I decided that today rather than picking a cool comic I would pick a random one. I am sure that like many comics fans out there you have a big pile of unread comics. Some were just impulse buys that I never got around to later. This book is one of them.
So Review Month becomes '1 From The Pile Day' (just for today and tomorrow).
Ghost Rider issue 5.
(Cover dated Jan 2012).
Written by Rob Williams.
Art by Lee Garbett.
Colours by Rob Schwager.
Cover by Arturo Lozzi and Frank D'Armata.
Published by Marvel Comics.
Ghost Rider seems to be one of those books that has had a million attempts at popularity. The Bronze Age series had a good run (81 initial run issues along with various guest appearances - and a brilliant run in The Champions) although went it bi monthly towards the end (the sure sign back then of cancellation? But hey it worked out OK for the X-Men.) Then we had the Danny Ketch Series in the 1990s that spawned books like Morbius and Midnight Sons. Then recently we seem to have had a few attempts - maybe because of the movies?
This book does not initially inspire me to read it from the second unpick it up. The cover looks OK but is a little forgettable. Hang on! Boobs? Flaming Boobs!
Yes. It would appear that the fiery curse has been passes on to a lady called Alejandra. She seems to have had a troubled background that Johnny Blaze is trying his best to help her with. Ignoring his help she has ridden off on her own.
Into the book itself.
Williams fakes a flashback on pages 1 and 2 which turns out to be Alejandra's thoughtful narration over a young girl being chased through the desert. We then get a short flurry of action before the focus switches to a desert base.
This base is collecting young girls and gets an immediate attack from the Spirit of Vengence. The skull cloud effect looks great but could have used a bigger panel and its written with energy.
There is a chase and the rider eventually confronts a man on a cliff top who her demon Zarathos tells her is actually her long lost father (with me so far?) Not only is he her father but he also seems to be some kind of baby stealing demon. She kills him (I think? The art is a little unclear on this as as she walks away he still has energy coming from his eyes) and she rides off.
Um. Is that it? Does this father thing carry on later? All seems a bit definite.
'All that's left to do is ride.'
The ending harkens back to that butt clenchingly bad final scene in the first Nick Cage movie. I am actually tempted to find the next issue to find out if this was all a 'fuck you' from the writer.
The art is functional and carries everything along well but in places lacks detail. It's a quick read and not a whole lot to it that needs dwelling on but it passed ten minutes of my commute so it ain't all bad. It reads a little like either a 1996 Marvel book or a 2013 DC book (or is that me just being a little snarky?)
Did I mention there are flaming boobs?
NIA.
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