Tuesday, May 30, 2023

DANNY KETCH - GHOST RIDER #1 (May 2023)

 DANNY KETCH - GHOST RIDER #1 


During my formative years of comic book collecting one of the books that really left an impression with me was GHOST RIDER. It was the early 1990s and Ghost Rider had been given a brand new relaunch by writer Howard Mackie and artists Javier Saltares and Mark Texeira. This volume of Ghost Rider featured a new host for the Spirit of Vengeance, a young man named Danny Ketch from New York. I grew to love this volume of Ghost Rider, becoming a big fan when I was a kid to eventually regarding it as one of my all-time favorite comic book runs as an adult. This is the comic book series that made me love Ghost Rider.

This series ran for more than 100 issues (including annuals, one-shots, and specials), 2/3rds of it written by Howard Mackie. The book ended in 1998 due to Marvel's bankruptcy and low sales. During this timeframe Ghost Rider became one of Marvel's top three properties, standing alongside Wolverine and Spider-Man, a height in popularity which the character has yet to see again (he very nearly received his own animated series too!). Needless to say, much of what has become iconic about Ghost Rider came from this run and specifically the Danny Ketch incarnation.

And finally after all of these years... DANNY KETCH IS BACK!

 In the last couple of years Marvel has been doing these mini series set in previous continuities written by classic creators. The one that really started things off was a book called SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN written by my favorite comic scribe, Peter David. Set during Spidey's brief stint in the 80s donning the alien costume, which would go on to become Venom, this Symbiote Spider-Man series spawned another and another! Then Marvel decided to try this idea with other franchises like Wolverine, Hulk, Venom, and Silver Surfer. And now... It's Ghost Rider's turn.


THE PREMISE

Set shortly prior to the RISE OF THE MIDNIGHT SONS (possibly between Ghost Rider #24 and #25), Ghost Rider (Danny Ketch) and Johnny Blaze, armed with his Hellfire Shotgun, are battling possessed humans with demonic powers. A shadowy figure calling himself The Broker has been appearing to people in a rather faustian manner, offering power in exchange for their souls. Those who accept the Broker's terms are transformed into rampaging hulking monstrosities. But who is the Broker working for and what is their evil goal?

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

No one knows how to write Ghost Rider better than Howard Mackie. This single issue, in my opinion, was the best issue of Ghost Rider since the 90s, blowing away everything written in the interim. The voice, the setting, the tone, and the overall esthetic are eerily moody, dark, and dour befitting the character and subject matter.

Howard Mackie's writing perfectly captures Ghost Rider's voice and intensity, made whole by the artwork from Daniel Picciotto. The artwork isn't as crisp or defined as Javier Saltares' or Mark Texeira's art, but Picciotto manages to capture the look and feel of Saltares and Texeira's style. From the staging of each panel to the body language and posing of the characters, Daniel Piccotto nails it! 

And the Broker looks and feels like a character we'd have encountered back during this run. There's an intrigue surrounding the character that actually has me wanting to know more about him and who he serves. I can't remember the last time a new villain was introduced that actually drew me in like this. And to top it all off, there is a flashback at the end of the issue featuring Caretaker, explaining how the Medallion of Power came to be on the motorcycle. And this too is somehow connected to the Broker and his master.


THE VERDICT

As first issues go for a new series, Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider #1 delivers a great debut issue. The characters are expertly represented, completely in line with past continuity, and treated with respect. Ghost Rider, Danny Ketch, and Johnny Blaze feel like themselves and are badasses worthy of their reputation. And a new villain and intriguing mystery is set up that makes me excited for the next issue!

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10

If you want a new comic that gets Ghost Rider right, I urge you to go out and support this comic. I can't wait for issue #2 coming out in June!

And for more Ghost Rider centric posts, check out these links below!






And for a little preview of issue #2 coming in June... looks like the Broker is claiming Ghost Rider!
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)