This isn't a hard goodbye, not yet anyway. I've been working in Vengeance Unbound in one form or another since 2001, its been a part of my life for a very long time. Now, though, certain responsibilities necessitate me walking away, at least for a long while, with hopes that one day I can return to it. Thank you to every single fan, reader, and fellow Flamehead that got something out of VU, I appreciate all the feedback I've received over the years. Thank you to Brian Biggie, my podcast co-host and friend, with whom I've worked for the last two years plus. Inner Demons will hopefully continue with Brian and someone new, with my blessing, because it would be a damn shame for it to disappear along with me.
I'll be checking in on Ghost Rider from time to time. And like unsaid, hopefully one day I'll be able to return to the blog. For now, please enjoy the near 600 reviews here and countless articles, all of it will remain up for posterity.
Adios, amigos,
Chris
Inner Demons Episode 47 - "My Big Fat Olympian Wedding"
Inner Demons is holding its own "Challenge of the Ghost Riders" as Brian and Chris judge which of our four comic reviews will win the race for the throne of Hell! Ghost Rider (2019) # 2 is the early favorite, will its Damnation Stare give it the edge it needs to pull ahead or will Johnny Blaze's hellfire hammer from Avengers (2018) # 25 knock the opponents out of commission? Can Pluto's plot from The Champions (1975) # 2 secure its racing dominance or will Suicide and Zodiak ensure an easy victory for Ghost Rider (1990) # 19? If you want to keep up on all the pole positions be sure to give this episode your full attention, or don't and forfeit your soul!
Ghost Rider (2019) # 1
On Sale Date: October 2019
Writer: Ed Brisson
Artist: Aaron Kuder
Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Jason Keith
Editor: Chris Robinson
Senior Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder
In Hell, a group of demons loyal to Mephisto open a portal to Earth. They are attacked by Johnny Blaze, the King of Hell, and his demon soldiers, but some of the escaping demons make it through the portal to possess new human bodies. Leaving his lieutenant D'Kay behind to guard the portal, Blaze travels to Earth himself to hunt down the escapees.
In Brooklyn, at the Fadeaway Pub, Danny Ketch gets in a fight with two men, which is interrupted by a visit from his ex girlfriend, police detective Stacy Dolan. Danny tells her not to worry about him, and after she leaves he goes out back and transforms into the Ghost Rider. He finds not only a giant rampaging demon but also his brother, Johnny Blaze. Danny kills the demon by riding down its throat and turning it inside out. Meanwhile, back in Hell, D'Kay is killed by Lilith.
At the Fadeaway, Johnny asks Danny to help him round up the escaped demons. Danny refuses, saying he just wants to be left alone. Blaze notices one of the patrons leaving, then chides Danny before leaving the bar himself. While Danny goes to the cemetery to visit his mother's grave and get drunk, Blaze follows the man from the bar back to his apartment. Johnny attacks the man, revealing him to be a demon before sending him to He'll. Danny is visited by his mother's ghost, who tells her son that Johnny has been corrupted by Hell and must be stopped.
"The Caretaker Chronicles"
In Brooklyn, at the Fadeaway Pub, Danny Ketch gets in a fight with two men, which is interrupted by a visit from his ex girlfriend, police detective Stacy Dolan. Danny tells her not to worry about him, and after she leaves he goes out back and transforms into the Ghost Rider. He finds not only a giant rampaging demon but also his brother, Johnny Blaze. Danny kills the demon by riding down its throat and turning it inside out. Meanwhile, back in Hell, D'Kay is killed by Lilith.
At the Fadeaway, Johnny asks Danny to help him round up the escaped demons. Danny refuses, saying he just wants to be left alone. Blaze notices one of the patrons leaving, then chides Danny before leaving the bar himself. While Danny goes to the cemetery to visit his mother's grave and get drunk, Blaze follows the man from the bar back to his apartment. Johnny attacks the man, revealing him to be a demon before sending him to He'll. Danny is visited by his mother's ghost, who tells her son that Johnny has been corrupted by Hell and must be stopped.
"The Caretaker Chronicles"
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
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
Sister Sara, the granddaughter of the Caretaker and inheritor of his mantle, rides through the desert, following a psychic summoning. She arrives at a cave, where she finds a library of books similar to her grandfather's. She touches one of the books and experiences a vision of things to come involving the Ghost Riders.
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| Danny is perpetually having "one of those days". |
THE ROADMAP
Danny Ketch/Ghost Rider made his last appearance in Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance # 1, when Johnny Blaze asked him to help Alejandra Jones. Danny failed and Alejandra was killed by Carnage during the events of that issue.
Johnny Blaze became the King of Hell in Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider # 1 and last appeared in Avengers (2018) # 25.
Stacy Dolan, Danny's ex-girlfriend, first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 1 and was a regular supporting character throughout that series. She last appeared in Marvel Comics Presents (2007) # 12. Danny's mother, Audra Ketch, also first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 1 and she made her last appearance in Ghost Rider (1990) # 90. She apparently died not long before this issue.
Blaze's lieutenant in Hell, D'Kay, first appeared in Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 116. He last appeared in Iron Fist (2017) # 80. He is killed in this issue by Lilith, who first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 28 and appeared last in Witches (2004) # 4.
Sister Sara first appeared in Ghost Rider (2006) # 26 and became the new Caretaker in Ghost Rider (2006) # 27 when she touched her grandfather's books about the history of the Spirits of Vengeance. She last appeared in Ghost Riders: Heaven's On Fire (2009) # 6.
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 # 237.
Johnny Blaze became the King of Hell in Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider # 1 and last appeared in Avengers (2018) # 25.
Stacy Dolan, Danny's ex-girlfriend, first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 1 and was a regular supporting character throughout that series. She last appeared in Marvel Comics Presents (2007) # 12. Danny's mother, Audra Ketch, also first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 1 and she made her last appearance in Ghost Rider (1990) # 90. She apparently died not long before this issue.
Blaze's lieutenant in Hell, D'Kay, first appeared in Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 116. He last appeared in Iron Fist (2017) # 80. He is killed in this issue by Lilith, who first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 28 and appeared last in Witches (2004) # 4.
Sister Sara first appeared in Ghost Rider (2006) # 26 and became the new Caretaker in Ghost Rider (2006) # 27 when she touched her grandfather's books about the history of the Spirits of Vengeance. She last appeared in Ghost Riders: Heaven's On Fire (2009) # 6.
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 # 237.
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| Those chains look freaking PAINFUL. |
CHAIN REACTION
Danny Ketch rides back into his first ongoing series since the 1990s and it is a glorious sight to behold.
To say that this comic was eagerly anticipated by Ghost Rider fans is a bit of an understatement, and it's a rare case of Marvel hedging their bets and actually providing some excitement and buildup for Danny Ketch's return. With all of the focus on Johnny Blaze over the last 20 years it seemed like Marvel had forgotten that Danny Ketch's 1990s series was the most successful that the Ghost Rider character has EVER been. Now, I'm sure no one expected this series to sell like its predecessor, which was one of the most popular comics of its time, so allowing the creators to slowly build interest in the series over the previous year was very smart. With the Avengers series doing a concurrent Ghost Rider story and the previous appearances of Ketch throughout the Marvel Universe (Absolute Carnage, Punisher, etc...), it looked like Marvel was really serious about making this book a success. It was a huge sea change from when Marvel cancelled the last Ghost Rider series after five issues, with its sixth already solicited and never published. Marvel was confident about Ghost Rider, and specifically Danny Ketch, as a character again.
They also couldn't have picked a better writer to handle this series than Ed Brisson (other than Howard Mackie coming back, of course), who has guided Danny through his appearances in the prior year and made him a compelling lead character. Brisson's first issue of this series is brimming with nods to past Ghost Rider continuity, just as his previous stories were, and it's like a nod toward everyone else who grew up with the 1990s Ghost Rider. He's also writing a Danny Ketch that's spot-on, updating him from his 90s personality by incorporating the slightly dodgy stuff that Jason Aaron and Simon Spurrier did with him in 2008. Nothing has been disregarded, Brisson's Ketch is a fascinating integration of those two interpretations of the character. He's put upon and downbeat, and in comparison to his more successful (I say in quotes) brother he's not really much of a Ghost Rider at all.
Which is where this newest look at Johnny Blaze comes into play as the King of Hell. We've seen Johnny in this role during the previous year, specifically in the "Challenge of the Ghost Riders" arc in Avengers that was eagerly painting him as a villain. It's a natural consequence to ruling Hell, I'd assume, that he'd go just a little corrupt. At least here he seems to have pure motives until the end, but his bullying toward Danny is pretty par for the course considering their tumultuous history as brothers. In fact, it's an interest inversion of their last major encounter, when Danny was the one that had been corrupted and overpowered by Zadkiel. So having Johnny be the one in power and looking down on Danny is a great role reversal that I'm sure Brisson will likely flag up in coming issues.
The artwork for this comic, oh sweet Jesus the artwork, is by Aaron Kuder. I'm familiar with Kuder's work in passing for his Guardians of the Galaxy and Action Comics runs, but not because I read those titles, just from cover art alone. I wasn't prepared for how much I enjoyed his art here, it is absolutely on point for every panel of every page. His work reminds me a lot of a toned down Frank Quitely, with his lanky and haggard figures and texture of the environments. His panel compositions and action staging is impeccable, especially the pages with Ghost Rider fighting the giant demon.
Overall, I could not be more satisfied with this comic. It absolutely lived up to my expectations and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Highest possible recommendation.
To say that this comic was eagerly anticipated by Ghost Rider fans is a bit of an understatement, and it's a rare case of Marvel hedging their bets and actually providing some excitement and buildup for Danny Ketch's return. With all of the focus on Johnny Blaze over the last 20 years it seemed like Marvel had forgotten that Danny Ketch's 1990s series was the most successful that the Ghost Rider character has EVER been. Now, I'm sure no one expected this series to sell like its predecessor, which was one of the most popular comics of its time, so allowing the creators to slowly build interest in the series over the previous year was very smart. With the Avengers series doing a concurrent Ghost Rider story and the previous appearances of Ketch throughout the Marvel Universe (Absolute Carnage, Punisher, etc...), it looked like Marvel was really serious about making this book a success. It was a huge sea change from when Marvel cancelled the last Ghost Rider series after five issues, with its sixth already solicited and never published. Marvel was confident about Ghost Rider, and specifically Danny Ketch, as a character again.
They also couldn't have picked a better writer to handle this series than Ed Brisson (other than Howard Mackie coming back, of course), who has guided Danny through his appearances in the prior year and made him a compelling lead character. Brisson's first issue of this series is brimming with nods to past Ghost Rider continuity, just as his previous stories were, and it's like a nod toward everyone else who grew up with the 1990s Ghost Rider. He's also writing a Danny Ketch that's spot-on, updating him from his 90s personality by incorporating the slightly dodgy stuff that Jason Aaron and Simon Spurrier did with him in 2008. Nothing has been disregarded, Brisson's Ketch is a fascinating integration of those two interpretations of the character. He's put upon and downbeat, and in comparison to his more successful (I say in quotes) brother he's not really much of a Ghost Rider at all.
Which is where this newest look at Johnny Blaze comes into play as the King of Hell. We've seen Johnny in this role during the previous year, specifically in the "Challenge of the Ghost Riders" arc in Avengers that was eagerly painting him as a villain. It's a natural consequence to ruling Hell, I'd assume, that he'd go just a little corrupt. At least here he seems to have pure motives until the end, but his bullying toward Danny is pretty par for the course considering their tumultuous history as brothers. In fact, it's an interest inversion of their last major encounter, when Danny was the one that had been corrupted and overpowered by Zadkiel. So having Johnny be the one in power and looking down on Danny is a great role reversal that I'm sure Brisson will likely flag up in coming issues.
The artwork for this comic, oh sweet Jesus the artwork, is by Aaron Kuder. I'm familiar with Kuder's work in passing for his Guardians of the Galaxy and Action Comics runs, but not because I read those titles, just from cover art alone. I wasn't prepared for how much I enjoyed his art here, it is absolutely on point for every panel of every page. His work reminds me a lot of a toned down Frank Quitely, with his lanky and haggard figures and texture of the environments. His panel compositions and action staging is impeccable, especially the pages with Ghost Rider fighting the giant demon.
Overall, I could not be more satisfied with this comic. It absolutely lived up to my expectations and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Highest possible recommendation.
Spider-Man (1990) # 22
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| Cover Art: Erik Larsen |
Original Price: $1.75
Title: "Revenge of the Sinister Six, Part 5: The Sixth Member"
Writer: Erik Larsen
Artist: Erik Larsen
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Colorist: Gregory Wright
Editor: Danny Fingeroth
Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco
SYNOPSIS
While the Sinister Six bicker among themselves in their New Jersey hideout, Spider-Man recuperates in his apartment with his wife, Mary Jane. The Sinister Six attack a building in New York that is actually a Hydra satellite relay station, with plans to hold the world hostage with a doomsday satellite. Spider-Man sees this on the news and goes to stop his enemies, but finds Hulk, Ghost Rider, and Sleepwalker outside the building. The heroes team up and storm the building. Sleepwalker fades away when his human host wakes up across town, Hulk and Ghost Rider are smashed down by the villains' newest sixth member, the giant alien Gog, and Spider-Man is left alone and surrounded.
ANNOTATIONS
Spider-Man references the "New Fantastic Four" team that consisted of Spider-Man, Wolverine, Ghost Rider, and the Hulk and first appeared in Fantastic Four (1961) # 347. This issue nearly reunites the quartet, swapping out Sleepwalker for Wolverine.
Ghost Rider fights the Hobgoblin, who he last encountered alongside Spider-Man in Ghost Rider (1990) # 17.
REVIEW
Erik Larsen's Sinister Six story just throws everything but the kitchen sink at the readers, which in this chapter means a sorta reunion of the "New" Fantastic Four.
While there's certainly an old school charm to this comic, the manic vibe combined with the ridiculous space wasted on subplots drags it down to an almost unreadable level. Erik Larsen was an untried writer at this point, with this being (to my knowledge anyway) his first major work as a writer as well as artist. It shows, too, not so much by the characterization since he has a solid handle on Spider-Man and most of the guest-stars but by the way the issue is paced. The storyline to this point had featured Spider-Man and Random Hero getting beat by the Sinister Six, and taking the time in the fifth chapter to show that the villains can't get along is a little labored. Why bother when none of those problems between the villains come back into play in the climax? Similarly, the scenes with Peter and Mary Jane at home are a terrible match to be juxtaposed with the Sinister Six arguments, especially since it's just such a buzzkill for the comic. I didn't mention them in the synopsis, but those scenes involve Mary Jane taking a movie role that has her doing a nude scene, and Peter objects for reasons.
This isn't a Spider-Man blog, so how about that Ghost Rider appearance? Well, he's certainly IN this comic, just not in any substantial way. He's part of a wave of heroes that Larsen has been throwing at the villains for wand-waved plot reasons, and at least Ghost Rider did show up once already in the first chapter. But having this be a really strained attempt to reunite the "New Fantastic Four" is hamstrung when Wolverine is substituted for Sleepwalker. Writers would always miss the point of that "New FF" story, it was a parody of guest-stars being used to inflate sales, not something taken straight as it is here.
Larsen's artwork is dependably solid, even though his Ghost Rider looks garishly out of place. I think that might be my biggest problem with Ghost Rider appearing in this comic, he just doesn't fit at all. He's in a similar situation as the poor Hobgoblin, who is still saddled with the "religious maniac" personality that Todd McFarlane bolted on to him. Neither character seem like they should be in this story, which at the end of the day is just an excuse to show people punching each other.
I can't deny that this story is fun as a throwback to 1960s Spider-Man, but when it invokes such 1990s stuff as Ghost Rider, demon Hobgoblin, and a nude movie role it deducts from that charm.
Grade: C+
ANNOTATIONS
Spider-Man references the "New Fantastic Four" team that consisted of Spider-Man, Wolverine, Ghost Rider, and the Hulk and first appeared in Fantastic Four (1961) # 347. This issue nearly reunites the quartet, swapping out Sleepwalker for Wolverine.
Ghost Rider fights the Hobgoblin, who he last encountered alongside Spider-Man in Ghost Rider (1990) # 17.
REVIEW
Erik Larsen's Sinister Six story just throws everything but the kitchen sink at the readers, which in this chapter means a sorta reunion of the "New" Fantastic Four.
While there's certainly an old school charm to this comic, the manic vibe combined with the ridiculous space wasted on subplots drags it down to an almost unreadable level. Erik Larsen was an untried writer at this point, with this being (to my knowledge anyway) his first major work as a writer as well as artist. It shows, too, not so much by the characterization since he has a solid handle on Spider-Man and most of the guest-stars but by the way the issue is paced. The storyline to this point had featured Spider-Man and Random Hero getting beat by the Sinister Six, and taking the time in the fifth chapter to show that the villains can't get along is a little labored. Why bother when none of those problems between the villains come back into play in the climax? Similarly, the scenes with Peter and Mary Jane at home are a terrible match to be juxtaposed with the Sinister Six arguments, especially since it's just such a buzzkill for the comic. I didn't mention them in the synopsis, but those scenes involve Mary Jane taking a movie role that has her doing a nude scene, and Peter objects for reasons.
This isn't a Spider-Man blog, so how about that Ghost Rider appearance? Well, he's certainly IN this comic, just not in any substantial way. He's part of a wave of heroes that Larsen has been throwing at the villains for wand-waved plot reasons, and at least Ghost Rider did show up once already in the first chapter. But having this be a really strained attempt to reunite the "New Fantastic Four" is hamstrung when Wolverine is substituted for Sleepwalker. Writers would always miss the point of that "New FF" story, it was a parody of guest-stars being used to inflate sales, not something taken straight as it is here.
Larsen's artwork is dependably solid, even though his Ghost Rider looks garishly out of place. I think that might be my biggest problem with Ghost Rider appearing in this comic, he just doesn't fit at all. He's in a similar situation as the poor Hobgoblin, who is still saddled with the "religious maniac" personality that Todd McFarlane bolted on to him. Neither character seem like they should be in this story, which at the end of the day is just an excuse to show people punching each other.
I can't deny that this story is fun as a throwback to 1960s Spider-Man, but when it invokes such 1990s stuff as Ghost Rider, demon Hobgoblin, and a nude movie role it deducts from that charm.
Grade: C+
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 124
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| Cover Art: Paris Karounos |
Original Price: $1.50
Title: "The Walking Wounded, Part 2: Stir the Soup"
Writer: Ann Nocenti
Artist: Steve Lightle
Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti
Letterer: Michael Higgins
Colorist: Mike Thomas
Editor: Terry Kavanagh
Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco
SYNOPSIS
Mary Walker is visited by Dusk, who comes from the Realm of Insanity and offers to take the Typhoid Mary personality away from her if she brings him the Ghost Rider. Her vision is interrupted by her friend, Eve, who comes into the bathroom and tells Mary that Danny Ketch is hanging around waiting for her. When they leave the bathroom they see the shopping mall is closing and the lights have already been turned off. Mary is sent to get the van for the Women's Action Movement, passing by the people leaving the last movie showing as she goes toward the back doors. When she finds the doors are locked, she's approached by two security guards who begin sexually assaulting her. Sensing danger, Dan excuses himself to transform into the Ghost Rider, and finds Mary in her Typhoid identity defending herself against the security guards. Ghost Rider recognizes Typhoid Mary from his dreams and gives her the Penance Stare, but is then interrupted by a passing priest from the movie theater. The priest tells the Ghost Rider that only God can decide guilt and exact penance, prompting Ghost Rider to respond "Father, do you know who you are talking to?"
ANNOTATIONS
This issue of Marvel Comics Presents also contained stories featuring Wolverine, She-Hulk, and Solo.
REVIEW
After a really stellar opening chapter, "Walking Wounded" starts to slip into some confusing plot points and mediocre artwork.
If any Ghost Rider comic should come with a trigger warning, it's definitely this one. Gender politics are a big part of Nocenti's Typhoid Mary stories, but I think this one is the first to depict an attempted sexual assault in such a blatant manner. Nocenti could easily be called put for the way she portrays the security guards as particularly ravenous men, but she at least balances them out with her positive portrayals of Dan Ketch and Father Martin. It doesn't make up for the disgusting attempted rape, nor does it paint Ghost Rider in a particularly flattering light at the end. Typhoid defends herself and gets the Penance Stare in return, which of course punishes her for taking a stand.
The most obvious explanation for the lecherous behavior of the guards and for Ghost Rider's assumptions is that Dusk, whoever that may be, is manipulating things. The first page has a great monologue from Dusk about his deal with Typhoid and his Realm of Insanity, but it doesnt explain what's happening at all. It took multiple readings of the story in total to figure things out, that the Typhoid that confronts Mary in the bathroom is not her other personality but actually Dusk assuming her form. It's frustratingly obtuse here because you can't really figure that out from the context of the first two chapters.
The artwork doesn't help things either, with the beautiful work Lightle did in the previous chapter making the work here look really bad in comparison. Lightle is not an artist whose work benefits from others laying hands on it, even when expediency necessitates it. Palmiotti amd Thomas drain all life from the pages, making dream like visual ques coming across as mundane and grounded with harsh inks and a garish color palate.
This is still a great arc with an intriguing premise, but the creative team needs to work on clarity above everything else.
Grade: B-
ANNOTATIONS
This issue of Marvel Comics Presents also contained stories featuring Wolverine, She-Hulk, and Solo.
REVIEW
After a really stellar opening chapter, "Walking Wounded" starts to slip into some confusing plot points and mediocre artwork.
If any Ghost Rider comic should come with a trigger warning, it's definitely this one. Gender politics are a big part of Nocenti's Typhoid Mary stories, but I think this one is the first to depict an attempted sexual assault in such a blatant manner. Nocenti could easily be called put for the way she portrays the security guards as particularly ravenous men, but she at least balances them out with her positive portrayals of Dan Ketch and Father Martin. It doesn't make up for the disgusting attempted rape, nor does it paint Ghost Rider in a particularly flattering light at the end. Typhoid defends herself and gets the Penance Stare in return, which of course punishes her for taking a stand.
The most obvious explanation for the lecherous behavior of the guards and for Ghost Rider's assumptions is that Dusk, whoever that may be, is manipulating things. The first page has a great monologue from Dusk about his deal with Typhoid and his Realm of Insanity, but it doesnt explain what's happening at all. It took multiple readings of the story in total to figure things out, that the Typhoid that confronts Mary in the bathroom is not her other personality but actually Dusk assuming her form. It's frustratingly obtuse here because you can't really figure that out from the context of the first two chapters.
The artwork doesn't help things either, with the beautiful work Lightle did in the previous chapter making the work here look really bad in comparison. Lightle is not an artist whose work benefits from others laying hands on it, even when expediency necessitates it. Palmiotti amd Thomas drain all life from the pages, making dream like visual ques coming across as mundane and grounded with harsh inks and a garish color palate.
This is still a great arc with an intriguing premise, but the creative team needs to work on clarity above everything else.
Grade: B-
Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 5
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| Cover Art: Adam Kubert |
Original Price: $1.75
Title: "Spirits of Venom, Part 2: Chasing Shadows"
Writer: Howard Mackie
Artist: Adam Kubert
Inker: Bill Reinhold
Letterer: Michael Heisler
Colorist: Gregory Wright
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco
SYNOPSIS
John Blaze wakes up in the sewers surrounded by the Death Spawn, while around him rages a battle consisting of Ghost Rider, Venom, Spider-Man, Hobgoblin, Demogoblin, the Doppelganger, Hag, Troll, and the comatose Deathwatch. Blaze also notices an innocent priest that has been pulled into the battle. Wanting to force the Deathspawn to back off, Blaze shoots a gas main with his hellfire shotgun, causing an explosion that separates the combatants. When Venom attempts to stop the Deathspawn from taking Spider-Man he gets in the way of Blaze's hellfire, causing the Venom symbiote pain. A brief confrontation occurs between Venom, Blaze, and Ghost Rider that ends with Venom stalking away to find Spider-Man. Ghost Rider then points out that Hag and Troll have left Deathwatch's body behind. They follow the sounds of screams to a hole behind a wall, but lose Deathwatch to one of the Deathspawn that emerges from the hole. Venom then reappears and shoves Ghost Rider and Blaze into the hole, following the Death Spawn. Meanwhile, in New Jersey at the Quentin Carnival, blind psychic Clara Menninger has a vision of the carnival being destroyed.
Back in the sewers, Blaze, Ghost Rider, and Venom find a group of homeless people that the Deathspawn have brought to the caverns as food. They also find Spider-Man, Father Martin, Demogoblin, Doppelganger, and Hobgoblin trapped against a nearby wall. Hag and Troll appear with the rest of the Deathspawn and another battle ensues. Once again, the Deathspawn separate, with the innocent people being taken one way and both Spider-Man and Deathwatch being taken another way. Blaze argues to Ghost Rider and Venom that the people take priority over everything, forcing the three into an uneasy alliance.
ANNOTATIONS
Back in the sewers, Blaze, Ghost Rider, and Venom find a group of homeless people that the Deathspawn have brought to the caverns as food. They also find Spider-Man, Father Martin, Demogoblin, Doppelganger, and Hobgoblin trapped against a nearby wall. Hag and Troll appear with the rest of the Deathspawn and another battle ensues. Once again, the Deathspawn separate, with the innocent people being taken one way and both Spider-Man and Deathwatch being taken another way. Blaze argues to Ghost Rider and Venom that the people take priority over everything, forcing the three into an uneasy alliance.
ANNOTATIONS
This issue is the second chapter of the four part "Spirits of Venom" crossover, which began in Web of Spider-Man (1985) # 95 and continues in Web of Spider-Man (1985) # 96.
Hag and Troll were believed to have died during Ghost Rider's final confrontation with Deathwatch in Ghost Rider (1990) # 24. They were shown to be alive and killed the Guardsman in Web of Spider-Man (1985) # 94, which is why Venom is tracking them down.
The meaning behind Clara Menninger's psychic vision is revealed in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 7.
Hag and Troll were believed to have died during Ghost Rider's final confrontation with Deathwatch in Ghost Rider (1990) # 24. They were shown to be alive and killed the Guardsman in Web of Spider-Man (1985) # 94, which is why Venom is tracking them down.
The meaning behind Clara Menninger's psychic vision is revealed in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 7.
REVIEW
The "Spirits of Venom" crossover hits part two of this really underrated story.
I really don't think there's been a better Ghost Rider creative team than Howard Mackie and Adam Kubert, whose work together on this series and this issue in particular hits all of the right notes for what a good story involving these characters should be like. I've said before that Spirits of Vengeance was by far the stronger of the two Ghost Rider titles of this era, and this issue is a perfect example of why. It has a clear focus, strong character work from Mackie, and absolutely brilliant art from Kubert.
Even though there's a ton of characters running around, the plot to this crossover is fairly simple. The Deathspawn want to resurrect Deathwatch and Venom wants to eat Spider-Man's brain, while Blaze and Ghost Rider are trying to stop both. Its really just a series of extended fight sequences, but Mackie and Kubert do two very smart things to keep the comic from degenerating into battle after battle with shadow monsters. First off, Mackie takes time to breath between fights to not only move the heroes further down into the tunnels but to also allow Ghost Rider and John Blaze to have some wonderful conversations. Having Blaze flag up the Ghost Rider's recent loquacious demeanor leads to some excellent banter, the two characters just have great chemistry under Mackie.
The second thing this comic does right is the way Adam Kubert uses the underground setting to make the panels feel absolutely claustrophobic for the readers and the characters. His dynamic character work is crammed between walls while simultaneously breaking out of panel borders. Venom in particular seems to defy being constrained by the pages, jutting out at uncomfortable angles at every opportunity and looking the scariest he's ever been. Kubert also fills the comic with so much personality, like with Ghost Rider making Deathwatch smile with his fingers on his mouth.
"Spirits of Venom" doesn't get brought up as much as it should when talking about classic Ghost Rider stories, but its yet another issue of solid gold from a great creative team,
Grade: A+
I really don't think there's been a better Ghost Rider creative team than Howard Mackie and Adam Kubert, whose work together on this series and this issue in particular hits all of the right notes for what a good story involving these characters should be like. I've said before that Spirits of Vengeance was by far the stronger of the two Ghost Rider titles of this era, and this issue is a perfect example of why. It has a clear focus, strong character work from Mackie, and absolutely brilliant art from Kubert.
Even though there's a ton of characters running around, the plot to this crossover is fairly simple. The Deathspawn want to resurrect Deathwatch and Venom wants to eat Spider-Man's brain, while Blaze and Ghost Rider are trying to stop both. Its really just a series of extended fight sequences, but Mackie and Kubert do two very smart things to keep the comic from degenerating into battle after battle with shadow monsters. First off, Mackie takes time to breath between fights to not only move the heroes further down into the tunnels but to also allow Ghost Rider and John Blaze to have some wonderful conversations. Having Blaze flag up the Ghost Rider's recent loquacious demeanor leads to some excellent banter, the two characters just have great chemistry under Mackie.
The second thing this comic does right is the way Adam Kubert uses the underground setting to make the panels feel absolutely claustrophobic for the readers and the characters. His dynamic character work is crammed between walls while simultaneously breaking out of panel borders. Venom in particular seems to defy being constrained by the pages, jutting out at uncomfortable angles at every opportunity and looking the scariest he's ever been. Kubert also fills the comic with so much personality, like with Ghost Rider making Deathwatch smile with his fingers on his mouth.
"Spirits of Venom" doesn't get brought up as much as it should when talking about classic Ghost Rider stories, but its yet another issue of solid gold from a great creative team,
Grade: A+
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 123
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| Cover Art: Steve Lightle |
Original Price: $1.50
Title: "The Walking Wounded, Part 1: Soulfeast"
Writer: Ann Nocenti
Artist: Steve Lightle
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Steve Lightle
Editor: Terry Kavanagh
Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco
SYNOPSIS
Daniel Ketch experiences a "waking nightmare", during which the Ghost Rider is confronted by Typhoid Mary. The woman tells Ghost Rider that "Dusk is falling" and that he should give up his human side in favor of the monster. Later, in upstate New York, Danny arrives a shopping mall to try and clear his mind. Inside the mall, a group called the Women's Action Movement are holding a demonstration for shoppers about the women's liberation movement. Danny stops and talks to one of the group members, a pregnant girl named Eve, about how both sexes face challenges in life. They're joined by Mary Walker, another group member who excuses herself quickly after a few minutes of debate. In the bathroom, Mary is confronted by her other personality, the twisted Typhoid Mary, who uses Mary's desire for Danny as a way to take control of their shared body once again.
ANNOTATIONS
Ghost Rider made his last appearance in Nightstalkers (1992) # 7.
Danny's inability to sleep stems from his last encounter with Nightmare in Ghost Rider (1990) # 30.
This issue of Marvel Comics Presents also contained stories featuring Wolverine, She-Hulk, and Master Man.
REVIEW
The Typhoid Mary team up arc begins in Marvel Comics Presents and you're either going to love this story or really hate it.
So, up front, I love this arc on just about every level. I consider it the best Ghost Rider story that ran in Marvel Comics Presents by a pretty wide margin, and that Steve Lightle artwork is beautiful. Its a story, even in this opening chapter, that challenges the reader and makes them work to figure things out, but not tobthe point where its obtuse or confusing. Its about the closest the character has come to a really mature, Vertigo style approach, and it forces you to pay attention to it.
Now, all that being said, this is also a comic designed to piss people off. Ann Nocenti had a very fondly remembered run on Daredevil and created Longshot, both of which she used to preach some fairly liberal viewpoints. Typhoid Mary, who she created in her Daredevil run as probably her most enduring creation, was very much Nocenti's mouthpiece for the plight of women in modern society. I happen to think she makes some good points in this issue during the conversations with the Women's Action Movement, but she also does it with the subtlety of a sledge hammer. She beats her views over the readers heads and I could totally see that rubbing some people the wrong way.
Her scripting outside of the soap-boxing is very strong, and when combined with Lightle's artwork it combines into some shockingly strong storytelling. The opening page, which features Danny Ketch's face being pulled off by a demonic bat to reveal the Ghost Rider beneath is chilling. Its a scene that's mirrored, no pun intended, with the confrontation at the chapter's end between Mary and Typhoid. Its a scary, claustrophobic comic that promises some great things to come.
Its a polarizing opening to a story that I really enjoy, I recommend it as long as the preachy tone doesn't turn you off.
Grade: A+
ANNOTATIONS
Ghost Rider made his last appearance in Nightstalkers (1992) # 7.
Danny's inability to sleep stems from his last encounter with Nightmare in Ghost Rider (1990) # 30.
This issue of Marvel Comics Presents also contained stories featuring Wolverine, She-Hulk, and Master Man.
REVIEW
The Typhoid Mary team up arc begins in Marvel Comics Presents and you're either going to love this story or really hate it.
So, up front, I love this arc on just about every level. I consider it the best Ghost Rider story that ran in Marvel Comics Presents by a pretty wide margin, and that Steve Lightle artwork is beautiful. Its a story, even in this opening chapter, that challenges the reader and makes them work to figure things out, but not tobthe point where its obtuse or confusing. Its about the closest the character has come to a really mature, Vertigo style approach, and it forces you to pay attention to it.
Now, all that being said, this is also a comic designed to piss people off. Ann Nocenti had a very fondly remembered run on Daredevil and created Longshot, both of which she used to preach some fairly liberal viewpoints. Typhoid Mary, who she created in her Daredevil run as probably her most enduring creation, was very much Nocenti's mouthpiece for the plight of women in modern society. I happen to think she makes some good points in this issue during the conversations with the Women's Action Movement, but she also does it with the subtlety of a sledge hammer. She beats her views over the readers heads and I could totally see that rubbing some people the wrong way.
Her scripting outside of the soap-boxing is very strong, and when combined with Lightle's artwork it combines into some shockingly strong storytelling. The opening page, which features Danny Ketch's face being pulled off by a demonic bat to reveal the Ghost Rider beneath is chilling. Its a scene that's mirrored, no pun intended, with the confrontation at the chapter's end between Mary and Typhoid. Its a scary, claustrophobic comic that promises some great things to come.
Its a polarizing opening to a story that I really enjoy, I recommend it as long as the preachy tone doesn't turn you off.
Grade: A+
Inner Demons Episode 46 - "Unoriginal Sin"
Inner Demons is traveling the timestream to bring you reviews from the past, the present, and even the far future! Chris & Brian go back through the wilds of continuity to review Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History # 6, take part in the Challenge of the Ghost Riders during the reviews of Avengers (2019) # 23 & 24, and then get arrested by the new federal marshal of Transverse City while attempting to review Ghost Rider 2099 # 15!
Blaze (1994) # 6
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| Cover Art: Henry Martinez |
Original Price: $1.95
Title: "Apache Autumn, Part 3: Hungry Spirits!"
Writer: Larry Hama
Artist: Henry Martinez
Inker: Bud LaRosa
Letterer: Bill Oakley
Colorist: John Kalisz
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco
SYNOPSIS
In Washington's Cascade Mountains, John Blaze has tracked down the Wendigo, a Native America folk creature that is supposedly a woodland protector spirit. Before Blaze can shoot the Wendigo, he's shocked to see his children, Craig and Emma, riding on the Wendigo's back along with another young boy.
The day before, Blaze and the Quentin Carnival arrive in the local town just as Kody is confronting Clara over the eyes of the Kristall Starrer. A native woman named Eve Two Crows intervenes, demanding Clara be given back her property, which allows Clara to place the eyes inside her head. Realizing that Eve is the woman they were sent to meet by Wyatt Wingfoot, Blaze follows her inside her office, where she has compiled all known Wendigo sightings in the mountain area. Clara enters wearing a provocative new outfit and blasts the computer with her eyes, pinpointing the Wendigo's location.
In the dimensional prison of Ice Box Bob, the Wendigo enters the cell holding Craig, Emma, and Jesse Pinto. They grab onto the Wendigo's back and allow the creature to take them out of the prison, which is exactly what the demonic entity imprisoning them was hoping for. The entity follows the Wendigo through the portal onto Earth directly behind Blaze, who the children are screaming at the turn around. Seeing the entity's reflection in his motorcycle, Blaze fires behind him, but is blasted by the demon's eye beams. The entity identifies himself as Ba'al, who wanted to use Blaze's hellfire to free him from the dimensional prison he had been locked within for centuries. The children save Blaze using the magic nail file that killed Ice Box Bob, which wounds Ba'al. While Ba'al goes back through the dimensional portal, Craig and Emma check on their dazed father. Jessee Pinto and the Wendigo go to the portal, saying they're going to track down and finish Ba'al off before he can come back and kill them. Craig and Emma decide to go with Jesse, and John wakes up just in time to see his children disappearing yet again in front of his eyes.
ANNOTATIONS
The day before, Blaze and the Quentin Carnival arrive in the local town just as Kody is confronting Clara over the eyes of the Kristall Starrer. A native woman named Eve Two Crows intervenes, demanding Clara be given back her property, which allows Clara to place the eyes inside her head. Realizing that Eve is the woman they were sent to meet by Wyatt Wingfoot, Blaze follows her inside her office, where she has compiled all known Wendigo sightings in the mountain area. Clara enters wearing a provocative new outfit and blasts the computer with her eyes, pinpointing the Wendigo's location.
In the dimensional prison of Ice Box Bob, the Wendigo enters the cell holding Craig, Emma, and Jesse Pinto. They grab onto the Wendigo's back and allow the creature to take them out of the prison, which is exactly what the demonic entity imprisoning them was hoping for. The entity follows the Wendigo through the portal onto Earth directly behind Blaze, who the children are screaming at the turn around. Seeing the entity's reflection in his motorcycle, Blaze fires behind him, but is blasted by the demon's eye beams. The entity identifies himself as Ba'al, who wanted to use Blaze's hellfire to free him from the dimensional prison he had been locked within for centuries. The children save Blaze using the magic nail file that killed Ice Box Bob, which wounds Ba'al. While Ba'al goes back through the dimensional portal, Craig and Emma check on their dazed father. Jessee Pinto and the Wendigo go to the portal, saying they're going to track down and finish Ba'al off before he can come back and kill them. Craig and Emma decide to go with Jesse, and John wakes up just in time to see his children disappearing yet again in front of his eyes.
ANNOTATIONS
Craig and Emma Blaze disappeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 50 after their mother was killed by Anton Hellgate. They were spirited away by Ba'al and held in the same other-dimensional prison as serial killer Ice Box Bob, who attempted to use the children to switch places with Blaze in the prison in Blaze (1990) # 3.
While spending time in an Apache "spirit kiva" in Blaze (1994) # 4, John Blaze had a vision of his children with the Wendigo.
The third child with the Blaze siblings, Jesse Pinto, was sacrificed to Ba'al by college student Darryl Licht in exchange for supernatural power in Blaze (1994) # 4.
The children and the Wendigo will catch up to Ba'al in Blaze (1994) # 11.
While spending time in an Apache "spirit kiva" in Blaze (1994) # 4, John Blaze had a vision of his children with the Wendigo.
The third child with the Blaze siblings, Jesse Pinto, was sacrificed to Ba'al by college student Darryl Licht in exchange for supernatural power in Blaze (1994) # 4.
The children and the Wendigo will catch up to Ba'al in Blaze (1994) # 11.
REVIEW
"Apache Autumn" concludes with a surprising yet ultimately unsatisfying twist.
While Larry Hama continues to have an excellent handle on the characters, especially Blaze, this issue contains some questionable resolutions to a few plot threads. There almost seems to be a weird disconnect between this issue and the last, like the details don't quite add up. For example, it was made very clear that the entity who kidnapped Blaze's kids had a history with Blaze, even being surprised that Blaze didn't recognize him. In this issue, though, the entity is revealed to be a demon names Ba'al, which doesn't fit at all. I understand Hama tended to just write things as they came to him without much of a structured plan, but the reveal of the big bad as a new character after several issues of build up for some kind of shared history is disappointing.
Hama also makes a few other odd decisions here, such as his interpretation of the Wendigo as a benevolent woodland protector, which is fine in this context but doesn't fit at all with the monster's depiction as it's appeared in the Marvel Universe. From its appearances in the Hulk and X-Men stories, the Wendigo is a man cursed to become a monster after eating human flesh, which obviously isn't the way Hama sees the beast here. Then there's the end with Blaze's kids choosing to leave their father, which is a gut wrenching twist. Unfortunately, its also way too close to the "almost had 'em!" end to issue # 3. I think that might be the biggest flaw in the series, because despite Hama's great characters and truly original plots, such as the floating eyeballs and Ice Box Bob, the tease of the kidnapped children is becoming extremely tiresome.
Henry Martinez continues to be simpatico with Hama, even to a fault. He is still growing into an amazing artist with each new issue, his action and character work are all very good. There's the problem areas though, such as the hugely uninteresting design for Ba'al, who is just a generic green demon. He was far more intriguing when his physical form was in shadow or distorted by dream worlds, in the real world fighting with Blaze he just comes across as boring.
This is still a good comic, but after five issues of great comics the flaws in this one are too much to not notice.
Grade: B-
While Larry Hama continues to have an excellent handle on the characters, especially Blaze, this issue contains some questionable resolutions to a few plot threads. There almost seems to be a weird disconnect between this issue and the last, like the details don't quite add up. For example, it was made very clear that the entity who kidnapped Blaze's kids had a history with Blaze, even being surprised that Blaze didn't recognize him. In this issue, though, the entity is revealed to be a demon names Ba'al, which doesn't fit at all. I understand Hama tended to just write things as they came to him without much of a structured plan, but the reveal of the big bad as a new character after several issues of build up for some kind of shared history is disappointing.
Hama also makes a few other odd decisions here, such as his interpretation of the Wendigo as a benevolent woodland protector, which is fine in this context but doesn't fit at all with the monster's depiction as it's appeared in the Marvel Universe. From its appearances in the Hulk and X-Men stories, the Wendigo is a man cursed to become a monster after eating human flesh, which obviously isn't the way Hama sees the beast here. Then there's the end with Blaze's kids choosing to leave their father, which is a gut wrenching twist. Unfortunately, its also way too close to the "almost had 'em!" end to issue # 3. I think that might be the biggest flaw in the series, because despite Hama's great characters and truly original plots, such as the floating eyeballs and Ice Box Bob, the tease of the kidnapped children is becoming extremely tiresome.
Henry Martinez continues to be simpatico with Hama, even to a fault. He is still growing into an amazing artist with each new issue, his action and character work are all very good. There's the problem areas though, such as the hugely uninteresting design for Ba'al, who is just a generic green demon. He was far more intriguing when his physical form was in shadow or distorted by dream worlds, in the real world fighting with Blaze he just comes across as boring.
This is still a good comic, but after five issues of great comics the flaws in this one are too much to not notice.
Grade: B-
Guardians of the Galaxy (2019) # 4
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| Cover Art: David Marquez |
Original Price: $3.99
Title: "The Final Gauntlet, Part 4"
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Geoff Shaw
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Senior Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor: Darren Shaw
Assistant Editor: Danny Khazem
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
SYNOPSIS
The Guardians of the Galaxy arrive on Halfworld to locate Gamora, who attacks them before Groot intervenes. Groot takes Gamora onto their ship, stating that they will come back to deal with Rocket Raccoon another time. Star Lord locks Gamora's hands in cuffs, not willing to belief that she's a victim in Thanos' game. Nova runs into the ship, crashing his way inside to warn them that the Dark Guardians are after Gamora, not realizing that Gamora is already with them. The Dark Guardians force Star Lord's ship to crash back onto Halfworld, and the two teams engage each other in battle. Nebula attempts to shoot and kill Gamora, but Star Lord jumps in front of the blast, seemingly killing him as the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy are defeated by the Dark Guardians.
ANNOTATIONS
Podcast Review: Inner Demons Episode 42 - "Power Vacuum" (Click to Listen)
REVIEW
Cosmic Ghost Rider does some stuff in the background of a few panels in this overcrowded issue.
Right about here is where I've lost patience with and interest in this series. I've said in previous reviews that Cates is not doing his best work by juggling so many characters and that opinion is validated completely with this issue. Characters are still showing up with no introductions, no dialogue, and in the case of some of the Dark Guardians not even names. The creators are really taking advantage of the cosmic sandbox, which is admirable, but by doing so are giving the short shrift to some of their "core" cast. Phylla Vell and Moondragon are still ciphers, while Cosmic Ghost Rider is just there as background noise. Instead of bringing in Nova and Nebula and everyone else, why not make the actual main characters useful and interesting?
Geoff Shaw is still producing quality work, and the man can draw the hell out of a big fight scene, but not even that is enough to maintain my flagging interest. The characters may be emoting like mad visually, but the story isn't engaging enough to justify it. He does draw a mean Beta Ray Bill, though.
By this point I'm only reading this comic because of Cosmic Ghost Rider, and his appearance in this issue is making me question even that decision. Its disappointing considering how excited I was for this series going in.
Grade: C-
Blaze (1994) # 5
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| Cover Artist: Henry Martinez |
Original Price: $1.95
Title: "Apache Autumn, Part 2: Bad Day at the Haunted Mesa"
Writer: Larry Hama
Artist: Henry Martinez
Inker: Bud LaRosa
Letterer: Bill Oakley
Colorist: John Kalisz
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco
SYNOPSIS
John Blaze and Warpath are in a fight with a college student named Darryl Licht, who bartered the souls of murder victims to an entity he believed to be a Native American trickster god. The entity is actually the same one that kidnapped Blaze's children, and he has bestowed supernatural power to Licht, transforming him into a six-armed buffalo demon. Licht easily defeats Blaze and Warpath and uses magic to transport them inside a nearby mesa. Wyatt Wingfoot, Clara Menninger, and the rest of the Quentin Carnival arrive too late to see where Blaze and Warpath have been taken, finding only Blaze's abandoned motorcycle and shotgun.
Meanwhile, in the the dimensional prison formerly inhabited by the deceased Ice Box Bob, the entity locks away Blaze's children, Craig and Emma, and they are soon visited by someone entering their cell through the floor. The visitor is Jesse Pinto, who was given to the entity by Licht. He has a plan to escape and seek revenge using the magic nail file used to kill Ice Box Bob.
Back inside the mesa, Licht rants to the mystically bound Blaze and Warpath, while outside Clara uses the eyes of the Kristall Starrer to find their location. While Warpath breaks free of his bonds and attacks Licht, Clara and Princess Python ride Blaze's motorcycle toward the mesa, bringing the shotgun with them. Blaze concentrates his hellfire to escape his own bonds, while in the prison dimension the Wendigo appears riding mystical rails, taking the nail file with him from Jesse before disappearing again. The Wendigo appears inside the mesa and hands the nail file to Blaze just as Clara and Princess Python arrive, giving the shotgun back to him as well. Blaze sticks the nail file through a 12-gauge round and shoots it through his shotgun at Licht, which when combined with the hellfire disrupts the entities magic and transforms Licht back into his human body. The mesa disappears and Blaze threatens Licht, wanting information on who he made his deal with and where he can find his children.
ANNOTATIONS
Meanwhile, in the the dimensional prison formerly inhabited by the deceased Ice Box Bob, the entity locks away Blaze's children, Craig and Emma, and they are soon visited by someone entering their cell through the floor. The visitor is Jesse Pinto, who was given to the entity by Licht. He has a plan to escape and seek revenge using the magic nail file used to kill Ice Box Bob.
Back inside the mesa, Licht rants to the mystically bound Blaze and Warpath, while outside Clara uses the eyes of the Kristall Starrer to find their location. While Warpath breaks free of his bonds and attacks Licht, Clara and Princess Python ride Blaze's motorcycle toward the mesa, bringing the shotgun with them. Blaze concentrates his hellfire to escape his own bonds, while in the prison dimension the Wendigo appears riding mystical rails, taking the nail file with him from Jesse before disappearing again. The Wendigo appears inside the mesa and hands the nail file to Blaze just as Clara and Princess Python arrive, giving the shotgun back to him as well. Blaze sticks the nail file through a 12-gauge round and shoots it through his shotgun at Licht, which when combined with the hellfire disrupts the entities magic and transforms Licht back into his human body. The mesa disappears and Blaze threatens Licht, wanting information on who he made his deal with and where he can find his children.
ANNOTATIONS
The identity of Icebox Bob's master who kidnapped Blaze's children is revealed in Blaze (1994) # 6.
The origin of the magic nail file comes from Blaze (1994) # 3, when the ghost boy Holden Carver used it to kill Ice Box Bob, stating that the file is a "piece of steel with the number 7 on it", which gives it mystical power.
The origin of the magic nail file comes from Blaze (1994) # 3, when the ghost boy Holden Carver used it to kill Ice Box Bob, stating that the file is a "piece of steel with the number 7 on it", which gives it mystical power.
REVIEW
"Apache Autumn" continues as the Blaze series soldiers on valiantly.
It's a damn shame that not many folks, even among Ghost Rider fans, acknowledge the Blaze series for what it was trying to do at the time. This was when Howard Mackie was steering the main Ghost Rider series away from the supernatural, and to balance that Larry Hama and Henry Martinez leaned hard in the opposite direction. This comic is weird, like four-armed buffalo man weird, and it gleefully revels in its weirdness. Its actually really endearing.
Even with all the bizarre stuff happening, Hama is somehow able to keep things relatively grounded. He's able to do that mainly through his characterization of John Blaze, who takes everything in stride as just another Tuesday in a haunted mesa. Blaze is a rock arkund which Hama has all the other elements revolve, naturally since he's the title character, but he has Blaze treat it as so deadpan that it creates an even more surreal tone than if everything was just weird upon weird.
This is also a very complicated comic with lots of jumps to different characters and strange locations. Hama tries to bring potential new readers up to speed, but god help anyone who picked this up as their first issue because it is severely dense. It does an excellent job of building on the issues preceding it, utilizing things like the magic nail file and the jar of eyeballs in ways that continues to justify their recurrence. It hinges a lot on coincidence, sure, but that's part of what makes this issue hang together so well. Its providence instead of convenience when the Wendigo walks through dimensions with the magic macguffin.
Henry Martinez is the real MVP of this series, and his work has come such a long way since he first came on board Spirits of Vengeance. His work has this ethereal quality to it that makes all the supernatural stuff look just out of place enough that it creates dissonance instead of a time clash. The proportions of Licht in his buffalo form don't quite work, but I can't imagine that being easy to draw from a description.
Blaze was a very brief highlight in the 1990s. More people should be talking about it.
Grade: A+
It's a damn shame that not many folks, even among Ghost Rider fans, acknowledge the Blaze series for what it was trying to do at the time. This was when Howard Mackie was steering the main Ghost Rider series away from the supernatural, and to balance that Larry Hama and Henry Martinez leaned hard in the opposite direction. This comic is weird, like four-armed buffalo man weird, and it gleefully revels in its weirdness. Its actually really endearing.
Even with all the bizarre stuff happening, Hama is somehow able to keep things relatively grounded. He's able to do that mainly through his characterization of John Blaze, who takes everything in stride as just another Tuesday in a haunted mesa. Blaze is a rock arkund which Hama has all the other elements revolve, naturally since he's the title character, but he has Blaze treat it as so deadpan that it creates an even more surreal tone than if everything was just weird upon weird.
This is also a very complicated comic with lots of jumps to different characters and strange locations. Hama tries to bring potential new readers up to speed, but god help anyone who picked this up as their first issue because it is severely dense. It does an excellent job of building on the issues preceding it, utilizing things like the magic nail file and the jar of eyeballs in ways that continues to justify their recurrence. It hinges a lot on coincidence, sure, but that's part of what makes this issue hang together so well. Its providence instead of convenience when the Wendigo walks through dimensions with the magic macguffin.
Henry Martinez is the real MVP of this series, and his work has come such a long way since he first came on board Spirits of Vengeance. His work has this ethereal quality to it that makes all the supernatural stuff look just out of place enough that it creates dissonance instead of a time clash. The proportions of Licht in his buffalo form don't quite work, but I can't imagine that being easy to draw from a description.
Blaze was a very brief highlight in the 1990s. More people should be talking about it.
Grade: A+
Inner Demons Episode 45 - "Continuity Hug"
Inner Demons is back with a roller coaster of an episode that takes a look at the dizzying high of Ghost Rider (2019) # 1, the curving speed of Avengers (2018) #s 21 and 22, and the plunging depths of Secret Warps: Ghost Panther Annual # 1!
Guardians of the Galaxy (2019) # 3
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| Cover Art: David Marquez |
Original Price: $3.99
Title: "The Final Gauntlet, Part 3"
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Geoff Shaw
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Senior Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor: Darren Shaw
Assistant Editor: Danny Khazem
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
SYNOPSIS
While Eros and his Dark Guardians hunt for Gamora, Hela and the Black Order arrive in the Negative Zone to confront Annihilus. He shows them the severed head of Thanos, which Hela takes after quickly defeating Annihilus in combat. The Dark Guardians chase a wounded Richard Rider, Nova and former lover of Gamora, to learn from him her location. Nova stands his ground until he is attacked by Wraith, who is ready to kill Rider. Cosmic Ghost Rider intervenes and tries to talk to Nova, attempting to reason with him and convince him to give up Gamora. Nova flies off, but Nebula has already figured out where he is going. Meanwhile, Star Lord finds himself relieved of command if his ship by Groot and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy, who intend to save Gamora from Eros. Star Lord protests but eventually gives in, revealing that Gamora has gone to Halfworld to find Rocket Raccoon.
ANNOTATIONS
Podcast Review: Inner Demons Episode 39 - "Cosmic Deadpool Destroys Drunk History"" (Click to Listen)
REVIEW
Cosmic Ghost Rider continues to have a diminishing role in this series despite the cover focus.
I'm going to go ahead and say it, this series has way too many damn characters running around. When the title characters only appear in the last few pages and several of them are still woefully undeveloped as anything other than names and costumes, that's a problem. Its something that Cates has struggled with before when writing an ensemble cast, going back to the Damnation miniseries. Characters get lost in the shuffle, are given no explanation besides the briefest of description, and outside of a few focus characters most are left to languish in the background. Here, any character not named Eros or Star Lord are used almost interchangeably. Wraith gets a solid introduction, but Cates relies a lot on assumptions that everyone knows about Nova and Gladiator.
Cosmic Ghost Rider gets the worst fate of all, as the cover promises a featured role for him that the comic fails to deliver. Castle is a victim of diminishing returns in this series, he's there for what should be a good reason but the amount of characters included are serving to push him further into the background. This isn't a Cosmic Ghost Rider series, of course, but I feel like he's been used as a major selling point for this series and that comes with expectations.
While Cates may be struggling with such a large cast, Geoff Shaw seems to be thriving. He has a serious eye for style and dramatic design that really serves this series well. The splash page reveal of Annihilus is amazing and he does similar striking work during Wraith's attack on Nova. Even Groot, a walking tree, has a wonderfully emotive scowl present on his face. Shaw is definitely the highlight of the issue and the series so far.
This issue is not bad by any means, its just too crowded. It would be nice if the focus and cast got narrowed down.
Grade: B-
Free Comic Book Day 2019: Avengers # 1
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| Cover Art: Ed McGuiness |
Original Price: N/A
Title: "Make Mine Avengers"
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Stefano Casell
Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Erick Arciniega
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Associate Editor: Alanna Smith
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
SYNOPSIS
While Iron Man finds himself in a strange, snowy environment, other events are happening in the world. Namor and his Defenders of the Deep fight the Squadron Supreme of America on an oil rig while a group of Avengers are in deep space investigating a planet emblazoned with the Starbrand symbol. At Avengers Mountain, Robbie Reyes asks Blade and Black Panther to help exorcise his demon possessed car, and finally, Iron Man realizes he has traveled back in time when he is confronted by Odin and his team of prehistoric Avengers.
ANNOTATIONS
The scene in this issue with Robbie Reyes, Black Panther, and Blade confronting the possessed Hell Charger references the events of Avengers (2018) # 22.The Avengers of 1,000,000 B.C. first appeared in Marvel Legacy (2017) # 1 and have been a major part of the current Avengers series.
This Free Comic Book Day one shot also featured a preview of Savage Avengers # 1.
REVIEW
Avengers receives the spotlight for Free Comic Book Day for the second year in a row, providing a glimpse of where Jason Aaron is taking the series in upcoming stories.
This is actually a very solid primer on the current Avengers series, in which are a ton of juggled subplots of various levels of interest. I can't say I'm overly thrilled by more stories about Namor or the Squadron Supreme, I didn't find them all that engaging in their previous stories in recent issues, but they're obviously a major part of the larger tapestry that Aaron is weaving. I'm surprised the Winter Guard didn't make an appearance as well, considering how much focus has paid them so far.
The more interesting parts of this comic are the ones that tease upcoming stories. The space pages are curious just for the sheer shock value of what's happened to the characters (Brood Thor?), but I can't say I'm all that excited about revisiting the Starbrand. The more immediate parts are, of course, the brief tease about Robbie exorcising the Hell Charger, which is a lead in to the Challenge of the Ghost Riders arc and Iron Man meeting the 1,000,000 B.C. Avengers. The latter group has seen a lot of attention from Aaron as well in the last year of comics, but theyre novel enough still that having them interact with the modern day. At least no Celestials showed up this time.
Stefano Caselli shows up to strut his stuff before jumping on board as the replacement artist for the departing David Marquez. I've always been a fan of Caselli, he has a clean and dynamic style that fits the aesthetic of this series perfectly, as he's not too many shades away from Ed McGuiness. Getting to see him handle stuff like the Hell Charger and the prehistoric Avengers definitely makes me eager to see what else he can do on the series.
This is a free comic, so I can't really complain about any of it. It does exactly what it sets out to achieve and does it well.
Grade: B+
Ghost Rider: From Big Screen to Small and (Maybe?) Back Again
Then came the hammer earlier this week, first as a rumor and then confirmed by Luna via Twitter, that the show was dead due to "creative differences" between Hulu, Marvel, and the executive producer Paul Zbyszewski. Now, what those differences were haven't been revealed, and there's a fair amount of speculation in regards to a related announcement at the start of this week. Namely that Kevin Feige, overlord of Marvel Studios, confirmed that he had plans to utilize Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It's no secret that Marvel Studios and Marvel Television don't really get along. The MCU has yet to reference the televisions shows, including Agents of SHIELD and the Netflix Defenders saga, treating them as redheaded stepchildren. With Feige now developing shoes for Disney+, perhaps he simply stepped in and scalped Ghost Rider away from the TV department. After all, that's what he reportedly did with Blade and Moon Knight. Then there's the Keanu Reeves angle, with the many rumors about him signing on to play Johnny Blaze.
I'm not afraid to say that Marvel Studios having control of Ghost Rider will likely lead to some amazing things, whether its a feature film or a show on Disney+. The biggest downside to all of this is that we aren't getting to see Gabriel Luna back as Robbie Reyes, who so perfectly portrayed the character back in 2015. Perhaps Agents of SHIELD will throw us fans a bine and have him back in the final season? Whatever the outcome, its apparent that there are major plans in the works for our Spirit of Vengeance, we just may need a lot of patience in the meantime.
Inner Demons Episode 44: "Strip For Action!"
Inner Demons vrooms back into the spotlight with a new episode full of Ghost Rider greatness! Brian and Chris take the time to teach some lessons, including but not limited to: spinal cords are delicious, the world most certainly does not still need the Champions, the edge is a precarious place to live, and zombies are really clumsy. Learn about all of this and more in reviews of Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance # 1, The Champions (1975) # 1, Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: Hearts of Darkness, and Ghost Rider (2006) # 10! Also, stay tuned at the end for a re-presentation of our interview with comic legend John Romita Jr.!
Guardians of the Galaxy (2019) # 2
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| Cover Art: David Marquez |
Original Price: $3.99
Title: "The Final Gauntlet, Part 2"
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Geoff Shaw
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Senior Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor: Darren Shaw
Assistant Editor: Danny Khazem
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
SYNOPSIS
Aboard the space ship Milano, Star Lord speaks with his ex, Kitty Pryde, about the Black Order taking Thanos' body and Eros wanting to kill Gamora. He checks on two of his new crew members, Moondragon and Phyla-Vell, then hears sounds of a commotion coming from elsewhere on the ship. He finds Groot in a fight with Cosmic Ghost Rider, a fight that's only broken up when Moondragon intervenes. Castle wants to kill Gamora to prevent Thanos returning in her body while Groot and Beta Ray Bill want to help save her. Star Lord refuses to get involved and tells Castle to leave. Meanwhile, Hela and the Black Order interrogate the Collector about the whereabouts of Thanos' head, which he reveals is in the Negative Zone.
Later, aboard a Shi'ar ship, a scarred and paralyzed Eros has gathered his team of Dark Guardians, which includes Gladiator, Wraith, Nebula, and Cosmic Ghost Rider. Determined to find and kill Gamora, Eros asks Nebula how to find her. She replies that they need to find out from Richard Rider, Nova.
ANNOTATIONS
Eros and Cosmic Ghost Rider discovered Thanos' body and his will in Thanos Legacy # 1.
Podcast Review: Inner Demons Episode 39 - "Cosmic Deadpool Destroys Drunk History"" (Click to Listen)
REVIEW
Cosmic Ghost Rider's role as a Guardian of the Galaxy takes an unexpected turn in this second issue of the series.
Though I've not kept up in recent years, I was a fan of the Marvel cosmic line back in the Annihilation days, which is about where my knowledge of these characters begins and ends. That throws up the big BIG flaw in this comic, it assumes you know who all these characters are and whats happened to them recently, without so much as an explanation of any kind. I may know who Wraith and Gladiator are but I'm sure there's many who don't. Hell, I had no idea what was going on with Star Lord or why we should care about Moondragon or Phyla-Vell. Those two in particular get a real disservice, especially since they're meant to be main cast members.
It's not surprising that the character that comes out looking the best in this issue is Cosmic Ghost Rider, and it's his interactions with the other characters that make the best moments. His exchanges with Beta Ray Bill, Star Lord, and later Wraith are all very well written and come off as genuine character moments. I think Cates might be trying too hard with this series, filling it with a cadre of characters that barely get introductions, but Castle at least stands as a believable bridging element.
While I believe Cates may not be handling such a large cast effectively, Geoff Shaw doesn't have such a problem. He brings a real grit to these characters who usually see a much cleaner style applied to them. It goes without saying that his Cosmic Ghost Rider looks great, bit he also turns in some great work with Groot and Beta Ray Bill. The Nebula reveal near the end is appropriately and dramatically staged, and his work continues to be the real highlight of the series so far.
I guess I can't help but be disappointed, but that's only because my expectations for this series were so high. That doesn't make this a bad comic, far from it, just a bit of a perplexing one.
Grade: B-
War of the Realms Strikeforce: The Dark Elf Realm # 1
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| Cover Art: Leinil Francis Yu |
Original Price: $4.99
Title: untitled
Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Leinil Francis Yu
Inker: Gary Alanguilan
Letterer: VC's Joe Sabino
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Editor: Will Moss
Associate Editor: Sarah Brunstad
Executive Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
SYNOPSIS
At Avengers Mountain, Thor's mother Freya meets with the Punisher to discuss a mission and the agents needed to carry it through. Castle handpicks She-Hulk, Ghost Rider, and Blade and assembles them in a meeting room to listen to Freya. She tells them that Malekith has his own Black Bifrost Bridge in the Dark Elf realm of Svartalfheim that must be destroyed. The heroes all agree to join her, but she tells them that first they must be tested. Using Asgardian magic Freya forces each of them to confront their greatest fear: for She-Hulk it is her cousin the Hulk and for Blade it is himself as a future lord of the vampires. Robbie Reyes faces Johnny Blaze, who calls him an imposter. The Avengers fight through the magic and attack Freya to prove their worth. She stops the magic challenge and cinsukts with Punisher to plan their attack on the Black Bifrost. Much later in Svartalfeim, Freya decides to make a last stand to defend the Black Bifrost, as it is now the only way to cross between the Nine Realms.
ANNOTATIONS
This issue takes place between War of the Realms # 3 and 4, both of which featured the last and next cameo appearances of Ghost Rider.
Robbie Reyes last encountered Johnny Blaze in Hell in Avengers (2018) # 16 and will confront him again in Avengers (2018) # 22.
Podcast Review: Inner Demons Episode 40 - "Bladestreet Boys" (Click to Listen)
REVIEW
Ghost Rider guest stars in this completely unnecessary tie in to War of the Realms that does, at least, feature some pretty art.
I followed along with War of the Realms rather half-heartedly, less because I enjoyed it and more to see if Ghost Rider played much of a role in it. I felt the main event was entirely underwhelming, to the point of it feeling more like an exercise in pointless crossovers than a story in its own right. This one shot was a perfect example of that idea, a comic created not to tell any kind of engaging story but to just exist as another comic titles War of the Realms. That's likely not the fault of Jason Aaron, who was writing the main event series, because everything that happens in this comic had already been a part of the larger event.
What makes this fundamental unnecessary is that its a "gathering the team" exercise that doesn't need an explanation. This justification for these characters going on this mission together doesn't need more than the flimsiest of motives, so why devote an extra large one shot to do so? Had this story revealed something integral to the team's mission I could excuse its existence, but instead it falls back on the ancient story trope of 'testing the heroes with their worst fears". It's a stock plot that pays lip service to characterization without doing anything of substance.
I guess that's not quite fair, though, because as a conversation piece between Punisher and Freya it's quite interesting. Seeing two characters who normally would never cross paths interact with one another leads to some great dialogue, which writer Bryan Hill has a good ear for in his script. As a Ghost Rider fan, though, this didn't tell me anything I didnt already know from the last several issues of Avengers. I suppose as a piece of the long game tease of the Reyes/Blaze storyline it almost works, but thats giving it more charity than it likely deserves.
What does deserve praise is the artwork by Lienil Yu, who again shows why he is such a great fit for Ghost Rider. Having previously illustrated the Ultimate Avengers arc that featured Ghost Rider I've been eagerly awaiting his return to the character in any capacity. He does great work on the dream sequences in this issue, and even makes all of the talking head pages interesting through use of intriguing panel layouts and camera shots. His art is easily the best thing about this comic.
So, yeah, this really isn't worth the cover price, either as a Ghost Rider story or a worthy event tie in. It does have some damn fine art, though...
Grade: C
Guardians of the Galaxy (2019) # 1
On Sale Date: January 2019
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Geoff Shaw
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Senior Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor: Darren Shaw
Assistant Editor: Danny Khazem
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
Cover Artist: David Marquez
Eros, brother of Thanos, has gathered together the greatest heroes of the cosmos for a meeting to witness the recorded last will and testament of Thanos. Among the heroes are the Silver Surfer, Beta Ray Bill, and Cosmic Ghost Rider, who sits at the bar in the back of the spaceship. The will projects a hologram of Thanos, who reveals that his consciousness has been imprinted on the mind of another person, which will in effect bring Thanos back to life. Eros theorizes that the most likely candidate is Gamora, who he insists they must find and kill. Missing from the meeting are Star Lord and Groot, who learn about it from a Nova Corps officer.
The meeting is interrupted by an attack from Thanos' minions, the Black Order. During the battle they steal Thanos' headless body and open up a black hole that sucks all of the heroes inside. Star Lord and the Nova Corps arrive to see four people escape the black hole: Beta Ray Bill, Phyla Vell, Moondragon, and Cosmic Ghost Rider. Star Lord and Groot pull them aboard their ship and induct them as the new crew to keep the Nova Corps from arresting them. Meanwhile, the Black Order report to the person working to revive Thanos, Hela, the Asgardian goddess of death.
THE ROADMAP
Eros, brother of Thanos, has gathered together the greatest heroes of the cosmos for a meeting to witness the recorded last will and testament of Thanos. Among the heroes are the Silver Surfer, Beta Ray Bill, and Cosmic Ghost Rider, who sits at the bar in the back of the spaceship. The will projects a hologram of Thanos, who reveals that his consciousness has been imprinted on the mind of another person, which will in effect bring Thanos back to life. Eros theorizes that the most likely candidate is Gamora, who he insists they must find and kill. Missing from the meeting are Star Lord and Groot, who learn about it from a Nova Corps officer.
The meeting is interrupted by an attack from Thanos' minions, the Black Order. During the battle they steal Thanos' headless body and open up a black hole that sucks all of the heroes inside. Star Lord and the Nova Corps arrive to see four people escape the black hole: Beta Ray Bill, Phyla Vell, Moondragon, and Cosmic Ghost Rider. Star Lord and Groot pull them aboard their ship and induct them as the new crew to keep the Nova Corps from arresting them. Meanwhile, the Black Order report to the person working to revive Thanos, Hela, the Asgardian goddess of death.
THE ROADMAP
Cosmic Ghost Rider last appeared chronologically at the end of Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History (2019) # 6, which takes place directly before the meeting of the space heroes in this issue.
Eros and Cosmic Ghost Rider discovered Thanos' body and his will in Thanos Legacy # 1.
Cosmic Ghost Rider references his decision to not kill Thanos as a baby, which happened in Cosmic Ghost Rider (2018) # 1, and his death in the future at the hands of the Silver Surfer from Thanos (2017) # 17.
Eros and Cosmic Ghost Rider discovered Thanos' body and his will in Thanos Legacy # 1.
Cosmic Ghost Rider references his decision to not kill Thanos as a baby, which happened in Cosmic Ghost Rider (2018) # 1, and his death in the future at the hands of the Silver Surfer from Thanos (2017) # 17.
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| Oh Frank, don't ever change. |
CHAIN REACTION
Cosmic Ghost Rider joins the mainstream Marvel universe in this relaunch of Guardians of the Galaxy by the "Thanos Wins" team of Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw.
Two things about this comic were a very likely inevitability, that Cosmic Ghost Rider was going to come to the present day and that Donny Cates was going to continue his work with Thanos. So this series wasn't much of a surprise when it was announced, and honestly if any writer was going to continue on with Cosmic Ghost Rider it needed to be Cates. Picking up from the Thanos Legacy one shot, Cates uses the concept of Thanos leaving a will as the basis for a rather novel way to gather as many cosmic characters as he could and present them as potential new Guardians.
Cates also does the unexpected by summarily shuffling almost all of them off into a black hole minus a handful that will be making up his core team. Its a great swerve against expectations and its immediately effective in establishing the stakes of the story. That Cosmic Ghost Rider is one of the surviving cast members going forward is appropriate since he's Cates main claim to fame as a Marvel creator so far, and he's given many numerous moments to shine.
Geoff Shaw turns in some impressive work here as well, giving visual distinction and personality to dozens of characters. The alien heroes, especially the Silver Surfer, have an otherworldly design from Shaw that stands out as unusual yet appropriate. He's also naturally at home drawing Cosmic Ghost Rider, seeing as he's a co-creator of the character.
The Guardians of the Galaxy aren't characters I usually gravitate towards, but this was a solid debut issue that leaves me interested in picking up the next one.
Two things about this comic were a very likely inevitability, that Cosmic Ghost Rider was going to come to the present day and that Donny Cates was going to continue his work with Thanos. So this series wasn't much of a surprise when it was announced, and honestly if any writer was going to continue on with Cosmic Ghost Rider it needed to be Cates. Picking up from the Thanos Legacy one shot, Cates uses the concept of Thanos leaving a will as the basis for a rather novel way to gather as many cosmic characters as he could and present them as potential new Guardians.
Cates also does the unexpected by summarily shuffling almost all of them off into a black hole minus a handful that will be making up his core team. Its a great swerve against expectations and its immediately effective in establishing the stakes of the story. That Cosmic Ghost Rider is one of the surviving cast members going forward is appropriate since he's Cates main claim to fame as a Marvel creator so far, and he's given many numerous moments to shine.
Geoff Shaw turns in some impressive work here as well, giving visual distinction and personality to dozens of characters. The alien heroes, especially the Silver Surfer, have an otherworldly design from Shaw that stands out as unusual yet appropriate. He's also naturally at home drawing Cosmic Ghost Rider, seeing as he's a co-creator of the character.
The Guardians of the Galaxy aren't characters I usually gravitate towards, but this was a solid debut issue that leaves me interested in picking up the next one.
Infinity Wars: Ghost Panther (2019) # 2
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| Cover Art: Giuseppe Camuncoli |
Original Price: $3.99
Title: "There Is a Place Called Wakanda: Part 2"
Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: Jefte Palo
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Colorist: Jim Campbell
Editor: Jordan D. White
Assistant Editor: Annalise Bissa
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
SYNOPSIS
The Panther God Zarathos tells T'Challa the origin story of Erik Killraven, a time traveler who grew up after Martians conquered the planet. He hates Wakanda due to being exiled from there as a child, allowing him to grow up as a gladiator in the Martian arena while Wakanda remained the only free country. Now he has traveled back in time to kill T'Challa's father and attack Wakanda. In order to protect his sister Shuriri, T'Challa again agrees to become the Ghost Panther and is resurrected by Zarathos.
Killraven attacks Shuriri in Wakanda but is interrupted by Ghost Panther. However he is quickly overwhelmed by Killraven'a ability to predict his moves. In the spirit realm Zarathos talks with the ghost of T'Chaka, T'Challa's father, who offers his soul to help his son. Zarathos sends him to Earth as a flaming panther that easily subdues Killraven. Ghost Panther eats Killraven'a soul and joins his father and sister as protectors of Wakanda.
ANNOTATIONS
This issue is a tie-in to the "Infinity Wars" crossover event. In that series Gamora used the power of the Infinity Stones to merge the universe into itself, dividing the population by half by combining two individuals into one. This new Earth produced its own heroes, one of which was Ghost Panther, a combination of Black Panther and Ghost Rider.
Ghost Panther makes a cameo appearance in Infinity Wars (2018) # 6, which has the combined Infinity Warps reality placed inside the Soul Gem. He makes his next full appearance in Secret Warps: Ghost Panther Annual # 1.
Podcast Review: Inner Demons Episode 36 - "Dad Panther" (Click to Listen)
REVIEW
Ghost Panther concludes and it's terrible. Seriously, it's just awful.
Not long ago on the Inner Demons podcast I proclaimed that this was the worst Ghost Rider comic ever published, which was a bit of a harsh statement. I mean, Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History disproved that claim almost immediately. So, while this isn't the worst that doesn't mean it's good. In truth its a hodge podge of elements that only serve to distract from the whole.
The most glaring problem is the character of Erik Killraven, who consists of two characters warped together only because their names both have "kill" in them. It forced the writer to take what needed to be a simple concept and drown it in a sea of Martians and Time Diamonds. i understand the need to have Killmonger, he's the most recognizable Black Panther villain, but couldn't they have at least warped him with a Ghost Rider villain?
That flags up my biggest problem with this comic as a whole, it means far too heavily into Blac Panther while all but ignoring the Ghost Rider half of the equation. That side is represented solely as a striking visual minus any of the nuance or characters. Instead of playing up any kind of internal struggle of man versus demon the story gives us Flaming Dad Panther.
The artwork is less than impressive as well. I still wonder if Jefte Palo was under some kind of deadline crunch because this is much more sloppy than his usual work. He's always relied on heavy blacks, but here the figures are nothing but blobby silhouettes on flat colors in place of any backgrounds. I do like his Ghost Panther, who claws wildly in the air like an animal, but that's about the only positive.
Ghost Panther just can't move past its ridiculously contrived premise and chooses to double down on science fiction nonsense. Its a hot mess and definitely not recommended.
Grade: F
Infinity Wars: Ghost Panther (2019) # 1
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| Cover Art: Humberto Ramos |
Original Price: $3.99
Title: "There Is a Place Called Wakanda: Part 1"
Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: Jefte Palo
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Colorist: Jim Campbell
Editor: Jordan D. White
Assistant Editor: Annalise Bissa
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
SYNOPSIS
T'Challa, prince of Wakanda, is exiled from the country after an argument with his father. He travels to America and meets Jericho "Brother Crash" Simpson, who gives T'Challa a job as a motorcycle stunt rider. Taking the name "Johnny Blaze" he performs stunts for five years until a wreck kills him. Brother Crash invokes a favor from the Panther God of Vengeance, Zarathos, who meets with T'Challa in the after life to offer him power in exchange for providing her with souls. He declines and she brings him back to life with the knowledge that his father T'Chaka has died.
He returns to Wakanda and meets with his sister Shuriri, who tells him about the two strangers that killed T'Chaka and destroyed the herbs used to grant the power of the Black Panther to the nation's ruler. After his sister accuses him of cowardice T'Challa goes off into the desert to find his father's killers. He soon finds them and is attacked by M'Bakshulla the Ape Man, a giant warrior with cybernetic arms. Despite his efforts T'Challa is nearly killed and is forced to take Zarathos' offer. He is transformed into the Ghost Panther and uses his power to eat the soul of his enemy. T'Challa, horrified by what he has done, transforms back into his human form. He's then stabbed in the back by the second attacker, Erik Killraven.
ANNOTATIONS
This issue is a tie-in to the "Infinity Wars" crossover event. In that series Gamora used the power of the Infinity Stones to merge the universe into itself, dividing the population by half by combining two individuals into one. This new Earth produced its own heroes, one of which was Ghost Panther, a combination of Black Panther and Ghost Rider.
Podcast Review: Inner Demons Episode 34 - "Mister Man-Hyde" (Click to Listen)
REVIEW
The Infinity Wars event goes all Amalgam and introduces the Ghost Panther.
I've commented in many places that Marvel seem determined to dilute the Ghost Rider concept down with as many derivative variations as possible. Some, like Cosmic Ghost Rider, turn into worthwhile properties, while others such as Host Rider come off as unwanted and poorly executed attempts to cash in by slapping a flaming skull on a popular character. The latest is this Ghost Panther, and it may be the laziest concept so far.
Everything about this comic is like the set up for a parody story, from the character mash ups like Brother Crash and Shuriri to the shoehorned Johnny Blaze identity, but it's played so damn somber and serious that it creates a tonal whiplash effect that it just can't overcome. Smashing together these characters is ridiculous and playing against that idea is totally counter to expectations or, dare I say it, fucking reality. You can also tell that the writer was struggling to make sense of some of the character combinations, because the "Johnny Blaze" thing is rushed through so quickly that it doesn't stop to think about whether or not it makes any damn sense. It's obvious, though, that the writer is far more interested in the Black Panther half of the equation than the Ghost Rider one, because outside of the Johnny Blaze and Zarathos names not much remains of that character's concept. Instead it's all about Wakanda and all the stuff from that hugely successful movie from 2018. It's not a mash-up at all, it's just Black Panther possessed by a cat demon.
I also highly question the choice of artist for this series and it makes me wonder if Jefte Palo was on some extreme deadline crunches. I've seen his work in the past, he's done some great stuff with Moon Knight and the Punisher, usually with a deft eye for negative space and heavy blacks. Here, though, those heavy blacks tend to make the characters look like they've just bathed in black goop and have perpetually shadowed eye sockets. The negative space, too, translates into a complete lack of backgrounds except in the most general of senses with the majority of panels showing characters interacting in front of flat colors. I hate to say it but the artwork is as lazy as the writing, it looks unfinished. The only part it truly shines is in the Zarathos scenes, with the demon's dress and wrappings consisting of swirls and swatches of color, giving it a nice effect.
I've quickly grown tired of Marvel pushing more and more Ghost Rider mash-up characters onto the shelves and this one couldn't even bother to show up with something interesting behind it. Utterly disappointing.
Grade: D+
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