Ghost Rider #8 (December 1990)

J-Max was challenged to review 30 issues of Ghost Rider in (roughly) 30 days. Should J-Max succeed he shall earn his freedom (probably not). However should he fail in this task then he shall be subjected to an attack by Bees... DEADLY BEES.

So let's join him for his review of Ghost Rider #8 

Living Nightmare!

Credits: Howard Mackie (writer), Javier Saltares (artist), Gregory Wright (colourist), Mark Texeira (inker)

Overview: Dan comes to terms with who he has become since his transformation. Meanwhile, Blackout still stalks the night.

Cultural references: Dan and Stacy come out of a screening for Die Hard 2, "I'd have prefered to have seen Robocop" says Stacy.

Review: I have never gotten around to discussing the letters page of this comic before, but, given how dark and empty the previous issue was, I was particularly curious as to what fans had to say. One letter that caught my eye even seemed to share some of my previous gripes with the series. It discussed how Dan Ketch "is displayed as slightly helpless and unidimensional, how we know very little about his personal life itself (one of the major qualities that has skyrocketed spider-man to super stardom)."

At the letters time of writing, this series was - approximatly - on its fourth issue, and I couldn't help but wonder what this fan now thought of the direction the story was taking. I was also glad to confirm it wasn't only myself that was invested in plot as well as art and that there were genuinely other readers out there who felt Dan had in the past been lacking as an interesting protagonist and had hopes for more than mere action which has a tendency to be "bland." The mail seemed to be handled by the comics’ editors but the one thing that struck me the most was the editor responses. Soundbites that were always brief and, when read aloud, sounded like the reactions of yes men.

One mentioned Johnny Blaze showing up. Good idea! Another Dan getting answers from Dr Strange. Good idea! I began thinking of the fan I first mentioned and how he wanted to see more of Dan's personal life, and how jaunting and random it seemed for Dan to suddenly need to go to work in issue 6 among other things never before mentioned. Suddenly, I was worried. Not for the readers or for myself, but for this Dan character. Trapped in his own never ending Truman Show. The Animal Man of our 90s.

Realising I had blabbered a good third of the review on a letterbox located somewhere in America twenty seven years ago, I began to read. We are now in pure, blood soaked horror territory. Dan sits atop a broken mound of refuse in a red filled landscape holding aloft the skull of the Ghost Rider. And, as we are going from a Hamlet angle, I suppose I should say the skull spaketh unto him. It tries to convince him that he is not a singular entity "there is no you"; that he and the Ghost Rider are the same thing; and that it didn't bring the sorrow and pain into Dan's existence as it was already there to begin with. It is hard to judge if this is an unreliable narrator or a guiding light. When Dan proclaims he can rid himself of the demon with the support of others it replies, rather ominously, "it's true that they'll help you rid yourself of me. But they'll take plenty more away from you if you let them."

Dan climbs toward a congregation held atop a mountain of writing bodies. He sees a vision of his sister, in tears, marrying Blackout with Deathwatch as some sort of ninja priest. When he reaches the objection clause, Dan interrupts only to be mocked by Blackout who informs him that his sister's blood will be "in my mouth and on your hands" every night, and promising that just as Blackout can no longer look at himself in the mirror anymore since all he sees is hideous; neither will Dan be able to as his life will be made an endless nightmare of guilt.

This dream sequence reaffirms the psychopathic Blackout as the primary antagonist of the series; the biggest threat to Dan and his family and, though it leaves many questions still to answer, I hope it also ends the character's resistance of his power and his previous two dimensional lamenting of how great power brings great irritability. The Rider approaches and asks Dan to join with him and suddenly, before he wakes, Dan sees a glimpse of his father - a shadow in the distance who compels him to obey the bike.

Back in the real world, Blackout shows himself as a man of his dream-word by doing an Angel from Buffy season 2 - before there was such a thing - and killing off all Dan comes into contact with in a bid to drive him over the edge into darkness. Dan has the power to stop this and, when news of the deaths of neighbours and friends reach him, immediately sets out into the night goading out Blackout to face him.

Ever since issue four, Dan has continued to progress as a character and we see here a heroic drive in his energy. He spends a great deal of time comforting his loved ones seeming nervous, protective and cautious as he watches over them even before Blackout has attacked. It is good to see him as a realistic character who reacts to the world around him rather than just a troubled and angry furnishing for the demon.

A kidnapped child storyline has been developing over the last few issues which I never mentioned before due to space; as it was hard to know if would unfold or remain a surface level, overt demonstration of the dark world of the comic. In this issue and the last, that slightness of subplot has been developed and now an all-female organization are being called in to save the day. H.E.A.R.T. which stands for Humans Engaging All Racial Terrorism - because that was the best backronym somebody could come up with to a time limit I guess - are a hi tech, superhero feminism pandering opportunity disguised as a plot device.

Perhaps that's a bit harsh, but I can only judge it by what's on offer in this one comic. In this issue, they show up to a meeting between desperate parents and angry townsfolk to point, walk around with a business briefcase; that they never open or use and declare things will be done on their terms. The reader first encounters the group halfway through a discussion so questions like what are these terms? Why are they here? And why all they do later is pose with guns like sophisticated pin up girls and sometimes shout their names is left to our own interpretation. Moving on.

The Rider finds a child in danger only to be attacked by a goliath like monster which believes he is behind the kidnappings. Unfortunately, this distraction allows Blackout to kill the child when she falls into an open grave. When it is bested, the creature turns to a liquid and seeps into the earth. The Ghost Rider then does something more unexpected: states crummily "I must go now. It is the time. But I will return to this place again." Is it the end of the issue? Yep. Can the writer not think of a more reasoned excuse to delay Ghost Rider? Even a more contrived one? This is the second time he has simply refused to do anything on the grounds that the page count won’t allow for it and here, he even seems to be looking at me. Was this an attempt to break the fourth wall?

In the words of Jim Carrey in Batman Forever "Too many questions."

Editor Note: Hey Guys hope you're enjoyed J-Max's review, Why not drop him an encouraging message below (he REALLY doesn't like bees), Please check out the rest of the reviews HERE or if you're feeling brave why not join in his adventure HERE. 

Ghost Rider #7 (November 1990)

JMax was challenged to review 30 issues of Ghost Rider in (roughly) 30 days. Should J-Max succeed he shall earn his freedom (probably not). However should he fail in this task then he shall be subjected to an attack by Bees... DEADLY BEES.

So let's join him for his review of Ghost Rider #7

Credits: Howard Mackie (writer), Mark Texeira (artist/inker), Gregory Wright (colourist).

Overview: A psychotically ill man breaks free from confinement and begins hunting for Captain America. Meanwhile, Blackout has learned Dan's identity and pays a visit to the hospital housing an immobile Barbra.

Cultural references: Scarecrow quotes Walt Whitman's poem O Captain! My Captain! As he seeks Captain America - a poem penned to capture the social mourning that fell in the wake of the death of Abraham Lincoln.


Review: The title of this issue is Obsession. It begins in the cell of a man –his postures demonstrates he is perhaps more animal - longingly staring toward a barred window from within a psychiatric centre, his hands pulled desperately downwards on a cloth sacked mask as if shutting the world out. He says nothing. The narrative captions provide fleeting thoughts “They’re not afraid. They should be.” A doctor and steward check in on him and remove the mask, they question where he keeps getting them from. We learn he has recently been transferred from “that other” place due to the efforts of his lawyers. They leave; large crows arrive at the window carrying a spare mask, some string and a pocket knife.

We are now in the present; Ebenezer Laughton – The Scarecrow – has escaped and is still at large. We are informed by Linda Wei, the same reporter who smeared Ghost Rider in the last arc, the killer has been murdering at random; leaving his modus operandi of stuffing his victims with straw after disembowelling them. This is precisely what has happened to one victim left strung up and dangling from a street lamp. The character freaks me out. Beyond the backstory, I think, it’s his empty, ecliptic, drooping eyes. Mark Texeira, who moved from inker to artist in this issue, really intensifies the unending nihilism of both this character and the city around him. This is amplified by narration boxes placing us inside the character's head as he stalks the rooftops hunting for a Captain America who isn’t there and killing at random with puncturing weapons.

Out of interest I researched into The Scarecrows backstory - this issue focuses sole on the present. It seems Ebenezer Laughton’s mother was an alcoholic who viciously beat him during her frequent drunken rages, but would reward him with presents afterwards due to sobered guilt. His one source of escapism, naturally outside of the house, was a travelling carnival that housed freaks. Laughton became fascinated with a rubber man and began to train himself to develop this ability allowing him to naturally sift through crevices. Eventually, Laughton grew into an introverted and damaged individual who associated pleasure and reward with punishment. Beginning his career as a thief, he quickly moved on to murder. Eventually, he was defeated by Captain America and locked in solitary confinement, presumably, being driven insane when no reward came.

While this violence continues in the present, the sole humanity offered to the reader is by Stacy who finally forces Dan on a date night with the aim of him finally coming to terms with the attack on his sister. Stacy is a lot like Barbra in her personality. She is fearless, determined and strong minded. While Dan has been focusing on fighting evil and injustice in society has been neglecting his family and home life. He has spent issue after issue justifying it to himself the nightly escapades as necessary actions, but deep down we are presented with his doubts that this is less noble action and more him running away from his own inability to help his sister by taking up the plight of others as a distraction. Eventually, his aggression subsides and he begins to come out of his shell, finally agreeing to visit his sister again.

We see forces at work trying to rob Dan of his humanity. Be it the bike, which is now acting as a parasite – not just figuratively – as it follows him to the date night after violent crimes are committed; he feels physically pulled towards it by insatiable desires even though he wants to allow the police to handle the situation, or Blackout. Blackout returns in this issue and, seeking revenge for his scarred face, wanders into the intensive care unit where Barbra is being houses. At this time, Dan is battling the scarecrow who effortlessly escapes his chains and disappears into the sewers.

The violence in this issue is sickening. Blackout savagely murders Dan’s sister in the intensive care unit because his life has become really horrible lately due to how her daemon brother scarred his face. The Scarecrow murders a mother and he young infant child with a pitchfork for no other reason than to inspire fear and hatred. In his world view everyone is as vicious as he is.  Neither characters show any remorse. No compassion or guilt over any of the actions they are undertaking. These villains think nothing of the lives of those around them and everything of their own selfish troubles and experiences. They contrast entirely with the human and close personal relationships that Dan has with those around him, and reflect the dangers he faces by pushing all of that away in a bid to loose himself in the role of Ghost Rider. 

Naturally, when he discovers what has happened, Dan seeks immediate revenge. Taking the bike, he races out into the night but never finds Blackout. Instead, he encounters The Scarecrow, and beats the man so severely he dives backwards onto his own pitchfork taking his life. The comic ends with Daniel finally visiting his sister again – in a box as it is lowered into the earth. His thoughts remain on revenge, his failures and his family. We are left with the flicker of hope amidst the tragedy. Dan is still human and still has a chance to change and end the cycles of violence and chaos going on in his own life before he himself becomes an animal.

This issue was a difficult read. I left it feeling numb, shaken and disturbed. I care about Dan’s character more than ever. I can only hope a dark event such as this, happening so early on in the series, will be marked as a point of growth for his character. Anything less would be an insult to the readers who have just made it through one of the bleakest and most vicious comics imaginable.



Editor Note: Hey Guys hope you're enjoyed J-Max's review, Why not drop him an encouraging message below (he REALLY doesn't like bees), Please check out the rest of the reviews HERE or if you're feeling brave why not join in his adventure HERE.

Nintendo Stepping Into The Movie Business

What I love about Nintendo is that they are all prim and proper, they have this methodical approach to everything... and then one day they can have a little too much "tea", walk up to a podium and announce something crazy like... "we're making films now"

And thats what they did... well okay thats not what literally happened, it was an interview with Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima with Japanese paper Asahi Shimbun (link is to google translated page).

Apparently trying to do business with Hollywood is such a "process" that Nintendo is cutting out the middle man, Nintendo intends to do as much of the work as possible "in house".  We don't know which character will be getting a film first but we do have some details.

First thanks to a certain live action movie Nintendo is not keen on live action adaptions for their projects preferring instead to focus on 3D and anime/cartoon movies. According to President Kimishima their first movie "wont be out this year, and wont take 5 years"with the company aiming for 2/3 year production cycle.

Kimishima was quick to point out they was "aware of the global market and not just Japan"

This isnt the first time Nintendo has got its movie making feet wet. The company tested all sorts of animation styles for the Smash Bros 4 trailers, Shingru Miyamoto made a series of short pikmin films, and most recently Nintendo release and cell shaded animated short for StarFox Zero.

Nintendo had spent the last year openly saying it was happy to licence its IP catalog (probably the largest one outside of Disney) but wanted to ensure THAT MOVIE and Pixels never happens again.

Abe's Take
Going in house and aiming for strictly animated projects seems like the best bet. The recent Rachet and Clank movie by Sony wasn't bad (for a Sony Studios animated film) and it dose seem poor adaptions are caused by studios wanting to appeal to outside the fan base, case in point the awful song choice in the Assassin's Creed trailer.

Its been a dark time for Nintendo fans like me, With the Wii U seemingly abandoned for 2016 and being at the mercy of rumour mongers and 'insiders' about the NX. Its nice to know that Nintendo is sitting in the headoffice just throwing paper darts around... now excuse me whist I go sit patiently for an 90's style animation of Splatoon

Ghost Rider #6 (October 1990)

J-Max was challenged to review 30 issues of Ghost Rider in (roughly) 30 days. Should J-Max succeed he shall earn his freedom (probably not). However should he fail in this task then he shall be subjected to an attack by Bees... DEADLY BEES. 

So let's join him for his review of Ghost Rider #6

Credits: Howard Mackie (writer), Javier Saltares (artist), Gregory Wright (colourist), Mark Texeira (inker)

Overview: Supported by The Punisher, Ghost Rider serves up harsh justice to a gang of weapons traffickers.  

Cultural References: A homeless man on seeing the shark fins states "I hope it ain't those gill breathing Atlanteans again." This is a refrence to the Marvel race who recently - at the time - assaulted the mainland in the crossover Atlantis Attacks arc.

Review: This issue concludes The Punisher's appearance in Ghost Rider. Though the dialogue is not as clunky this time, the action definitely out ways the plot. This isn't a bad thing at all as it sets up some incredible art and cool moments that are fun and wall sticky worthy for all the kids and kiddies.

In one crazy, cartoon scene, the villains head beneath the bay toward the dock with shark fins only to fly out of the water on snow white, armoured, hover bikes suited to the brim in 70s styled, equally white, sci-fi armour. Geez, I thought when Flag Smasher mentioned anarchy he didn't mean Wacky Racers style anarchy.

This seems a little odd in Ghost Rider, but what the hey - it's unexpected. The Punisher even does something this time, taking out half the hover bikes - although GR may have done this himself - and preventing skull head from being, I guess, annoyed by bullets.

The plot, so far as it exists, is linked together by the cause and effect chain of Ghost Rider's actions. He avenged his sister’s attack, giving a child thug a chance to steal Deathwatch's chemical weapons. Deathwatch began executing members of that gang. Now, young offenders around the city feel defenceless leading them into the web of an arms dealer. If more themes than revenge could be said to inhabit this series it is the theme of conflict of loyalty and irony. While Dan is amending his past sins, he is neglecting his family and may even be running from it. Furthermore, the arms traders; lead by Flag Smasher, are planning to assault Wall Street with high powered weapons. And, of course, Death Watch works high above Wall Street in the World Trade Centre - though none of the other characters have a clue about this.

 

Like the last issue, we get snippets of Dan's life around the action for a few pages. These human elements are now beginning to feel tacked in, it's almost as if the writer is answering questions posed in fan letters. I'm going to start summarising these as Dan facts. So, in number six we find out: Dan's motorcycle does not need to be filled up. Dan has a job in delivery. Dan is hiding his bike in a cemetery. Those are the Dan facts of the month. Tune in next time to see if he has a dog companion, what his favourite sandwich is and where he lost his virginity.

 At the end of the issue, we are informed via the lead characters quarrelling that the Ghost Rider doesn't kill anyone. For those who has followed the first six months of the comic, this is a bold faced retcon. We have SEEN Ghost Rider impale thugs with sais and punch them in the jaw with his spiked gloves so hard they are left apple bobbing in their own blood. In this comic, he wipes out hover bikes with no regards to their rider. Are we expected to believe he uses controlled force? The Punisher even states "most of (the) men walked away" it doesn't take a kid genius to work out this means some of them did not.

As time moves on, it's becoming less and less clear what the metaphysical rules are in this comic. Take Dan's power. In the first four issues, it would activate when an innocent person was critically injured. This fitted with him being an elemental force or a Spirit of Vengeance. The header narration box each issue even opens with "when innocent blood is spilled, Dan Ketch is transformed" etc. Here, as in the last issue, we have Dan transformed upon nightfall automatically. Marvel or Mackie, evidently, have started toning down some of the more adult elements of the Rider's character. 

This was a fun comic. Mind disengaged, I could site it as terrific. Unfortunately, I have to weigh up everything not just the explosions. The series has now reached a point where it read like three competing writers arguing. One wants to tell a human interest story about a man who has been possessed by a force that is gradually driving him away from his loved ones. Another is an action writer who loves unrealistic guns, massive explosions and high body counts. And finally, the last writer is a Guardian writing agony aunt, leaning over the action writers shoulders and making sure everything is kept PC and dinner party friendly for younger audiences. It is ultimately this writer causing the most problems for Ghost Rider not The Punisher.

Week 2 Summary: Six months into the series and Dan has developed into a far more active character. However, the story has begun to show major plot inconsistencies. Facts of this world are beginning to be sloppily thrown in or even altered seemingly at will. The art and villains, still, remain the strongest elements of the book.

The way we were: A full page teaser advert for Total Recall on The Nintendo Entertainment System.


Editor Note: Hey Guys hope you're enjoyed J-Max's review, Why not drop him an encouraging message below (he REALLY doesn't like bees), Please check out the rest of the reviews HERE or if you're feeling brave why not join in his adventure HERE.

Ghost Rider #5 (September 1990)

J-Max was challenged to review 30 issues of Ghost Rider in (roughly) 30 days. Should J-Max succeed he shall earn his freedom (probably not). However should he fail in this task then he shall be subjected to an attack by Bees... DEADLY BEES.

So let's join him for his review of Ghost Rider #5

Featuring The Punisher!

Credits: Howard Mackie (writer), Javier Saltares (artist), Gregory Wright (colourist), Mark Texeira (inker)

Overview: Ghost Rider faces off against The Punisher

Review: On picking up this issue, it became abundantly clear that the series had become fully enshrouded in the extended universe. The Punisher isn’t an extremely bad choice for this comic. Assuming there was a choice to begin. It is often hard to judge with 90s marvel how much control writers had over who appeared in their story against how often they were simply told to include a number of universe characters to a calendar date regardless of how well it worked. Well, it looks like I am about to find out.

It seems the way these titans are going to cross paths is via a media report that Ghost rider sexually assaulted a woman and attacked children. A delinquent and nasty image if there ever was one. If I was the punisher, I would want to blow his flaming head off too. This report comes out of the mouth of an unknown anchor who had followed the Ghost Rider to an earlier scene where he brutalised the gang of rapists. the media, naturally, opts to warp this perspective so he is instead fleeing the scene of a rape and assault. The Punisher can’t believe his ears, as he polishes his massive, massive gun that literally bursts from the panel.

“That same night”, she goes on, “The Punisher was on at hand at Washington Square”, que an image of the punisher shooting, “could they be one and the same person?” Dan and Frank (The Punisher) Castle are seen watching this same report at their homes, or base of operation for you Punisher fans out there, and we see their immediate reactions to it. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about” says Dan. ‘She’s way off the mark. They usually are’ thinks the punisher - his speech boxes are the narrative boxes you see. Well, I guess the fights off ladies and gentlemen. Let’s wrap this comic up. Sadly, The Punisher proclaims ‘oh well’ and loads the massive, massive gun anyway.

All of The Punishers dialogue and action scenes are very boring, very sammey and very over the top. Not in a violent way. Not in a clique way. In a boringly violent and clique way. Earlier he turned up in Manhattan (as mentioned) and had a gun battle with a gang of stereotyped, trash youths that were murdering “yuppie”citizens  and driving what appeared to be a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere - all the rage in the nineties I'm sure. He murderd most of them whilst throwing out choppy dialogue and taglines from movies like Dirty Harry and Maniac Cop. This entrance could not be more cardboard if the pages were literally made out of it.

What's more, when we move away from some badly formulated showdown, we are left with solid and interesting issue. Dan’s hospitalised sister is now in a coma and his mother states she is "in God’s hands now". He begins to worry about his family and wonders if he can use Ghost Rider to make money somehow but quickly decides, given how little control he has over it, using the bike for his own benefit would be wrong (it seems the Hyde encounter is paying off). Violence in the first arc against the teenage gang that stole the canisters is making the neighbourhood children and gangs consider their safety, and we learn from one of Dan’s neighbours that a rumour is circulating of a downtown warehouse offering free arms to any kids who will show up. Realising this is something he can fix, Dan once again is proactive: he scolds the child and heads to the warehouse himself to investigate the claim.

The villain in this arc is a soothsaying, manipulator of the working poor who gives revolutionary speeches to disenfranchised youths. Essentially, a loony left Frank Miller villain. He weaves a tale of government conspiring with big businesses against the young to keep them mired down in poverty and violence. These kids, full of anger, are then provided guns and told to rise up against their oppressors.

Dan has the worst luck ever trying to gain entry. First he plays the part of a naïve child looking for weapons and, when he is threatened, finds his power is not working - seemingly Ghost Rider doesn’t give a damn if Dan is hurt. So, he leaves only to come back later as Ghost Rider to find The Punisher waiting for him. The Punisher thinks he’s bad. They have fisticuffs. Ghost Rider and The Punisher fall through a window. The Punisher thinks the Ghost Rider is good. They team. Curtains.

Now, I have a big problem with this issue. It’s not all bad, but it falls into Raiders of the Lost Ark character trajectory - I’m sure Big Bang enthusiasts know where I’m going with this. I’m unclear what the official term is but for all intents and purposes let’s call it Fowler’s Theory. Namely; The Punisher has absolutely no effect on the movement of this story at all. The lead character is framed, discovers the location of the hideout, gains his power and enters the hideout without support or help. I have no idea if this will happen again next issue but I really hope The Punisher does more than – and I hate to say this – Punish me for reading this comic.

 
Editor Note: Hey Guys hope you're enjoyed J-Max's review, Why not drop him an encouraging message below (he REALLY doesn't like bees), Please check out the rest of the reviews HERE or if you're feeling brave why not join in his adventure HERE.