Quasar (1989) # 22-24

"Cosmos In Collision, Parts 4-6"

Cover Date: June1991

On Sale Date: April 1991

Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Artist: Greg Capullo
Inker: Keith Williams
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Paul Becton
Editor: Howard Mackie

Managing Editor: Len Kaminski
Editor-In-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Cover Artist: Greg Capullo

Quasar is dead, his body hung on display in the home of his enemy, Maelstrom. Sensing the death of the innocent hero, Ghost Rider storms into the home and defeats Maelstrom's three followers, Helios, Phobus, and Gronk. When he reaches Quasar's body, Ghost Rider is attacked by Deathurge, a supernatural arbiter of suicide that is working with Maelstrom to destroy the universe. The battle between the two ends in a draw and Deathurge flees, allowing Ghost Rider to remove Quasar's body from its shackles.

Later, Moondragon and Quasar's two human friends, Kayla and Ken, have escaped their imprisonment in the house and come across Ghost Rider. Moondragon convinces Ghost Rider to take Kayla and Ken to safety, as they are both innocent people placed in jeopardy. Ghost Rider agrees, though reluctant to leave without first exacting vengeance for Quasar's death.

Why, exactly, does Deathurge ride around on skis?

THE ROADMAP

Ghost Rider last appeared in Punisher War Journal (1988) # 29-30 and appears next in Ghost Rider (1990) # 13.

CHAIN REACTION

Quasar, that most cosmic of 1990s cosmic heroes, gets a sales boost from Ghost Rider, who really doesn't serve any more of a purpose in these comics than that.

I can sense from reading these three issues that Quasar was probably a fairly good series, but they are absolutely not new-reader-friendly at all. I mean, it is in the middle of a 7-part story, so there is that. It's just so damn dense to read through that anyone, myself included, coming on board because of the Ghost Rider appearance is going to be thoroughly lost and confused. The synopsis leaves out tons of stuff with Quasar, Maelstrom, and other cosmic dudes that I had trouble following. Ghost Rider's role is little more than fluff, allowing for an extended action scene that didn't really serve the story at all other than to slot in a guest-star. Wolverine, for example, could have served the same purpose as Ghost Rider.

What these comics do have going for them is very rough, early artwork by superstar Greg Capullo. The inking by Keith Williams does the art no favors, but the sketchy style of Capullo shines through despite the scratchiness of the finishes. Capullo does a good Ghost Rider, particularly in the two splash page images that end # 22 and begin # 23. I also really dig Deathurge and how his black weapons are sticking out of Ghost Rider's body like a swiss army knife, a nice touch.

These comics are essentially review proof from a Ghost Rider standpoint, but if you were a Quasar fan they may very well be awesome.  I have no idea.

Playing with fire there, Moondragon.