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| Cover Art: Salvador Larroca |
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Title: "Ghost Rider In Chains, Part 1: The Black Hole"
Writer: Howard Mackie
Artist: Salvador Larroca
Inker: Sergio Melia
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Kevin Somers
Editor: Bobbie Chase
SYNOPSIS
After his capture by SHIELD, Ghost Rider is taken to a facility called the Black Hole, which is run by the government agent known as Spook. Upon delivery to the Hole, the Rider attempts a brave attempt at escape. The attempt is short-lived, however, as the Spook's men quickly recapture him. Meanwhile, Stacy Dolan gets into a bar fight that's broken up by her commander, Ski, who wants to help her with whatever has been bothering her since they captured the Ghost Rider
Back at the Black Hole, Spook confers with the Hole's two top scientists, Dr. Keene and the android Dr. Wright. During their conversation, it's revealed the the Black Hole also houses several of the Ghost Rider's enemies, including Skinner and the Scarecrow. Keene decides that the best way to examine the Rider is to suit up and take a look for herself.
In the void, the Rider and Dan have a conversation about how the two cannot continue to battle one another over their co-existence. Dan gives full control back over to the Rider in order to escape, resulting in GR taking Dr. Keene hostage. This escape attempt doesn't last long either, as the Rider is blasted continuously by the guards. Unable to keep hold in this world, GR unwilling triggers the transformation, leaving a defenseless Dan at the scientists' mercy.
Back at the Black Hole, Spook confers with the Hole's two top scientists, Dr. Keene and the android Dr. Wright. During their conversation, it's revealed the the Black Hole also houses several of the Ghost Rider's enemies, including Skinner and the Scarecrow. Keene decides that the best way to examine the Rider is to suit up and take a look for herself.
In the void, the Rider and Dan have a conversation about how the two cannot continue to battle one another over their co-existence. Dan gives full control back over to the Rider in order to escape, resulting in GR taking Dr. Keene hostage. This escape attempt doesn't last long either, as the Rider is blasted continuously by the guards. Unable to keep hold in this world, GR unwilling triggers the transformation, leaving a defenseless Dan at the scientists' mercy.
ANNOTATIONS
Stacy Dolan learned that Dan and Ghost Rider are the same person in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 18. She was offered a position in the Ghost Rider Task Force (called "The Team" starting in this issue) in Ghost Rider (1990) # 56 and she accepted in Ghost Rider (1990) # 57.
The Black Hole also has many of Ghost Rider's enemies imprisoned, including Skinner (last seen in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 14), Snowblind (last seen and presume dead in Ghost Rider (1990) # 24), Scarecrow (last seen in Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme (1988) # 61), Rak, and Dread (both last seen in Ghost Rider (1990) # 61).
REVIEW
Mackie and Larroca follow up "Betrayals" with another major 4-part storyline that continues this title's return to form.
It might not be an obvious path to explore but science fiction was about the only avenue that the Mackie Ghost Rider series had yet to travel down, having started as urban crime and unwisely spiraling into mystical "horror". The series had successfully transitioned into a more superhero oriented action series in the lead up to "Betrayals", which brought new life into what had become a pretty dull exercise in convoluted crossovers and magical demon fighting. "In Chains", which begins here, feels like Mackie's attempt to do a Weapon X type of story for Ghost Rider, and it works really well. This is an area that should clash up hard against the Ghost Rider aesthetic, but instead it throws both the character and the readers into the deep end of this hard sci-fi background in such a way that it creates an increasingly isolated experience as the issue goes on.
The series had become so strangled by its bloated supporting cast, full of Midnight Sons and Blood and extended family, that finally cutting Ghost Rider and Danny off from them is a really effective way to get straight to the issue's tense backdrop. Honestly, in most storylines so far there's not been a whole lot of doubt as to how Ghost Rider was going to win, but this one actually makes you fear for the characters. The Black Hole as a setting, with all of its technological torture devices juxtaposed against the body horror of the prisoners, is claustrophobic and alien for a series usually set against concrete or cemeteries.
Not surprisingly, Salvador Larroca is right at home with all of this. He's been a fantastic addition to the series, getting better and better with each issue, but he was never a good fit for the horror or urban grime of previous years. That, I imagine, is likely part of why the series moved on to focus more on superhero action, which played directly to Larroca's strength. This issue, though, really leans in hard on the things he definitely excels at drawing, lots of technology and guys in armor shooting guns. Ghost Rider remains consistently good looking throughout, and Larroca absolutely nails the character's desperation as he attempts escape again and again.
"In Chains" is off to a really great start and will remain a consistently good arc that gets chopped off at the knees right at the end by editorial interference (of which I'll talk about more when we get there). It's not as emotionally powerful as "Betrayals", but still definitely worth your time.
It might not be an obvious path to explore but science fiction was about the only avenue that the Mackie Ghost Rider series had yet to travel down, having started as urban crime and unwisely spiraling into mystical "horror". The series had successfully transitioned into a more superhero oriented action series in the lead up to "Betrayals", which brought new life into what had become a pretty dull exercise in convoluted crossovers and magical demon fighting. "In Chains", which begins here, feels like Mackie's attempt to do a Weapon X type of story for Ghost Rider, and it works really well. This is an area that should clash up hard against the Ghost Rider aesthetic, but instead it throws both the character and the readers into the deep end of this hard sci-fi background in such a way that it creates an increasingly isolated experience as the issue goes on.
The series had become so strangled by its bloated supporting cast, full of Midnight Sons and Blood and extended family, that finally cutting Ghost Rider and Danny off from them is a really effective way to get straight to the issue's tense backdrop. Honestly, in most storylines so far there's not been a whole lot of doubt as to how Ghost Rider was going to win, but this one actually makes you fear for the characters. The Black Hole as a setting, with all of its technological torture devices juxtaposed against the body horror of the prisoners, is claustrophobic and alien for a series usually set against concrete or cemeteries.
Not surprisingly, Salvador Larroca is right at home with all of this. He's been a fantastic addition to the series, getting better and better with each issue, but he was never a good fit for the horror or urban grime of previous years. That, I imagine, is likely part of why the series moved on to focus more on superhero action, which played directly to Larroca's strength. This issue, though, really leans in hard on the things he definitely excels at drawing, lots of technology and guys in armor shooting guns. Ghost Rider remains consistently good looking throughout, and Larroca absolutely nails the character's desperation as he attempts escape again and again.
"In Chains" is off to a really great start and will remain a consistently good arc that gets chopped off at the knees right at the end by editorial interference (of which I'll talk about more when we get there). It's not as emotionally powerful as "Betrayals", but still definitely worth your time.
Grade: A
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