On Sale Date: July 2017
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Tigh Walker
Letterer: VC's Clayton Clowes
Colorist: Felipe Sobreiro
Assistant Editor: Allison Stock
Editor: Devin Lewis
Executive Editor: Nick Lowe
Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso
Cover Artist: Francesco Mattina
Host Rider technically made his first appearance on the "Venomized" variant cover of Ghost Rider (2016) # 5 by Dustin Weaver.
CHAIN REACTION
Simon Spurrier is a writer that I have a lot of time for, and most of his Ghost Rider related projects have turned out to be amazingly fun and interesting rides. He was the writer responsible for the delightfully depressing "Danny Ketch: Addict" mini-series a long time back, so he definitely knows his way around the Ghost Rider lore. This one-shot focuses on Robbie Reyes, though the host is really inconsequential to the story outside of the visual of Robbie's demonic muscle car. The actual plot of this comic is pretty inconsequential as well to be honest, it's a set-up for an action sequence with an exposition payoff at the end. That's all well and good, it gives the reader plenty of action while still explaining the character's premise as clearly as possible. Unfortunately, and it feels strange saying this about a Spurrier comic, it's the details that hold this comic back from being really great.
The convoy attack is filled with throwaway cannon fodder ideas, such as rocket monkeys and motorcycle zombies, and it just all feels like Spurrier is trying to hard to throw funny ideas at the wall. In a lot of instances that approach works and at least some of the ideas work, but this time not a single one sticks outside of the "well, that's random" reaction. The worse offense is the "Octosquatchpool", this grotesque mash-up of Deadpool, Sasquatch, and Doctor Octopus that the writer seems to find way funnier that it actualy is. Once the comic moves past all of that nonsense and gets to the confrontation between Zabo and Host Rider, the comic improves dramatically. I wasn't really sold on the idea of a Ghost Rider/Venom hybrid initially, other than a cool visual I didn't think there was much to the idea, but I really loved how Spurrier described the amalgamation of the two and the way it has enslaved Robbie Reyes.
Another positive thing this comic has in its corner is the artwork by Tigh Walker, who produces some really amazing visuals throughout the action sequences. In particular, the Host Rider's interactions with his victims, especially the end splash with Zabo getting the "Penance Kiss" is great. Host Rider seems to kind of prance and preen around as he talks with Zabo, and the visuals clearly show the delight the Rider gets in tormenting his victims with small talk before going in for the kill. Walker's artwork does look pretty busy in places, but I think it actually adds to the overall chaos of the comic, providing frenetic visuals for a frenetic story.
I still don't care much for Venomverse as a concept, and it's a shame that Host Rider goes on to the main event series to essentially be a background character. I think if I were more of a Venom fan I'd be more excited about all of this, but at least as a cross with Ghost Rider this individual story works pretty well. Recommended.
On an alternate Earth different from the established Marvel Universe, a group of SHIELD agents are preparing to transport super-villain mad scientist Calvin Zabo to a new facility via convoy. As they make their way through the city, the SHIELD vehicles are attacked by an army of men and monsters, all wanting their piece of the treacherous Zabo. Before SHIELD is overrun, the Ghost Rider arrives, now seemingly fused with the Venom symbiote, to take out all of the attackers. The battle results in the convoy being destroyed, with only one SHIELD agent left standing to keep Zabo in custody. The "Host Rider", as he calls himself, swats the agent away and confronts Zabo, who hints at a secret plan. Host Rider explains that he knows all about Zabo's deal with Crossbones, who spread word of the convoy to all of Zabo's enemies with plans to rescue the mad scientist in the confusion...but the Rider got to Crossbones first. Host Rider tells Zabo about how Robbie Reyes found himself possessed by two creatures, the demonic spirit and the alien symbiote, and the two together have taken complete control of Reyes' body. He grabs Zabo and gives him the "Penance Kiss", which sucks out the villain's soul for the Rider's nourishment. Suddenly, Host Rider finds himself transported to a strange city, where he's confronted by a Venomized Captain America.
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| Nothing can stop that tongue! |
THE ROADMAP
Host Rider goes on to make minor appearances in the Venomverse limited series before being killed by Carnage in Venomverse # 3.
Host Rider technically made his first appearance on the "Venomized" variant cover of Ghost Rider (2016) # 5 by Dustin Weaver.
CHAIN REACTION
Venom is a character that's experiencing a bizarre uptick in popularity lately and I'm not sure why. It reminds me a lot of when Deadpool exploded in popularity about a decade ago, the reasons behind it are mysterious and strange. Maybe Venom is tapping into some peculiar part of the zeitgeist and I'm too behind on trends to recognize that? Whatever reason, all the attention on Venom led to the "Venomverse" event from late last year, which was a spiritual sequel to the "Spider-Verse" crossover. In a nutshell, lots of characters are shown under the possession of the Venom symbiote, pulled from their respective alternate realities to take part in some grander dimension-hopping plot. The "Edge" mini-series was the prequel to the main event, with each issue showcasing a different "Venomized" character. This third issue focused on "Host Rider", which fused Venom with the Robbie Reyes incarnation of Ghost Rider.
Simon Spurrier is a writer that I have a lot of time for, and most of his Ghost Rider related projects have turned out to be amazingly fun and interesting rides. He was the writer responsible for the delightfully depressing "Danny Ketch: Addict" mini-series a long time back, so he definitely knows his way around the Ghost Rider lore. This one-shot focuses on Robbie Reyes, though the host is really inconsequential to the story outside of the visual of Robbie's demonic muscle car. The actual plot of this comic is pretty inconsequential as well to be honest, it's a set-up for an action sequence with an exposition payoff at the end. That's all well and good, it gives the reader plenty of action while still explaining the character's premise as clearly as possible. Unfortunately, and it feels strange saying this about a Spurrier comic, it's the details that hold this comic back from being really great.
The convoy attack is filled with throwaway cannon fodder ideas, such as rocket monkeys and motorcycle zombies, and it just all feels like Spurrier is trying to hard to throw funny ideas at the wall. In a lot of instances that approach works and at least some of the ideas work, but this time not a single one sticks outside of the "well, that's random" reaction. The worse offense is the "Octosquatchpool", this grotesque mash-up of Deadpool, Sasquatch, and Doctor Octopus that the writer seems to find way funnier that it actualy is. Once the comic moves past all of that nonsense and gets to the confrontation between Zabo and Host Rider, the comic improves dramatically. I wasn't really sold on the idea of a Ghost Rider/Venom hybrid initially, other than a cool visual I didn't think there was much to the idea, but I really loved how Spurrier described the amalgamation of the two and the way it has enslaved Robbie Reyes.
Another positive thing this comic has in its corner is the artwork by Tigh Walker, who produces some really amazing visuals throughout the action sequences. In particular, the Host Rider's interactions with his victims, especially the end splash with Zabo getting the "Penance Kiss" is great. Host Rider seems to kind of prance and preen around as he talks with Zabo, and the visuals clearly show the delight the Rider gets in tormenting his victims with small talk before going in for the kill. Walker's artwork does look pretty busy in places, but I think it actually adds to the overall chaos of the comic, providing frenetic visuals for a frenetic story.
I still don't care much for Venomverse as a concept, and it's a shame that Host Rider goes on to the main event series to essentially be a background character. I think if I were more of a Venom fan I'd be more excited about all of this, but at least as a cross with Ghost Rider this individual story works pretty well. Recommended.
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| Gotta keep it fed! |
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