Cover Date: September 1995; On Sale Date: July 1995
Writer: Len Kaminski; Artist: Ashley Wood; Inker: Jim Daly; Letterer: Richard Starkings and Comicraft; Colorist: Christie Scheele w/ Violent Hues Malibu; Editor: Joey Cavalieri; Editor in Chief: Bobbie Chase; Cover Artist: Ashley Wood
Late at night, Harrison Cochrane is visited by his son Zero, as the Ghost Rider and new Federal Marshal of Transverse City. Upon entering the apartment, Zero and his father immediately start arguing. Zero attempts to talk with his mother, who is plugged in to the television set and is unable to communicate back. Meanwhile, in Cyberspace, the digital entity that has been causing trouble on the 'net for Zero finds a file archived by the Ghostworks. When he opens it he unwittingly releases a creature called L-Cypher back into Cyberspace.
When asked why he came to visit, Zero explains to his father that he has messed up as Marshal and now his word on the street is worthless, no one trusts him anymore. Harrison debates his son on the nature of the law and honor, which Zero sees as him becoming just another "blackboot" that stands for everything he's rebelled against throughout his young life. The two are unaware that their conversation is being observed by the Ghostworks, who receive the alert that L-Cypher has escaped imprisonment. Elsewhere, Kabal talks with his handpicked group of thieves and tells them about an archive containing items from the 20th century that have been locked away and he wishes them to steal.
Harrison and Zero continue their conversation, with Harrison admitting that he had trouble with Zero's surrogate mother after his birth, who he attributes Zero's lack of respect for authority to. Harrison tells Zero that he's proud of him, but Zero retorts that he's only proud because of the badge he now wears. Disgusted with the situation, Zero leaves the apartment. Later, at the holographic theme park called Thrillsville, L-Cypher takes over the park's network and rewrites all of the safety protocols, transforming it into a literal Hell on Earth.
THE ROADMAP
The "One Nation Under Doom" storyline was a loose crossover event between all of the 2099 titles of the time, focused on Doom's takeover of the United States as its new president.
Ghost Rider became the Federal Marshal of Transverse City in Ghost Rider 2099 (1994) # 14.
Zero last encountered his father, Harrison, in Ghost Rider 2099 (1994) # 5.
CHAIN REACTION
Ghost Rider 2099 gets deep and introspective in this relatively quiet issue that deals mainly with the relationship the title character shares with his family.
As far as character work goes, this is probably the best issue of the series that writer Len Kaminski has produced to this point. Nothing can really top the opening 5-issue salvo when it comes to sheer thrills and world building, but this is right up there with the "mindscape" story in issue # 8 for gut punches and melodrama. Kaminski continues all of his subplots with his supporting cast, from Willis Adams to Kabal's crew to the Ghostworks and their machinations, but the meat of the story is the family drama between Zero and his father.
Despite being the title character, it almost feels like Ghost Rider has taken a back seat to the supporting cast ever since issue # 12. He's been present, but mainly as either a pawn of greater forces or as a heavy for action sequences. This issue finally gets us back inside his head as he struggles with his decision to become the federal marshal of the city, unaware of course that the decision was made without his consent due to his programming. That Zero returns home to his parents is a stark reminder of just how young the character actually is and that, despite his anarchist rhetoric, still clings on to the idea that he can turn to his childhood home for support.
Harrison has a fascinating role to play in this as well, from his stubborn insistence that Zero follow his rules to his sense of pride in his son's newfound social status. He is everything that Zero has fought against throughout the series' run and is the foremost example of what's wrong with society. Zero's "burn it all down" mentally isn't much better, but at least it has good intentions at heart.
Less interesting are some of the myriad subplots interrupting the narrative every few pages. I'm just not as invested in Kabal and the Undernet as I probably should be, given how much interest the writer has for them. More interesting is the L-Cypher plot, which will come to the fore next issue, because anything involving the enigma of the Ghostworks is welcome after all this time spent with them hanging around the fringes of the series.
The artwork also shines in this issue, with Jim Daly officially coming on board to assist Ashley Wood with the art chores. The way their version of Ghost Rider massively towers over the weaker Harrison is such a strong visual, and you wouldn't think their messy style would translate well into a conversation piece like this issue, but it all works beautifully. I'll have my problems with Wood and Daly in coming reviews, but right here their art perfectly suits the story. Strong, strong stuff.
Just like that, with this issue Kaminski and crew have me invested in Zero as a character again outside of all the macho posturing of the last few months. This comic is a gem.
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