Ghost Rider #4: One Powerful Son of a Gun…

GHOST RIDER IS BACK. HELL YEAH!

After the somewhat lackluster third issue, Ghost Rider #4 picks right up on what the series initially delivered with a badass book full of hellfire fury and and an all new position for Danny Ketch.

This is one you simply can’t afford to miss.

Let’s start with everything that works for Ghost Rider #4. This is the type of issue that will pull you right back into series after such a strong start in issue #1. All the excitement and potential it promised is delivered within these very pages. Before we see Johnny Blaze confront Mephisto, we get an awesome moment with none other than Wong, though it unfortunately doesn’t end very pleasant for him. It’s this connection to a greater Marvel universe that helps the story come to life. Sure, you can say you want to bring back the horror side of Marvel, but its tough to believe until you see Wong suffering from the terrible Penance Stare!

While Johnny Blaze continues wreaking havoc, we catch up with Danny Blaze who is wandering through Limbo, seemingly destined to make yet another horrifying decision. As we meet Lord Belasco and those around him, we begin to see that Danny is finally willing to step up and do what is necessary to stop his brother from spreading destruction. To do so, he yields himself to Lord Belasco and becomes his new SPIRIT OF CORRUPTION.

What better way to counter the Spirit of Vengeance than with a little Corruption?

This new development for Danny is monumental. Considering where he has been mentally after his time as the Ghost Rider, seeing him fall into yet another treacherous position tugged at my heart. That being said, the reveal of the Spirit of Corruption is nothing short of badass. The armor and sword with a superhero flair is a design that can easily hold up throughout the years, and with Danny’s past trauma, the character already has plenty of depth.

The artwork is also back to it’s high quality as well. All of the characters are vibrant and a treat to watch as they bring Hell to Earth. Mephisto, the Spirit of Vengeance and even the new Spirit of Corruption are all just brilliant and offer plenty of opportunities for grand visuals. The coloring, letting and overall design are all spot on, resulting in a truly enjoyable issue aesthetically.

It may not be a perfect issue, as it kicks back into an explosive pacing we feel the character drama take a backseat but that’s okay. Now that we are four issues into the story it’s easier to take a step back and see how the series is progressing. So far, it’s been a mostly incredible ride that while not overly complex, is able to bring something new to the mythos to help push it in a fresh direction. For fans both new and old, there is something to love that will have you anticipating the next issue.

Ghost Rider #4 is a prime example of what I want out of this series. It’s a ton of fun and promises even more to come! While I enjoy the competing dynamic between Johnny and Danny, I am incredibly curious to see how all of this could possibly work out with Johnny maintaining his throne in Hell. This is undoubtedly a bold new direction for Ghost Rider and it seems as though this creative team has an exciting vision in place. Hopefully it can remain consistent, because it has potential to be one of Marvel’s best titles on shelves today.