Post by jmcdonald2886 on Jul 2, 2016 9:48:13 GMT -5
GHOST RIDER #1-3 - by Travis Hiltz
Man, oh man, am I adoring this series!
I grew up with nineties Ghost Rider Danny Ketch, and while he’s among the ensemble, I love how well Travis Hiltz is fleshing out the entire ensemble cast! From the focus/teamwork/tension of all four Ghost Riders in Issue #1, to the 70’s/80’s “adventure” feel of Ghost Rider #2 (Johnny Blaze’s chapter), to the modern/supernatural feel in Ghost Rider #3 (Robbie Reyes’ chapter), each Ghost Rider has a distinctive feel, a distinctive tone and a distinctive personality, and it all feels so RIGHT.
As Meri pointed out in his review, a lot of the Ghost Rider fanfics on the net have this dark/horror/supernatural/tragedy about them, and Hiltz’s series is a total breath of fresh air. Bringing in the Mole Men/Lava Men, switching to Johnny’s fight with the ridiculous Water Wizard/Aqueduct, to the mysterious Asuka and his demon car in Reyes’ chapter makes this series feel like anything could happen. The Ghost Riders aren’t thus trapped in the ol’ Blood/Centurious/Lilith supernatural gauntlet of villains, and nothing else (which can get tedious if not done properly). These Ghost Riders could face almost any villain, which is very neat to see in a fanfic series and opens up a whole realm of possibilities.
Additionally, the one-and-done nature of the series so far is a great treat to read. As I’m stacked in the obsessive nature of super-description and deconstruction, Hiltz barrels into these stories, gives the perfect amount of detail and scenery, and gives a great wrap-up to each issue, and leaves us all wanting more! I’m definitely digging the superheroic Blaze here (rather than the grizzled, hard-talking Blaze I’m used to from the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider series), and the more I read of Ghost Rider Volume 1, the more nostalgic I’m getting for simple tales like that. While there is a great supernatural theme that ties these characters and the series together, the characters aren’t drowning in it with each and every issue (if that makes any sense). Oddly and interestingly enough, the only character who’s got the “grizzled, hard-edged” take is Danny Ketch himself. It seems that, compared to the 90’s Ghost Rider, Danny and Blaze have shifted roles. In Hiltz’s series, Blaze seems the more superheroic, level-headed one, and Danny’s the hyper-violent, angry guy. It almost perfectly represents the tone in which each of their series was created. Ghost Rider Volume 1 was a superheroic series with a supernatural tinge, and Hiltz’s Blaze reads like he comes right out of that time period. Danny Ketch was born in the hyper-violent, angry anti-hero comics of the nineties and again, Hiltz’s Danny reads like he comes from that time period as well. It’s wonderful to see, very intriguing, and gets me pumped for Ghost Rider #4 (Danny’s chapter). I’ll also be watching for more of Hamilton Slade and his Phantom/Ghost Rider incarnation!
Oh, and what madness does this mystery Blue on the streets hold for our heroes? (reminds me of Breaking Bad and the “Blue” on the streets) What about this mysterious supernatural foe and his mysterious prisoner that seems poised to bring all four Riders back together in another ensemble adventure? Hiltz has me excited for each upcoming issue, and that’s an awesome feeling!
Jason
Man, oh man, am I adoring this series!
I grew up with nineties Ghost Rider Danny Ketch, and while he’s among the ensemble, I love how well Travis Hiltz is fleshing out the entire ensemble cast! From the focus/teamwork/tension of all four Ghost Riders in Issue #1, to the 70’s/80’s “adventure” feel of Ghost Rider #2 (Johnny Blaze’s chapter), to the modern/supernatural feel in Ghost Rider #3 (Robbie Reyes’ chapter), each Ghost Rider has a distinctive feel, a distinctive tone and a distinctive personality, and it all feels so RIGHT.
As Meri pointed out in his review, a lot of the Ghost Rider fanfics on the net have this dark/horror/supernatural/tragedy about them, and Hiltz’s series is a total breath of fresh air. Bringing in the Mole Men/Lava Men, switching to Johnny’s fight with the ridiculous Water Wizard/Aqueduct, to the mysterious Asuka and his demon car in Reyes’ chapter makes this series feel like anything could happen. The Ghost Riders aren’t thus trapped in the ol’ Blood/Centurious/Lilith supernatural gauntlet of villains, and nothing else (which can get tedious if not done properly). These Ghost Riders could face almost any villain, which is very neat to see in a fanfic series and opens up a whole realm of possibilities.
Additionally, the one-and-done nature of the series so far is a great treat to read. As I’m stacked in the obsessive nature of super-description and deconstruction, Hiltz barrels into these stories, gives the perfect amount of detail and scenery, and gives a great wrap-up to each issue, and leaves us all wanting more! I’m definitely digging the superheroic Blaze here (rather than the grizzled, hard-talking Blaze I’m used to from the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider series), and the more I read of Ghost Rider Volume 1, the more nostalgic I’m getting for simple tales like that. While there is a great supernatural theme that ties these characters and the series together, the characters aren’t drowning in it with each and every issue (if that makes any sense). Oddly and interestingly enough, the only character who’s got the “grizzled, hard-edged” take is Danny Ketch himself. It seems that, compared to the 90’s Ghost Rider, Danny and Blaze have shifted roles. In Hiltz’s series, Blaze seems the more superheroic, level-headed one, and Danny’s the hyper-violent, angry guy. It almost perfectly represents the tone in which each of their series was created. Ghost Rider Volume 1 was a superheroic series with a supernatural tinge, and Hiltz’s Blaze reads like he comes right out of that time period. Danny Ketch was born in the hyper-violent, angry anti-hero comics of the nineties and again, Hiltz’s Danny reads like he comes from that time period as well. It’s wonderful to see, very intriguing, and gets me pumped for Ghost Rider #4 (Danny’s chapter). I’ll also be watching for more of Hamilton Slade and his Phantom/Ghost Rider incarnation!
Oh, and what madness does this mystery Blue on the streets hold for our heroes? (reminds me of Breaking Bad and the “Blue” on the streets) What about this mysterious supernatural foe and his mysterious prisoner that seems poised to bring all four Riders back together in another ensemble adventure? Hiltz has me excited for each upcoming issue, and that’s an awesome feeling!
Jason