Space Ghost #9

Recap
In this issue: With his old foe Space Ghost on the ropes, Metallus surveys the destruction he has wrought - and deems it good. Now it's all up to Jan, Jace, and Blip to somehow pull victory from the jaws of defeat - and help their mentor take Metallus down once and for all!
Review
Space Ghost fought Metallus. Space Ghost lost. It was the character’s biggest defeat in the series to date. But after a hero falls, there’s only one thing for them to do: rise. Space Ghost #9 sets out to deliver one heck of a heroic rise.
Metallus’ assault on the Galactic Federation’s homeworld continued in Space Ghost #9. Separated from Space Ghost, Jace and Jan have taken over rescue efforts. But there is only so much Jace and Jan can accomplish on their own, especially when Metallus’ forces turn their eyes to them. Fortunately Space Ghost hasn’t been completely defeated. And he still has a score to settle with Metallus.
Space Ghost #8 took the titular character to his lowest point yet, both emotionally and in a physical fight. It was the perfect setup for Space Ghost #9, the series’ most triumphal entry. Pepose wastes no time establishing the issue’s tone when he gives Space Ghost the kind of catch phrase reserved for a hero getting their second wind: “You can’t kill a ghost.”
Jace and Jan are used particularly well. Separated from Space Ghost, the child adventurers take over the rescue efforts and do a good job. Pepose reminds the reader that Jace and Jan aren’t just hangers-on that help advance Space Ghost as a character. Those moments do have their place. But they are also young heroes in their own right.
An unfortunate consequence of Space Ghost #9’s story and overall tone is that it undermines Metallus. The previous issue made Metallus out to be a villain beyond any that Space Ghost had faced in the series. He feels diminished as Space Ghost #9 goes on.
That said, Space Ghost #9’s biggest moment of triumph is ultimately the way Pepose ties the big action story into an emotional resolution for Space Ghost–one that’s perhaps transformative for the character going forward. Whether or not Metallus remains a strong threat as a villain is in some ways not important because he is a vehicle for this emotional story arc.
That same triumphal feeling is captured in Lau’s art throughout Space Ghost #9. Space Ghost has to pick himself back up after his loss in the previous issue. As the issue goes on, he gains strength almost from panel to panel. This culminates in a hand to hand fight between Space Ghost and Metallus. In this final fight Lau draws Space Ghost with a wide open mouth in such a way that his angry scream comes off the page even though Pepose writes in no dialogue or sound effects.
This is frequently the strength of Lau’s art in Space Ghost and it is particularly on display in this issue. He builds Space Ghost up to be larger than life. This helped contribute to the shock of Space Ghost’s defeat in Space Ghost #8 and now builds him up into almost a force of nature in Space Ghost #9.
Dalhouse’s coloring shines here, and it might be his best work in the series to date. It’s first on display in the “You can’t kill a ghost” panel that takes up most of a page. It’s Space Ghost’s first appearance in the issue, and he appears against a field of black. Dalhouse shades him as though he is literally stepping out of a shadow. And in the next few panels Space Ghost appears, he remains shaded as he moves through shadowed areas of the ship. Rather than make his generally vibrant costume stand out, Dalhouse uses colors very similar to the other shaded components around him.
Later in the issue, as circumstances become more dire for Jace and Jan and Space Ghost returns to full glory, a conflagration grows in the background in most panels. Dalhouse plays with reds, oranges, and yellows. As it fills up the setting, it serves as an excellent background for Space Ghost’s final encounter with Metallus. Those surrounding colors elevate the fight into something epic which helps justify the triumphal feeling that fills the issue.
Esposito repeatedly emphasizes yelled, urgent dialogue using an orange bordered white dialogue bubble with all caps yellow font that just barely fits inside. Its effectiveness varies depending on the background it’s set against (for instance, it is less effective when placed against the colors of the burning conflagration behind Jace and Jan). But the first time Esposito uses it is in the repeatedly mentioned “You can’t kill a ghost” panel. The colorful lettering choice is set against the straight black around Space Ghost. As much as the heroic pose Lau gives Space Ghost and the dark shading Dalhouse uses, this dialogue further emphasizes Space Ghost’s return.
Final Thoughts
Though Space Ghost hasn’t been telling a long continuous arc, there is no denying that Space Ghost #9 feels like the end of the series’ first chapter. Part of that is the way that the text, art, and colors come together to sell a triumphant feeling that builds throughout the issue. Space Ghost #9 is a complete experience that immediately turns Space Ghost #10 into an impatiently waiting for must have.
Space Ghost #9: Triumphant
- Writing - 8.5/108.5/10
- Storyline - 8/108/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 8.5/108.5/10
- Cover Art - 7.5/107.5/10