Ghost Rider #2: He’s Gone Mad With Power!

After I described the first issue of this new Ghost Rider series as “one hell of a time”, I was hopeful that the second issue would keep its foot on the gas and maintain an intense pace. Luckily, it does that and then some. Ghost Rider #2 throws readers right into an all out fight, Ghost Rider versus Ghost Rider!

While I was apprehensive about a Danny Ketch Ghost Rider focused series simply because I felt Robbie Reyes hadn’t been given enough time in the spotlight, I’m very happy to see that this series is actually playing out more like a love letter to the Spirit of Vengeance. We follow Johnny Blaze as the King of Hell gone mad, in a role that suits him dangerously well. It seems only Danny can truly see what’s going on with his sanity, and it isn’t long before the issue spirals out into a fiery chain-fueled clash between the two.

The visuals from the first issue set a pretty high standard, and while there is a bit of a rotation in artists throughout Ghost Rider #2, the quality is still remarkably high. It feels like everything you love about a classic Ghost Rider comics, full of demonic vengeance and hellfire fury, but also the genuinely human struggle to find something good amidst all the darkness. That is ultimately what makes the Ghost Rider such an enduring antihero among fans. We know the capabilities of the power and Johnny Blaze appears to have gone wild with its potential. Although there could be something else influencing him, the struggle for good comes from Danny Ketch’s perseverance even when it seems to cost him everything.

This is really powerful storytelling in a comic that is surrounded with action-horror elements that will keep you excited to turn every page. It captures many of the elements you want in a Ghost Rider comic while pushing the story in an interesting new direction. We end with a cliffhanger that seems rather hopeless, but it will also make diving into the next issue something of a mystery. Who doesn’t enjoy that? Will Johnny Blaze be able to snap out of this mad King mindset and does Danny Ketch have any hope of stopping him if he doesn’t? The potential of this story is unlimited, and that’s credit to just how strong the series has started.

With two issues in, it’s easy to see this is a Ghost Rider story that is worth telling by pushing the horror side of Marvel into new prominence. This creative team is onto something special and fans should jump in now before their plans are revealed, it’s a lot of fun!