Cover Date: May 1992; On Sale Date: March 1992
Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Rick Leonardi; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti; Letterer: Michael Higgins; Colorist: Freddy Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Sam Keith
THE ROADMAP
Ghost Rider and Doctor Strange will cross paths again during the "Rise of the Midnight Sons" crossover in Ghost Rider (1990) # 31.
CHAIN REACTION
Howard Mackie had held on to the reins for all Ghost Rider material through the first few years of the character's popularity, but in 1991 on the edge of the Midnight Sons line debuting, he relinquished control over the Ghost Rider serial in MCP. Out of the three serials that Mackie told (the Wolverine, Cable, and Dr. Strange team-ups), this one was by far the most successful of the three. Unlike the other two, which degenerated quickly into running fight scenes every chapter with little in the way of plot, "Doorway to Darkness" told a bittersweet story about a little boy used as a pawn.
Allowing Kevin to have closure to his storyline was a good decision on Mackie's part, since it would have been easy to just end the serial with Gorn's defeat last issue. While the doorway theme was hammered over our heads every issue, and that holds especially true for this one, it doesn't detract from the sad circumstances surrounding Kevin and his small moment of triumph at the end. He progressed from a character that was scared of his own shadow to one finally able to stand up to his mother, and it's a nice linear growth for the kid. Ghost Rider gets most of the focus as he goes into action against the Gorn cultists (though I have no idea what was up with the Gormac/Gorn name confusion), but Dr. Strange doesn't get much to do other than levitating the characters from place to place. I understand that the story needed a level-headed character to provide balance against Ghost Rider's reactive stance, but it still didn't do Strange any favors when he could have been swapped with nearly any other heroic character. As a Ghost Rider story, "Doorway" is really good, but as a Dr. Strange story not so much.
The artwork maintains its high quality, with Leonardi and Palmiotti actually looking better than they did in the opening chapters. Their Ghost Rider is amazing, particularly during the double-page splash of him attacking the cultists. They're able to sell the emotion of the end scene as well, with both the mother's rage and Kevin's determination both on display. I would have loved to have seen this creative team on the regular Ghost Rider series, or at least return for another MCP serial, both this was unfortunately the last time Leonardi would draw the character.
I really enjoyed "Doorway to Darkness", it had its flaws but was still a really satisfying serial. One of the better outings for Ghost Rider in Marvel Comics Presents.
Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Rick Leonardi; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti; Letterer: Michael Higgins; Colorist: Freddy Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Sam Keith
Kevin has led Dr. Strange and Ghost Rider to his dead father's warehouse, where his mother and her cult performed their sacrifices to Gorn. Sensing the innocent blood that had been spilled, Ghost Rider enters the warehouse and attacks the cult members, avenging their slain victims. Dr. Strange finds Kevin's mother, and the boy is finally able to confront her about the death of his father. He realizes now that it was her that killed him all because he wanted to protect Kevin from being used as a sacrifice for Gorn. With the police on their way, Ghost Rider and Dr. Strange leave, though Strange is still intrigued by the mystery behind Kevin's mystical potential.
THE ROADMAP
This issue of Marvel Comics Presents also contained stories featuring Wolverine/Nightcrawler, Gabriel the Devil-Hunter, and the Young Gods.
Ghost Rider and Doctor Strange will cross paths again during the "Rise of the Midnight Sons" crossover in Ghost Rider (1990) # 31.
CHAIN REACTION
"Doorway to Darkness" wraps up with a tying of loose ends and a resolution for poor Kevin, making this easily the best Ghost Rider story in Marvel Comics Presents up to this point.
Howard Mackie had held on to the reins for all Ghost Rider material through the first few years of the character's popularity, but in 1991 on the edge of the Midnight Sons line debuting, he relinquished control over the Ghost Rider serial in MCP. Out of the three serials that Mackie told (the Wolverine, Cable, and Dr. Strange team-ups), this one was by far the most successful of the three. Unlike the other two, which degenerated quickly into running fight scenes every chapter with little in the way of plot, "Doorway to Darkness" told a bittersweet story about a little boy used as a pawn.
Allowing Kevin to have closure to his storyline was a good decision on Mackie's part, since it would have been easy to just end the serial with Gorn's defeat last issue. While the doorway theme was hammered over our heads every issue, and that holds especially true for this one, it doesn't detract from the sad circumstances surrounding Kevin and his small moment of triumph at the end. He progressed from a character that was scared of his own shadow to one finally able to stand up to his mother, and it's a nice linear growth for the kid. Ghost Rider gets most of the focus as he goes into action against the Gorn cultists (though I have no idea what was up with the Gormac/Gorn name confusion), but Dr. Strange doesn't get much to do other than levitating the characters from place to place. I understand that the story needed a level-headed character to provide balance against Ghost Rider's reactive stance, but it still didn't do Strange any favors when he could have been swapped with nearly any other heroic character. As a Ghost Rider story, "Doorway" is really good, but as a Dr. Strange story not so much.
The artwork maintains its high quality, with Leonardi and Palmiotti actually looking better than they did in the opening chapters. Their Ghost Rider is amazing, particularly during the double-page splash of him attacking the cultists. They're able to sell the emotion of the end scene as well, with both the mother's rage and Kevin's determination both on display. I would have loved to have seen this creative team on the regular Ghost Rider series, or at least return for another MCP serial, both this was unfortunately the last time Leonardi would draw the character.
I really enjoyed "Doorway to Darkness", it had its flaws but was still a really satisfying serial. One of the better outings for Ghost Rider in Marvel Comics Presents.
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