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| Cover Artist: Francesco Mattina |
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Title: "Civil War 2099", Part 2
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Will Sliney
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Editor: Charles Beacham
Senior Editor: Mark Paniccia
Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso
SYNOPSIS
Spider-Man has returned to the year 2099 in search of his friend, the Captain America of 2099, and has been captured by Public Eye officer Jake Gallows. Spider-Man remembers him as the Punisher, but Gallows has no idea what Spider-Man is talking about. Dragging him through the air, tied to the back of his flying cycle, Gallows shocks Spider-Man when the hero refuses to stop asking questions. Suddenly, Gallows is attacked by Zero Cochrane, the Ghost Rider of 2099. Zero knocks Gallows and his vehicle to the ground and, with Spider-Man's assistance, knocks Jake unconscious. When a horde of Public Eye officers are seen approaching, Ghost Rider becomes excited at the opportunity to kill more of them. Spider-Man manages to convince Zero that they can just leave, but for a moment Zero considers attacking Spider-Man himself.
The two fly away on Ghost Rider's hoverbike, and as they evade the Public Eye Zero explains to Spider-Man about the Anti-Powers Act, which has outlawed all super-powered individuals. Captain America learns the same from Ravage in a local bar, before he takes her to meet some of his fellow underground heroes. Ghost Rider drops Spider-Man off at the home of Dr. Strange, but Zero departs, stating Strange "creeps me out". Spider-Man connects with Dr. Strange and her allies, Daredevil and Moon Knight, who are planning to take on the CEO of Alchemax. Meanwhile, the CEO has sent for his best operatives to track down the renegade heroes, the now-adult Power Pack.
The two fly away on Ghost Rider's hoverbike, and as they evade the Public Eye Zero explains to Spider-Man about the Anti-Powers Act, which has outlawed all super-powered individuals. Captain America learns the same from Ravage in a local bar, before he takes her to meet some of his fellow underground heroes. Ghost Rider drops Spider-Man off at the home of Dr. Strange, but Zero departs, stating Strange "creeps me out". Spider-Man connects with Dr. Strange and her allies, Daredevil and Moon Knight, who are planning to take on the CEO of Alchemax. Meanwhile, the CEO has sent for his best operatives to track down the renegade heroes, the now-adult Power Pack.
ANNOTATIONS
This issue is a tie-in to the "Civil War II" crossover event.
Zero Cochrane, the Ghost Rider of 2099, last appeared in Ghost Rider 2099 (1994) # 25 from 1996. He appeared as a digital entity in 2099: Manifest Destiny # 1 from 1998, but his appearance here seems to be from a time period pre-dating that issue. Spider-Man notes that several things about the 2099 timeline has changed, so the Manifest Destiny one-shot may no longer be in continuity.
Alternate reality versions of Zero Cochrane appeared in 2099/2009: Timestorm # 2-4 and in Ghost Racers (2015) # 2-4.
Zero Cochrane, the Ghost Rider of 2099, last appeared in Ghost Rider 2099 (1994) # 25 from 1996. He appeared as a digital entity in 2099: Manifest Destiny # 1 from 1998, but his appearance here seems to be from a time period pre-dating that issue. Spider-Man notes that several things about the 2099 timeline has changed, so the Manifest Destiny one-shot may no longer be in continuity.
Alternate reality versions of Zero Cochrane appeared in 2099/2009: Timestorm # 2-4 and in Ghost Racers (2015) # 2-4.
REVIEW
Ghost Rider 2099, the genuine article this time and not an alternate reality counterpart, makes his first re-appearance in 20 years.
I'm generally a fan of Peter David, his work on X-Factor and Incredible Hulk were at worst entertaining and at best phenomenal. Similarly, his work on the original Spider-Man 2099 series from the early 1990s was part of what made the 2099 sub-line of titles so interesting. Unfortunately, and I'm not sure why, but his work on this new Spider-Man 2099 series just fall flat for me. Everything about this comic is thoroughly generic, with nothing truly exciting going on other than the familiar faces popping in to bring up the 2099 nostalgia. The dialogue reads as forced, such as the back-and-forth between S-Man and Strange about his new costume ("Do you like it?" "No." "I don't care.") and the characters are all about as interesting as cardboard. None of them have personalities outside of "super-hero" and it makes the comic really, really dull to read.
Still, it IS nice to see Ghost Rider 2099 again, though even he seems...off in this appearance. I suppose it's because the character's creator, Len Kaminski, gave Zero such a distinct personality and voice that having another writer attempt to capture it just doesn't do him justice. There are still some signs of the old Zero shining through, such as when Spider-Man realizes his savior was seriously considering taking him out as well, simply because he didn't want to fight the Public Eye.
The artwork on this series doesn't really thrill me, either. Will Sliney, whose work I don't think I've encountered before, is a perfectly serviceable super-hero comic artist. There's nothing wrong with his artwork at all, other than it being a bit dull. There's no dynamism to his work, everything looks very static and lifeless. Also, whoever made the decision to change Spider-Man's costume to the horrid outfit he has on in this series made a major mistake. Sliney does a decent job on Ghost Rider, though, so there is that.
As much as this wasn't a BAD comic, it certainly was a disappointment. I'd hoped for better results for Ghost Rider 2099, but maybe his re-appearance here will see him show up again elsewhere (though I wouldn't bet money on it).
I'm generally a fan of Peter David, his work on X-Factor and Incredible Hulk were at worst entertaining and at best phenomenal. Similarly, his work on the original Spider-Man 2099 series from the early 1990s was part of what made the 2099 sub-line of titles so interesting. Unfortunately, and I'm not sure why, but his work on this new Spider-Man 2099 series just fall flat for me. Everything about this comic is thoroughly generic, with nothing truly exciting going on other than the familiar faces popping in to bring up the 2099 nostalgia. The dialogue reads as forced, such as the back-and-forth between S-Man and Strange about his new costume ("Do you like it?" "No." "I don't care.") and the characters are all about as interesting as cardboard. None of them have personalities outside of "super-hero" and it makes the comic really, really dull to read.
Still, it IS nice to see Ghost Rider 2099 again, though even he seems...off in this appearance. I suppose it's because the character's creator, Len Kaminski, gave Zero such a distinct personality and voice that having another writer attempt to capture it just doesn't do him justice. There are still some signs of the old Zero shining through, such as when Spider-Man realizes his savior was seriously considering taking him out as well, simply because he didn't want to fight the Public Eye.
The artwork on this series doesn't really thrill me, either. Will Sliney, whose work I don't think I've encountered before, is a perfectly serviceable super-hero comic artist. There's nothing wrong with his artwork at all, other than it being a bit dull. There's no dynamism to his work, everything looks very static and lifeless. Also, whoever made the decision to change Spider-Man's costume to the horrid outfit he has on in this series made a major mistake. Sliney does a decent job on Ghost Rider, though, so there is that.
As much as this wasn't a BAD comic, it certainly was a disappointment. I'd hoped for better results for Ghost Rider 2099, but maybe his re-appearance here will see him show up again elsewhere (though I wouldn't bet money on it).
Grade: C
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