Ghost Rider (2019) # 3

"The King of Hell, Part 3"

Cover Date: February 2020; On Sale Date: December 2019

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Juan Frigeri; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Jason Keith; Editor: Chris Robinson; Senior Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder

A flashback to the year 1654 shows the Spirit of Vengeance named Chief Hellhawk fighting Necrosis, the Spirit of Corruption. Necrosis gains the upper hand and kills Chief Hellhawk.

In the present day, Danny is pulled from the East River by Sister Sara, the Caretaker, who tells him that he's the only one that can stop his brother Johnny. Meanwhile, an angry Blaze realizes that there's only one person he can turn to for help in returning Hell's escapee demons. At the Fadeaway Pub, Danny and Caretaker have a conversation about what's happening to Johnny and how being the King of Hell is corrupting him. In Hell, Lilith addresses an army of demons and opens a portal, sending them to Earth to kill Blaze and give her the throne to Hell. Danny meets with his ex-girlfriend Stacy Dolan outside of her home and tells her that Johnny is responsible for the deaths on the cruise ship. Stacy convinces Danny to help stop his brother, and the Caretaker arrives on her motorcycle to take Danny with her. Finally, in Utah on the road to Las Vegas, Johnny kills two demons who are on their way to the Hotel Inferno before making his way to see the imprisoned Mephisto.

Show some gratitude, Danny!

THE ROADMAP

Johnny Blaze became the King of Hell in Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider # 1.

Ghost Rider, specifically Johnny Blaze, appears next in Incoming! (2019) # 1.

Sister Sara became the Caretaker in Ghost Rider (2006) # 27 and last appeared in Ghost Rider (2019) # 1.

This issue also has a "Legacy Numbering" that factors in all previous issues of Ghost Rider through various reboots over the years, with this issue clocking in at # 239.

CHAIN REACTION

Things slow down considerably as both Danny and Johnny weigh their options and plan their next moves.

It's not so much that the first two issues had a breakneck pace to them but Brisson's decision to fill this issue with pure characterization and exposition is a curious one. Sister Sara is brought in and Stacy Dolan is given a bigger spotlight, but both are defined by their relationships with Danny Ketch instead of being real characters on their own. Both Sara and Stacy are solid characters with years of history between them, so seeing them wheeled out as nothing but exposition machines to spur Danny on to the next level of the story is a little disappointing. What's even more disappointing is that nothing is exposited that readers didn't already know. Yes, Johnny is being corrupted by Hell, and yes, another demon is plotting against him (specifically, Lilith); Danny didn't even need that information to know what was going on, it was blatantly obvious after the ending of the last issue, so this issue feels a little like a waste of time.

The best part, easily, is the conversation between Danny and Stacy, showing that Brisson does understand these characters that haven't been seen in about a decade. The history between them and the status of their relationship is spot on in Brisson's writing, taking everything that occurred between them in the 1990s and updating it to the modern day perfectly. This isn't a static relationship where the couple ultimately remain together, Stacy has moved on with her life and Danny is stuck in neutral due to his curse. Giving Danny this "want it, don't want it" mentality toward being the Ghost Rider seems to have become his defining trait since Si Spurrier's work with the character during the "Addict" storyline, so seeing it rehashed isn't necessarily welcome but is at least truncated down to a one-issue crisis of responsibility on Ketch's part.

Juan Frigeri is back as the de facto fill-in artist for the series while Aaron Kuder recovers from health woes, and he immediately brings a familiar tone to the comic. While Kuder's flashier, hyper-detailed work is the favorite for me, Frigeri grounds everything in a Marvel house style that emphasizes a grittier, more realistic take on events. His style works well for the quieter events in this issue, which Kuder may very well have struggled with. If we can't have Kuder regularly on the series (again, no fault of his, health comes first) I'm content with Frigeri as the solid back-up plan.

I'm not as sold on this issue as I was the first two, but it ticks enough boxes to make it a semi-satisfying read. I just hope it picks up again in the next issue.

Looking particularly hellish there, Johnny.