GHOST RIDER #24 REVIEW

[Ben Lehnsherr]

Reviewer: Ben Lehnsherr likwidben@msn.com
Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: God Don't Live on Cell Block D: Part One
Rating: Parental Advisory

Ghost Rider goes to jail!

Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: Tan Eng Huat
Colors: Jose Villarrubia
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Art: Marko Djurdjevic
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Jason Aaron starts his second arc on Ghost Rider here, and does it with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. The story begins with one of the more gruesome scenes you'll see in a mainstream Marvel comic book this year. Ever seen a baby gunned down with an Uzi, in a church no less? Didn't think so, and that's not the half of it. Ghost Rider's still on determined for vengeance and to find answers to what the renegade angel, Zadkiel, plans are. On a rumor, he invites himself into a Texas prison to seek out some directions. And of course, things go downhill for him from there...

Aaron continues to keep the book at an exciting pace by giving Blaze a singular focus, and throwing all kinds of problems in his path to slow him down. He pairs a strong script with fitting dialogue, perfectly depicting what a Texas prison would sound like, without completely distracting you with over the top speech patterns. The way he voices Johnny Blaze, being fiercely determined but collected, is chilling and direct. There's also a smart little piece where Blaze talks about just how lethal the big guy upstairs is, and shows how a different point of view can completely change a perception, depending on the individual's experiences. It was a nice touch, and with everything that he's been through, something Johnny would definitely say. Its moments like these that set Aaron apart from previous some Ghost Rider writers. He takes a character a less talented writer would be content to keep simple and stereotypical, and gives him contanst teases of complexity and depth without laying the whole plate out in one sitting.

On art, this issue sees the debut of Tan Eng Huat on Ghost Rider. He was last seen on art in the stunning Silver Surfer: In Thy Name, where he debuted his new style of pencilling. He pencils and shades the art, with no inker, and the coloring is put directly on top of it, for an almost watercolor type of look. People are bound to have a strong reaction on it either way, but as with Silver Surfer, I found the art absolutely brilliant. His strong pencil work and meticulous attention to detail stands out through the colors and gives great depth and texture to his organic, naturally flowing art. The mood this style depicts works completely in tune with the storyline, being in a shadowy, dusty Texas prison. You don't find many artists that put just as much detail into the smaller panels as they do the spreads, but Huat definitely is one of them. You'll have completely forgotten previous Ghost Rider artist, Roland Boschi, by the second page. The art finally lives up the writing on this title.

Aaron showed us how quickly he could turn Ghost Rider into not only a quality read, but a great book, and he has the elements in this arc's debut to keep it going. The title is hard hitting, disturbingly enjoyable, and bursting with energy. It hasn't lost any steam in the new story, and if the events of the last couple pages are any indication, Ghost Rider's got a heck of a fight on his hands next issue. I look forward to more of this gritty grindhouse thriller, and being the start of a new arc, its the perfect time to jump aboard this ever improving book. DON'T MISS OUT!


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[Ryan Broussard]

is this under MAX?

[Ben Lehnsherr]

Originally Posted by Ryan Broussard

is this under MAX?

No. You see the scene I referred to after the act as taken place. Makes it that much more creepy. Its rating is "Parental Advisory".

[gregorv]

wow...Jason Aaron's revival of this book is actually unbelivable...thank god I decided to jump back when he came in...Im LOVING this title...however, I really did not dig Blaze's look in this book

[Ben Lehnsherr]

Originally Posted by gregorv

wow...Jason Aaron's revival of this book is actually unbelivable...thank god I decided to jump back when he came in...Im LOVING this title...however, I really did not dig Blaze's look in this book

Yeah, I loved it but as I said in the review, it pretty much goes hate it or love it with how you about Huat's art. But I'm glad to hear you're diggin' the book overall. There aren't a ton of us Ghost Rider fans out there, but we're gettin' a treat with this title's resurgence.