Vengeance Unbound

April 22, 2016

Creator Interview: Javier Saltares

Javier Saltares

In 2008 I was lucky enough to get to speak with Javier Saltares, an artist whose work is synonymous with Ghost Rider, right before the launch of the "Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch" mini-series (reviews of which will begin posting this week).

Vengeance Unbound is honored to present an interview with Javier Saltares, who has had not one, not two, but THREE distinct runs as the definitive artist on Ghost Rider!

1) Let's start as close to the beginning as possible: how did you get involved with the Ghost Rider relaunch in 1990? How much of the book's concept and design were you responsible for?

I started with Marvel in 86' as a post production artist under the great John Romita Sr. It was a great time to be at Marvel. It was like being at the comic geeks frat house back then. As I did my post production work, editors began to take notice and offer me some small gigs. Marvel was just gearing up to put out their "Marvel Comics Presents" title and all of us wannabees started jockeying for position to get work in what really was their unofficial "new talents title". I did a dozen of those before I got what I consider my first serious break which was the first Spider-Man Annual "Atlantis Attacks".

After that I took a short break and went to Puerto Rico in 88'. When I got back I had a couple of phone calls waiting for me from Bobbie chase who said she wanted to speak with me. (No e-mails back then. Man I'm old.) I called back and all she wanted to say over the phone was "I want to speak with you about an ongoing and see if you're interested". After the cartwheels, I ran down to see what it was about.

They were starting their "heroes reborn" line and wanted to know if I would be interested in revamping Ghost Rider with Howard Mackie. DUH! They had me at hello. Then I saw the script. Ghost Rider takes Manhattan ! And as if that weren't enough, "we need the whole thing redesigned". Seriously, I don't even remember the ride home on the #4 train back to the Bronx . I just kept looking at the buildings and the streets whizzing below and imagined this badass from hell zooming down those same streets. It was a great time.

Then a bump in the road. I had never developed anything from scratch before. It was harder than I thought. First Ghostie himself. I wanted the "street biker" look as opposed to the "country tour biker". I was very intimidated by what kind of response I would get. The late Mark Gruenwald was in charge of the approval back then. He was not a very animated person emotionally, so when he saw it and said, "That's good, we'll go with that." in his always subdued manner, I was floored because I knew that was the best I would get out of him. No redo's, no tweaks, just "we'll go with that". Then I got cocky. Never get cocky. "The bike".

Truly believing I would get the same response for my bike design, I strolled into marvel feeling like I owned the place. "Pride goes before the fall!" Instead all I saw was a bunch of shaking heads. “Oh no! That's too tech!" or "Where's the chopper?!"

It felt like people were coming out of the wood work to express their bewilderment at this abomination I had brought before them. What to do? I held my head high, stuck out my chest preparing to defend my creation but thankfully a little voice screamed, “This is a dream job dummy! Don't blow it!" So I begged them to give me another chance and promised I'd do better next time. After some compromising with Howard, Mark and Bobbie we got the bike you see now.

2) After a successful first year on the title, you left to pursue other projects. What were your reasons for leaving such a popular book at what was arguably the height of its popularity?

Honestly? I got fired.

I was struggling to keep the book on line. I had never done a monthly before. It's a huge under taking for a pro, never mind a novice which I still was. It was a very painful and humiliating experience at the time. I was hurt. It took a while, but time really is the great healer. Comics are a business and you have to understand that if you want to get involved with it.

Also, the old saying is true. "Whatever doesn't kill you, will make you stronger." In this business you have to learn to be the best you can within a time frame. That's true of commercial art in general.

3) You returned to the book in 1998, shortly before its untimely cancellation. What were the circumstances behind the book being canceled just as you and writer Ivan Velez were gearing up for a new status quo? And how did you feel when Marvel finally published the book's final issue last year?

I did a one shot for Tom Breevort, "Naomi Kale" and then he asked me to come back to the series. The industry was still really shaky and I believe marvel was trying to save the title but I think it was a case of "too little, too late." That's why the book got cut the way it did.

As for asking us to finish it later, I felt that was great of course. Ghost Rider has some of the best and craziest fans I've ever seen in my experience. Marvel knows this as well.

4) Your work, especially when paired with finisher Mark Texeira, has long been held as the “definitive look” for the character. Why do you think your work on the book managed to strike such a chord with the fans?

I honestly don't know. There are some super creative guys and gals out there that I actually envy. I drool when I see their stuff and some have done their take on GR. I'd see it and think, "oh no, I'm out of a job!"

But the fans, god bless them, they like my stuff when it comes to Ghost Rider. (Told you they were crazy.) Seriously though, I'm grateful to them. Really.

5) Care to tell us a little about your involvement in the new Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch mini-series? Did you ever expect Marvel to resurrect the Ketch character?

I was fishing for more work when Aubrey Sitterson contacted me and basically hinted at me not to take on anything too big because he had something in the works and he really wanted my involvement. Axel and Aubrey helped me acquire some short gigs to fill my time until they were ready to tell me what was going on.

(Marvel loves those cliff hangers, don't they?)

As soon as he said "Danny Ketch", I thought, "Well it's about time!"

6) You're one of the very few artists to work on both the Dan Ketch and Johnny Blaze versions of the character. Which of the two do you think should hold the permanent mantle of Ghost Rider, Blaze or Ketch? Do you have a preference between the two?

I honestly don't think I can answer that without getting shot. The fans are crazy remember.

7) You've now had the opportunity to work with four different writers (Howard Mackie, Ivan Velez, Daniel Way , and Simon Spurrier) across nearly two decades. What is it about Ghost Rider that keeps you coming back to illustrate him?

Hands down the most fun character I've done in my professional career.

Wolverine second.

"X" for Dark Horse third.

And believe it or not G. I. Joe fourth.

8) What did you think of the Ghost Rider movie, which used your designs for the character?

Good or bad, it was just soo cool for me as an artist to see some thing I had a hand in creating brought to life on the big screen. Got some great ideas if they ever want to do another. Hint, hint.

9) What other projects do you have in the works right now? Any other new Ghost Rider material outside of the upcoming Danny Ketch mini-series?

I'm never that far ahead of myself. I'll start looking for the next thing when I'm almost done with this one.

Would love to do a Wolverine mini though. start your petitions guys!

10) Mr. Saltares, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with me. Any last remarks for all the Ghost Rider fans out there?

All I would really like to express to the fans is "thank you!" really. You pay so I can play. That's the way I see it. Not many get that opportunity and I truly appreciate the privilege. Thank you again.

April 15, 2016

Ghost Rider Chronology: 1992-1993

April 13, 2016

Taking Stock and Catching Up

So, I thought I'd take the opportunity to talk about the blog, the podcast, what's currently going on and what's coming in the future.

Artwork by Bill Sienkiewicz

As you may have undoubtedly noticed, the SKULLS ON FIRE! podcast has yet to launch, something for which I am extremely disappointed and apologetic about. Essentially, my co-host (and co-blogger) Jim Yost and I did some recording for what will eventually be the first episode, which will feature a VERY long discussion about the 2007 Ghost Rider movie, with plans for the second episode to be a similar discussion about 2011's Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance film. We had an absolute blast during the recording session, but it needs to be remembered that neither Jim nor myself have ever attempted podcasting before, and it is very much a "learn as you go" endeavor for us. Unfortunately, real life has intruded its ugly head; I myself have a nearly 1-year old son that takes up much of my time and Jim has had an increasingly hectic personal life as of late as well. So, the podcast has had to be put on hold for the indefinite future, with hopes that we will get to jump back into it head-first this summer. We will, of course, keep everyone abreast of any progress, because I know a lot of people are really looking forward to hearing us ramble about Ghost Rider for two hours.

As far as the blog, I'm proud that I've been able to keep up daily updates of reviews since the blog launched back in October of last year. That has only happened because I've been reposting many of the reviews I did for the original Vengeance Unbound website, which had just over 300 reviews catalogued before I had to put it on hiatus. Those reviews have nearly run their course due to my decision to post things in a semi-intelligible order instead of just doing reviews of whatever random comic I wanted to talk about at the time. So while you're seeing a scattering of reviews that seem to hit without order between volumes, the entries for each volume will remain in chronological order to preserve some token of categorization for the blog. So you won't see the reviews jump ahead 20 issues in the 1990 series, those will be posted in order. They will, though, be interspersed with similarly chronological reviews of the other volumes, from the 1973 series up to the current volume.

Concerning what's being reviewed at the moment, I'm finally turning my attention back to the 1990 series to try and catch it up. Jim had been reviewing the 1973 series, along with The Champions and other guest appearances from that era, but his aforementioned busy schedule in the real world has forced him to step away from reviewing for the time being. So, I'll be going back to that series real soon as well to keep it moving forward as well (and we miss you, Jim!). The most immediate reviews that you'll be seeing very soon are completions of the 2005 "Road to Damnation" series, the final issue of "Trail of Tears", the 2011 series (including "Circle of Four"), and a reposting of reviews for the 2008 Jason Aaron run. I have in recent weeks finished reviews for a number of series, though, so if you want to read some completed volume reviews check out the following labels on the blog:

All-New Ghost Rider # 1-12 (all issues of this 2014 series have been reviewed)

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 1-20 (a reprint series, which I've been posting just synopses and annotations for; one of these days I'll go back and review those Phantom Rider back-up stories that were in most of the issues)

Ghost Rider (2001) # 1-6, 1/2 (all issues of "The Hammer Lane")

Ultimate Avengers 2 (2010) # 1-6 (all issues of this mini-series, which featured Ghost Rider as the antagonist)

Marvel Spotlight on Ghost Rider (1972) # 5-11 (all issues of the original Spotlight run of Ghost Rider have been reviewed)

Thunderbolts (2013) # 20-29, 32 (all issues of the team series that featured Ghost Rider as a member)

Out of the remaining titles, Ghost Rider (2006) has about 12 issues remaining, all of which have reviews that will be posted in coming weeks; Ghost Rider (2011) has two issues and the 6 issue "Circle of Four" crossover remaining; Ghost Rider (2005) has three issues remaining; Ghost Rider (1990) has 78 issues remaining; and Ghost Rider (1973) has 63 issues remaining. I'll also be finishing reviews for The Ghost Rider (1967), which has four to go, and eventually I'll be getting around to doing other appearances of the Phantom Rider.

That's what's coming in the future (along with miscellaneous guest appearances and mini-series, like "Danny Ketch" and "Heaven's On Fire"), and if you have any suggestions for OTHER material please feel free to drop me an e-mail or, even better, leave a comment at the bottom of this post. Thanks to everyone who reads and comments on the blog and at the Facebook group, here's hoping things continue moving forward!

April 01, 2016

Collected Editions, or Lack Thereof

Came across something interesting on Amazon last night: in October Marvel will be releasing a new Ghost Rider trade paperback collection called Spirits of Vengeance: Rise of the Midnight Sons that collects a host of issues from the 1990s. I'll post the information for the book and then some observations I have about it below.

Not the final cover art, I assume

Johnny Blaze and Dan Ketch race side-by-side as the Spirits of Vengeance, as Marvel's Midnight Sons rise to face a hellish threat like no other! Former Ghost Rider Blaze joins his successor Ketch and fellow Sons including Morbius, Blade, the Nightstalkers and the Darkhold Redeemers in the fight against Lilith, Mother of Demons, and her horrifying progeny!

COLLECTING: GHOST RIDER (1990) 28, 31; GHOST RIDER/BLAZE: SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE 1-6; MORBIUS: THE LIVING VAMPIRE (1992) 1; DARKHOLD: PAGES FROM THE BOOK OF SINS 1; NIGHTSTALKERS 1; WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) 95-96; MATERIAL FROM MIDNIGHT SONS UNLIMITED 1

Okay, the first thing is that the existence of this book lends a LOT of credence toward my theory that a Spirits of Vengeance book will be launching in October as a spin-off from the recent Ghost Racers mini-series. Marvel is usually really good about timing odd-ball collections of past material with the release of new titles (like last year's trade for the 1970s Weirdworld series, which was timed with the Secret Wars mini of the same name), and the fact that this book is specifically labeled "Spirits of Vengeance" and not "Ghost Rider" is a big flashing neon clue that we're getting something new under the Spirits title very soon.

While I always applaud the release of collected Ghost Rider material, the contents of this book have me a bit confused. The original "Rise of the Midnight Sons" trade has been out of print for decades, so I really love that it's getting re-released in a new edition, but there's a curious assortment of issues gathered here. You have the main "Rise" tie-ins: Ghost Rider 28 and 31, Spirits of Vengeance 1, Morbius 1, Darkhold 1, and Nightstalkers 1, all of which make sense. Then you get the rest of the book padded out with the first six issues of Spirits of Vengeance and the tie-in issues of the Web of Spider-Man crossover, "Spirits of Venom" (another great story with a long out of print collection). They even include what I assume is the Spirits story from Midnight Sons Unlimited # 1 that had art by Klaus Janson. "Rise" had unlabeled tie-ins in Spirits 2 and 3, so including them is totally understandable, but why not include the just-as-significant Ghost Rider 29, 30, and 32? Because skipping those (especially 30 and 32) leave big narrative gaps for the Spirits issues, such as just how Dan Ketch comes back to life in GR 32. If they just wanted to collect Spirits of Vengeance, you could probably collect up through issue 3, throw in the three missing Ghost Rider issues, and label your next trade "Spirits of Venom" to collect up to, say, issue # 12 of Spirits. I dunno, it just strikes me as really, really odd.

But that brings me to a wider point about Marvel's collections department and Ghost Rider, because the character really gets ignored to the point that seeing this book was coming out genuinely shocked me. We live in an age where stuff like Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu and Werewolf by Night are getting huge hardcover Omnibus editions, with Marvel scrambling to get everything in their back catalogue onto our bookshelves. And that's awesome, don't get me wrong; the fact that I can get Steve Gerber's Howard the Duck and Man-Thing runs as massive hardcovers is wonderful.

But where the fuck is my Ghost Rider Omnibus?

The Jason Aaron run was collected as an Omnibus edition, but why not give the 1970s and 1990s series the same respect? New Warriors, one of the 90s Ghost Rider title's contemporaries, has received an Omnibus with promises of more on the way, and Howard Mackie had a MUCH more successful series with Ghost Rider. That run can't even get collected in its entirety in paperback form, with only two Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic trades released, taking the book up through I believe issue # 20 (meaning there will be a gap between it and this Spirits trade, enough of one that third GR Classic volume could be released I suppose). Marvel's releasing recent titles like Ms. Marvel in Hardcover and Omnibus formats, why not a hardcover collection of All-New Ghost Rider?

Anyway, here's the link to the Spirits of Vengeance: Rise of the Midnight Sons collection on Amazon, if you'd like to pre-order it (and please do, or at least order at your local comic shop or elsewhere online, because if this book doesn't sell we likely won't see any more volumes!).

March 29, 2016

Night Rider (1974) # 1

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Published: Oct. 1974
Original Price: $.25

Title: "The Origin of the Night Rider"
Writers: Gary Friedrich & Roy Thomas
Artist: Dick Ayers
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: John Verpoorten
Colorist: None Credited
Editor: Stan Lee

SYNOPSIS

Carter Slade, a school teacher on his way out west, sees a ranch being attacked by a group of indians. When he tries to intervene, the indians shoot him, but not before he realizes that the "indians" are actually white men in disguise. Left for dead by the marauders, a mortally wounded Slade is found by a young boy named Jamie Jacobs, the only survivor of the ranch attack. He manages to put Slade on his horse, and the two begin their march toward help. They stumble across a group of Sioux, who take the dying Slade to their medicine man, Flaming Star. Slade awakens, his wounds suddenly healed, and Flaming Star tells him of the prophecy delivered to him by his gods. He witnessed a falling meteor and was told to gather up the luminous dust left in the rock's wake and wait for the coming of a great champion, known as "He Who Rides the Night Winds". Flaming Star leads Slade and Jacobs to a white horse, whom Slade easily tames and gives the name Banshee. They leave the Sioux, and after making camp that night Slade offers to raise Jacobs himself. He then uses the glowing dust to fashion himself a costume and spooky identity as the Night Rider.

The next day, the faux indians have gathered at the ranch of their employer, Jason Bartholomew, who wants to chase off all of the settlers who have made their way to "his land". He orders his men, led by his foreman Blackie Clay, to burn down the schoolhouse in nearby Bison's Bend. When they do so, however, the townspeople easily see through their disguises, and in return Clay kidnaps a woman named Natalie, sister to settler Ben Brooks. Slade and Jacobs arrive in town and are told the news, prompting Carter to ride off to find Natalie.

That night, Bartholomew is chastising his men for bringing Natalie back to his ranch when the lights suddenly go out. The Night Rider appears before the men, seemingly impervious to their gunshots, and he makes quick work of the men that attempt to fight instead of flee in terror. Slade frightens Bartholomew into agreeing to turn himself into the marshals, then departs while Natalie herself escapes, unaware of what has really happened. The next day, Slade and Jacobs are invited to remain in Bison's Bend, and the two go off to start their new lives.

ANNOTATIONS

This issue is a reprint of The Ghost Rider (1967) # 1.

To avoid confusion with the then-current Johnny Blaze character and series, when Carter Slade was reintroduced in the pages of Avengers his name was changed to Night Rider. In this reprint series, all instances of the Ghost Rider's name were re-lettered to "Night Rider". Marvel would change the name again to "Phantom Rider" in the 1980s when they realized the white-garbed Ku Klux Klan called their soldiers Night Riders, an unfortunate coincidence to say the least.

This issue also had back-up story, "The Walking Target", reprinted from Quick Trigger Western # 18.

March 25, 2016

Ghost Rider (2005) Director's Cut # 1

Cover Artist: Clayton Crain

Published: Dec. 2005
Original Price: $3.99

Title: "The Road to Damnation", Part 1
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Clayton Crain
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Colorist: Clayton Crain
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada

SYNOPSIS

In the depths of Hell, the Ghost Rider rides through the flames, chased by all manner of demons in a desperate bid for freedom. Every night he makes the same ride, and this night - same as every night - just as he nears his destination...the demons take him down, destroying him utterly. When the dawn comes, the Ghost Rider will be whole again, the vicious cycle starting all over again.

On Earth, two angels - Daniel and Malachai - meet atop a skyscraper in New York City. Daniel asks his brother how he could have allowed the demon Kazaan to come to Earth, then says that there are hunters from both Heaven (the archangel Ruth) and Hell (the demon Hoss) after him. Kazaan has fed Malachai information over the centuries, allowing the angel to get promoted to higher classes - a debt to which Malachai feels he owes Kazaan. Malachai then notices that a woman in a neighboring building can see them, a rarity, and the angel causes her to pass out - and also to miscarry her pregnancy, to which Malachai responds "one less mouth to feed".

Meanwhile, in Texas, the demon Hoss drives down the road in his Cadillac. He soon picks up a motorcycle gang that starts harassing him. Hoss kills the gang instantly and causes the leader of the bikers to wreck his bike. The demon stops his car and approaches the dying biker, telling him that he could either lay there and bleed to death or sign up to help him. Taking the biker's choked response as a "yes", Hoss alters the man's body - by shoving his head up his ass and exposing his spine. Proud of his new creation, Hoss christens him "Buttview".

Back on the skyscraper, Daniel asks Malachai if he's ever heard of the Ghost Rider. When his brother claims ignorance, Daniel begins to tell the story of Johnny Blaze - a biker who found out his stepfather was dying of a disease and for a cure sold his soul to the Devil. The deal stated that at some unspecified point in the future Johnny would arrive in Hell for eternal torment while Crash Simpson would be spared from the cancer. Obviously, the Devil tricked Johnny and Crash died in a motorcycle wreck instead - a trick Malachai points out that humanity falls for every single time. Daniel then points out that Johnny was the exception. When they came for his soul, something went wrong and Johnny doesn't go to Hell. Instead, he becomes bonded with a super-powerful hellspawn - and from then on, Johnny Blaze is the Ghost Rider. Malachai moans that Blaze must not be very smart, but Daniel tells him that he's missing the point: Blaze is incredibly powerful and incredibly gullible. Malachai becomes convinced that Blaze would be the perfect agent, not attached to either Heaven or Hell - and with the angel's aid, he could have a head start to find Kazaan. But Daniel cuts him off, saying that there's a catch.

Elsewhere, in a diner bus-stop in Texas, the archangel Ruth finishes her meal - while a young boy across the restaurant tells his mother that the woman at the bar has wings. The mother can't see, and the boy's persistence goads Ruth to draw a sigil of fire in the air. The boy picks up his pencil and says to his mom that "the lady says I'm a sinner" - and he shoves the pencil into his eye. While the mother screams for her son, Ruth boards the bus.

Daniel continues the story of the Ghost Rider by telling Malachai that, a couple of years ago, the demons finally caught up with Blaze and carried him back to Hell. The Ghost Rider is now in Hell, and every night he tries to race the pack to the gates - and every night, he loses. Daniel finishes by telling Malachai that, unless he wants to wind up there himself, he's got to get the Ghost Rider out of Hell.

ANNOTATIONS

This is a reprint of Ghost Rider (2005) # 1 that also includes the original pitch and first issue script by writer Garth Ennis, a look at Clayton Crain's artwork process on the covers and interiors, a cover gallery, and an essential reading list.

REVIEW

Marvel has been intermittently releasing "Director's Cut" versions of certain comics since the late 1990s (the first, I believe, being Kurt Busiek and George Perez's Avengers # 1 in 1998). This one is a straight reprint of the first Ennis/Crain issue that came out a month before, but for a dollar more you get 18 pages of "extra features". Personally, I thought the dollar difference was worth it for the most part.

Obviously, the highlight of the book's extra content is the original series pitch by Ennis, despite the last paragraph being blacked out to avoid spoiling the rest of the mini-series. The script for the issue is also a nice addition, giving us a look at how comic writers like Ennis actually write their comics. In the script, for instance, you can see just where some of the little detail touches came from, be they Ennis' ideas or Crain's.

Speaking of Crain, I find it absolutely astonishing that he can produce such visceral artwork without ever touching pencil to paper. While I still think fully computer-generated artwork for comics is well on down the line (translation: traditional artists needn't start worrying just yet), Crain's work is down right stunning. Starting as wire frames with details added on in layers, I just can't imagine how long it must've taken him to develop such a style. Amazing, just amazing.

So, yes, I'm certainly not going to advise anyone to pay four dollars for a book they probably already own unless they're true Ghost Rider completists that enjoy the behind-the-scenes content provided within. I enjoyed it, but I'm also hardcore. Ha!

Grade: N/A

March 18, 2016

Ghost Rider Special Edition (1995) # 6

Cover Artist: Paris Karounos

Published: 1995
Original Price: N/A

Title: "Zarathos Unbound"
Writer: Chris Cooper
Artist: Paris Karounos
Inker: Derek Fisher
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Jim Hoston
Editor: Glenn Herdling

SYNOPSIS

Ghost Rider and Vengeance have joined John Blaze in the hospital room of Linda Addams, whom Blaze has just saved from being killed by Skinner. The three Spirits of Vengeance discuss the events of the last several issues, now with the knowledge that Linda's blood is the key to freeing Zarathos from his dimensional prison. While they talk, the skeletal Skinner manages to cut Linda's arm with a blade before being stopped by Blaze, waking Linda up in a blast of mystical energy. Above her bed a portal opens, from which enters Zarathos, now returned to Earth. The Spirits of Vengeance put up a brief fight, but are all three defeated by the seemingly-triumphant Zarathos.

ANNOTATIONS

This mini-comic was the sixth in a series packaged with Toy Biz's line of Ghost Rider action figures. This issue came with the Ghost Rider figure.

There's really no place to fit this series into established continuity. It obviously takes place after "Siege of Darkness" and Ghost Rider (1990) # 50, but the relationships between Ghost Rider, Blaze, and Vengeance certainly don't fit the characters at the time.

If this follows the standard Marvel continuity (which is questionable, at best), then Zarathos was banished to another dimension at the conclusion of the "Siege of Darkness" crossover in Midnight Sons Unlimited (1993) # 4.

Ghost Rider Special Edition (1995) # 7, which would have featured the conclusion to this story, does not actually exist. The first wave of action figures originally planned to have Zarathos as the seventh figure in the line, but the figure was pushed back to the second wave. The mini-comics released with the second figure wave start with # 8 and the delayed Zarathos figure was packaged with random issues from the rest of the series.

REVIEW

Zarathos finally makes his return to Earth and the heroes all fail spectacularly at their job. Way to go, Spirits of Vengeance!

Chris Cooper had what was probably both an easy yet unenvious job when it came to writing these comics. He had to introduce characters in 6-page installments and keep them relatively kid friendly, which is tricky for a horror series like Ghost Rider. Now that all of the characters (outside of Zarathos) have had their spotlight, this one turns into an extended recap. That's due to this issue being packaged with the only other actual Ghost Rider figure in the line, so having it be mostly a rehash of "what's gone before" is probably intentional. After all, how many kids would likely skip the Blackout and Skinner figures in favor of just the two Ghost Riders? A good majority, I'd say. So not much happens in this installment, though it also features the biggest event so far, Zarathos' return to Earth, which the whole series had been leading up to. Zarathos gets to be the badass for two pages, stomping holes in the heroes' faces and making his victory speech...too bad we'll never know how he was defeated, since issue # 7 doesn't exist!

Paris Karounos continues as the artist for these mini-comics, and his work seems a lot sloppier here than in the previous installments. I can't imagine the conditions these comics were produced under, I assume they had accountants waiting with censoring notices waiting beside the art tables, which would explain how Linda is cut by Skinner with no blood being produced. Still, Karounos' art was sharper in the last few issues, which is a let down for the big Zarathos fight here.

So that's it, kids, Zarathos wins! Forever!

I hate stories without an ending, though luckily I wasn't waiting with baited breath to see how this one gets resolved. We can imagine Ghost Rider was saved by, oh let's say...Moe.

Grade: C

March 17, 2016

Deadpool (2008) # 26

Cover Artist: Dave Johnson

Published: Oct. 2010
Original Price: $2.99

Title: "Sinner-Sinner, Chicken Dinner"
Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: Carlo Barberi
Inker: Juan Vlasco
Letterer: VC's Joe Sabino
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Assistant Editor: Jody Leheup
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada

SYNOPSIS

In the desert outside of Las Vegas, Johnny Blaze leaves a diner and rides into the city. At a casino in Vegas, Deadpool quits his newly-acquired job as the casino's security head. He kills the casino owners, but as he's leaving he is stopped by the Ghost Rider, who grabs the killer with his chain and pulls him behind his motorcycle through the city. Ghost Rider has tracked Deadpool down to make him face vengeance for all the lives he's taken. When they reach the desert, past the city's limits, Deadpool pulls himself onto the back of the Ghost Rider's bike and grabs one of the handles, throwing on the brakes. The bike flies out of control, throwing the two men into the air. As they fall, Deadpool pulls out his guns and blows Ghost Rider's skull apart. After they land, which results in several broken bones for Deadpool, Ghost Rider reforms his head and grabs his target by the throat. Ghost Rider gives Deadpool the Penance Stare, which causes an unforeseen feedback between them that causes Ghost Rider to turn back into Johnny Blaze.

The Penance Stare causes Deadpool to relive the "highlight reel" of his life, including when he first became a mercenary, when he was diagnosed with cancer, and when he signed up for the Weapon X project. He wakes up screaming and immediately punches Blaze in the face. Blaze tells him that they're 80 miles away from Las Vegas, and that he'll need time to fix his motorcycle. After he finishes, Deadpool asks Blaze if he came after him to kill him. Johnny explains that it wasn't him that came after him, it was the Ghost Rider that wanted him to see something important; if he'd wanted Deadpool dead, he'd be dead. Deadpool asks Blaze if he thinks he deserves to die. Johnny answers "yes", to which Deadpool replies "Thanks, man".

ANNOTATIONS

Johnny Blaze first encountered Deadpool in Deadpool Team-Up # 897.

Ghost Rider last appeared in Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural # 5 and he appears next in Shadowland # 2.

REVIEW

Ghost Rider appears in another Deadpool story, but thankfully this one's a helluva lot better than the last issue they appeared in together. As always, the creative team makes all the difference.

As you may remember, I recently reviewed an issue of Deadpool Team-Up that ranked as one of the worst comics I'd ever read. That comic failed because it wanted to be a comedy without actually being funny, which just further illustrated to me why Deadpool is a character I really could care less about. It was with severe trepidation that I picked up this issue for another Ghost Rider appearance, but I was pleasantly surprised. Daniel Way, who wrote his fair share of bad Ghost Rider stories a few years ago, actually turned in a pretty good comic here. The secret...? He actually took the characters seriously. Deadpool is a character that I suppose can work as strictly comedy, but the approach to the character in this issue is one that I find infinitely more interesting. Way treats him as an actual character instead of a walking cartoon.

The interaction between Deadpool and Ghost Rider is really good, too. I wasn't much of a fan of Way's run on the Ghost Rider series, but I never really had a problem with how he wrote Blaze himself. He had a fair handle on the character, and here he makes a good contrast to Deadpool. The most interesting part of the story, though, is the Penance Stare sequence that shows how Deadpool became the man he is today. The gives a very downbeat ending to what I assume is usually a fairly light-hearted series.

The artwork is by Carlo Barberi, who has a style that's very reminiscent of Humberto Ramos without so much exaggeration. He does a good Ghost Rider, but his action sequences a little hard to follow (see the sequence with the bike wreck, which took me a few looks to understand what was supposed to be happening).

So, my opinion on Deadpool has improved somewhat since that Team-Up issue. I won't be buying any more of his comics, but at least I didn't regret buying this one. Perfectly decent comic.

Grade: B-

March 15, 2016

Ghost Rider Special Edition (1995) # 5

Cover Artist: Paris Karounos

Published: 1995
Original Price: N/A

Title: "Skin Condition"
Writer: Chris Cooper
Artist: Paris Karounos
Inker: Derek Fisher
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Jim Hoston
Editor: Glenn Herdling

SYNOPSIS

Posing as a mutilated victim of the riots, the demonic Skinner is brought into a hospital, where he quickly murders the doctors and uses their skin to replenish his own. Dressed as a doctor, he is able to make his way to the hospital room of Linda Addams, who he is there to kill, referring to her as his daughter. However, John Blaze is waiting to protect Linda and blasts Skinner with his hellfire shotgun. During the fight, Skinner states that only by releasing the magical energy within Linda can Zarathos be brought back to this dimension. Blaze shoots Skinner once again with his shotgun, stopping Skinner before he can kill his daughter.

ANNOTATIONS

This mini-comic was the fourth in a series packaged with Toy Biz's line of Ghost Rider action figures. This issue came with the Skinner figure.

During his first appearance in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 3, Skinner murdered his wife and children to appease his mother, Lilith. Given the virtual immortality of the Lilin, it's certainly feasible that Skinner would have more children.

Blaze rescued Linda Addams in Ghost Rider Special Edition (1995) # 3.

REVIEW

The second villain in the action figure line, Skinner, gets his spotlight issue as Cooper and Karounos continue their tie-in storyline.

Skinner was an interesting choice for a villain for this series (and the action figure line), but he made sense considering he's got an interesting visual and is one of the few Blaze-centric villains to choose from (unless they went with Centurious, who I'm surprised they skipped, or Steel Wind). Skinner's story here hits the highlights of his established characterization, that he will kill his family to pay off debts to those he serves, and he gets a better introduction than poor Blackout last issue. Of course, it does strike me as odd that the figures and comics couldn't flag up Blackout being a vampire, but having Skinner mutilate innocent people to steal their skin is A-Okay.

Paris Karounos continues as the artist for these mini-comics, illustrating 4 of the 6 of this first wave of figure tie-ins, and I imagine the small scale of the comics does his work no favors. He's not the most detail-minded artist, but he has a style that is clear and mostly easy to follow (and hey, this issue has backgrounds!). He naturally can't show any of the gruesome stuff that usually pops up in Skinner stories, but he does well to sell the brutality of the character. I did like the panel with Blaze wheeling on screen in a desk chair to surprise the readers, that was a nice touch.

So as a spotlight issue for a villain, this one works just fine.

Grade: B+

March 13, 2016

Ghost Rider Special Edition (1995) # 4

Cover Artist: Paris Karounos

Published: 1995
Original Price: N/A

Title: "Dead Air"
Writer: Chris Cooper
Artist: Paris Karounos
Inker: Derek Fisher
Letterer: Jimmy Novak
Colorist: Jim Hoston
Editor: Glenn Herdling

SYNOPSIS

The vampire Blackout is at a radio station threatening a technician for cutting off the broadcast signal that had been driving New York citizens to go insane and riot. Before Blackout can kill the technician Ghost Rider arrives and stops him. A brief fight results in Blackout taking the technician hostage, but Ghost Rider's chains snake in behind the villain and imprison him. Blackout explains that he used mystical spell words to make the city go into a violent rage as a distraction to keep Ghost Rider busy. The real plan is the return of Zarathos from his dimensional prison, which Ghost Rider vows to stop.

ANNOTATIONS

This mini-comic was the fourth in a series packaged with Toy Biz's line of Ghost Rider action figures. This issue came with the Blackout figure.

Blackout killed the talk radio host at the beginning of Ghost Rider Special Edition (1995) # 1, which sparked the riots in New York City.

REVIEW

Now that our three heroes have had their spotlight issues, Blackout gets his introduction as the first villain of this series.

These mini-comics are damn hard to review, given that they're just 6 pages meant to do nothing more than hype a toy line. The story is ultimately incidental other than to give the spotlight to the issue's designated action figure accompanying it, but we at least get a forward movement of plot this time. Blackout has taken over a radio station and sent out a mystical "crazy signal" in order to distract Ghost Rider from Zarathos' return, which is I suppose straightforward enough for a mini-comic aimed at children. Blackout is made out to be less than a credible threat against Ghost Rider, though, consider all he does is swipe once with his claws and then threaten a hostage. Again, since it's aimed at kids writer Chris Cooper can't really get into the vampire aspect of the character other than gesturing vaguely via the artwork, which kind of neuters Blackout into "generic clawed guy". They might as well have cast Sabretooth in this comic, to be honest.

The artwork is from the returning Paris Karounos, who drew the first issue of this series, and his work is decent enough, if slightly amateurish. Other than the opening splash page, Karounos doesn't seem concerned with drawing backgrounds in any of his panels, meaning the radio station recording booth that is meant to be the setting is really just a blank white void with infinite amounts of space. The weirdest bit of the art comes in the design of Blackout himself, who has hands bigger than his head, but that was actually what the figure in the toy line looked like, so I assume Karounos was told to use the toy as the character model. Still, it looks so freaking odd.

These mini-comics are honestly just for die-hard Flameheads, you're not going to get much in the way of story or characterization out of them. Still, for what they are, they're not that bad.

Grade: B