Choices Have Already Been Made – Review Of Ghost Rider #6

Hey! Guess what, everyone? I found a great comic book that I’d really like to recommend to you all but, what’s that Internet? Ghost Rider, written by Rob Williams, with art by Dalibor Talajić has been canceled?

Oh. Oh well.

So, does this cancellation have anything to do with the upcoming sequel to the 2007 Ghost Rider movie? You know, the one that was so bad it got a 4.3 out of 10 rating on Rotten Tomatoes…which begs the question as to why there’s even a sequel in the first place?

Launched during the “Fear Itself” event under the guiding hand of writer Rob Williams, “Ghost Rider” provided a new female version of the long-standing hero while keeping original rider Johnny Blaze on as co-star. The character has a new movie — “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” from Columbia Pictures — set to hit theaters this February, though beyond an incoming special re-presenting classic tales of Blaze, the publisher appears to have no plans for a major media tie-in push.

So, that’s a no. Having a female Ghost Rider possibly running around when Nicholas Cage is poised to take yet another stab at comic book movie glory has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Sure.

Spoilers, snakes and swamp water ahead!

In this particular take on Ghost Rider, the Spirit of Vengeance is housed with the body of an 18 year old girl named Alejandra. Alejandra was orphaned at birth and raised by a big jerk named Adam, who wanted to use the Spirit of Vengeance for his own nefarious purposes – mass destruction and lots of it. Isn’t that always how it is with parents? Mapping out your damn future for you before you get to have any say in it?

Alejandra is on her own now. After an interlude with the original Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze – who just wanted to help her control the curse she now suffers under, Alejandra has struck out on her own as we arrive in issue #6. Based on how the character handles herself in this particular issue, which is a one and done set in the swamps of Louisiana, it would have been a very compelling story to have continued following. Too bad the series is getting canceled after issue #9.

The story centers on the idea of whether a person, particularly one who has acted monstrously, can ever change. This question is especially important to Alejandra, who knows she has done some pretty awful things while under the influence of the demon that makes her Ghost Rider. So, what will she choose to do when she finds herself in a magically controlled town where she is prevented from turning into the Ghost Rider? Would she choose to stay demon free, even if it cost Alejandra her life?

I’m not going to spoil the story for you. It’s tight and would be a great place to jump on to Alejandra’s story, even for the brief amount of time the series has left. Williams paints a portrait of a young woman who has had all her choices in life taken away from her before her adulthood has even gotten started. I hope Marvel has a place for this character in their bullpen after the series concludes.

And, speaking of portraits, did Dalibor Talajić, decide to draw this young, Hispanic woman to look like Nic Cage on purpose – if, you know, Cage had tits?

The demon gave her D cups, but it also gave her Nic Cage's face. That's evil for you.

Talajić’s pencils are solid, though. He renders the Louisiana swap setting in a spare, but moody fashion. His character art is expressive. Alejandra’s pain is obvious as she transitions from human to demon, as a hurricane begins to bear down on the bayou. The art complements Williams story well.

All in all, I’d say give this story a read. I don’t know if Marvel is going to compile this Ghost Rider into a trade and they aren’t really great about reprinting back issues. Find it at your local comic book store while you still can.