Ghost of a Ghost #1: Classic Espionage for the Modern Era

This issue proved once again that classic spy thrillers are truly timeless. With a story that is equal parts 007 and Charlie’s Angels, it wears its influences on its sleeve while also feeling fresh and vibrant. While the issue mainly focuses on Jian and establishes her as a charismatic and witty main character, it also offers a bit of a sampler for what this side of the Hellboy universe has to offer in its other characters.

Mike Mignola, along with Chris Roberson, shows once again why this universe is a mainstay in the comics medium. Jian is written to be an experienced agent, yet one that still has some innocence to her as far as what her line of work can entail. The entire cast of agents seem to share that sentiment and express having fun with what they do, which is something that can be missing in this genre. With jaded figures like James Bond as titans of the genre, these characters feel like a breath of fresh air.

Michael Avon Oeming and Taki Soma breathe life into this book that sets it apart from the rest, though. The paneling and use of patterns within the negative space give it a psychedelic feel, as one would see in a spy movie from the 1960s and ’70s.  Each page is a visual feast of its own, and turning the page feels like a meal transitioning from one course to the next in such a way that, by the end, the reader is left satisfied and full until next month’s installment.

One might worry about the pacing of the issue, especially with the series only being a 4-issue limited series, but Mignola and Oeming have each earned the trust of readers for decades, and they both seem to be on their A-game here.