Verminous to toss him aside as worthless. Danny tells Eleven that he doesn't need another dose, he needs full control of the power if he's to have any hope of beating Rex. Eleven contacts his boss, who agrees to the conditions - Danny explodes with hellfire, transforming him into a vastly more powerful Ghost Rider.
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| Not ominous at all, right? |
THE ROADMAP
This mini-series takes place between Ghost Rider (2006) Annual # 1 and Ghost Rider (2006) # 20.
Daniel Ketch was last seen in Peter Parker: Spider-Man (1990) # 93, where he merged with his ancestor Noble Kale to once again become the Ghost Rider. Dan's brother Johnny Blaze subsequently became the Spirit of Vengeance's host in Ghost Rider (2001) # 1 and Danny had seemingly disappeared.
Daniel finally reappeared as an agent of Zadkiel in Ghost Rider (2006) # 23. Though that issue was published several months before, it actually takes place after the Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch mini-series.
Mister Eleven first appeared in Ghost Rider (2006) Annual # 1.
Verminous Rex first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 89 and made his last appearance as one of Blackheart's false “Spirits of Vengeance” in Ghost Rider: Finale.
More of the present day Spirits of Vengeance from around the world are introduced in Ghost Rider (2006) # 30, and the history of the Spirits in America is told in Ghost Rider (2006) # 33.
The idea of the Ghost Riders taking control and driving their hosts insane is not a new one, as this is exactly what happened to Michael Badilino, who as Vengeance went mad and eventually committed suicide in Ghost Rider (1990) # 76.
CHAIN REACTION
The "Danny Ketch" mini-series is coming to a close with this penultimate issue that furthers the corruption of the former Ghost Rider.
First thing this review, let's talk about the artwork. In the reviews for the previous issues, I wasn't a huge fan of the Saltares/Palmer team. In fact, I've never been much of a fan of Tom Palmer in general, as he has a tendency to overpower the pencils of the artists he works with, which causes them all to look nearly identical. However, with this fourth issue I have to say that the art team is finally starting to click for me. Not only is it better than their work on the earlier "Danny Ketch" issues, but it's far and above the work they did at the tail-end of Daniel Way's run on the ongoing series. The work in this issue has a grittiness that a story like this deserves, with everything sort of filtered through a dark, distorted lens. My absolute favorite panel of the issue is the reveal of Verminous Rex, which melds rat-creature with Spirit of Vengeance in such a way that it's terrifying.
Story-wise, Simon Spurrier is continuing the downfall of poor Danny Ketch, throwing the kid ever further down the spiral of addiction. While I still think Spurrier went a little too heavy-handed with the drug addiction angle in earlier issues, this issue hits all the right notes by allowing Danny to be something other than pathetic for once. Yes, he's collapsed in a parking garage whilst detoxing, but Danny still hasn't lost his smarts; as pointed out by Eleven's narration, Ketch immediately realizes that he's about to get all the power he wants. Even with Shoba Mirza dying in his living room, he immediately jumps to "dosing up" before he even considers helping the girl.
While Mary LeBow doesn't get as much screen-time this issue, the other supporting character - Mister Eleven - continues his job as narrator. Just like with Mary, I've come to really like Eleven during this series (he's so much more interesting than he was in the Annual that introduced him, that's for sure) and the contrast between what he tells Danny and what he tells the readers. We already know that things are going to end badly for Ketch, so Spurrier correctly makes the journey as interesting as the end point. Also, something I failed to mention in last issue's review is how happy I was to see Verminous Rex make a new appearance. Not long ago I would never have guessed that villains created at the end of Ivan Velez's run on the 1990s series would ever appear again, but then we get both Verminous Rex AND Doghead making comebacks in the same year. Wonder how long it will take for Pao Fu and Wallow to show up?
So, the "Danny Ketch" book is one of those rare mini-series that actually gets better and more interesting with each new issue. There's just one issue to go and it's promising a huge throwdown. I can't wait!
 |
| Grim n' gritty Micky Mouse! |
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