Cosmic Ghost Rider has been on the shelf for a hot minute at Marvel Comics, but he returns this week under the care of Stephanie Phillips and Juann Cabal! If there was a single theme in Cosmic Ghost Rider #1, it’s that debts must be paid, but how far does Frank Castle have to go considering he was a Herald of Galactus?
Right off the bat, Cosmic Ghost Rider #1 takes you off guard with a mysterious flaming skull spaceman. Is he Cosmic Ghost Rider or some pretender? The story arc title is “Duel Identity” and likely a play on words so that it could be a few different things, but boy, is this new flaming skull dude punchy. Phillips does well to introduce this character and then bookend the main story with him cementing your interest so you’ll come back for more.
This mysterious figure is also decidedly more evil than Cosmic Ghost Rider, who we soon learn is working at a bar and trying to lay low. Is he a dual personality or something else? It’s a question that you’ll be pondering every time this new and stark white Cosmic Ghost Rider lookalike takes up the page.
A western vibe permeates this chunk of the story, complete with a bounty hunter and some innocent townsfolk who don’t deserve the wrath coming for Frank Castle. One can imagine a duel at high noon is coming sometime in Frank Castle’s future. Phillips and Cabal do a good job of establishing a state of mind of Frank before hell comes to pay.
Like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, the main story has a slower tempo. Cabal’s art is super clean and easy on the eyes. Backgrounds tend to be blank, and layouts tend to be more straightforward. A simple movement might takes up one of four panels. The widescreen visual approach gives the narrative a cinematic feel but also makes its pace relatively slow. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t expecting a little more out of the main story.
Who is he?!
Credit: Marvel
The backup is a good primer on Cosmic Ghost Rider’s demons. He faces an unknown threat that seems to have more power cosmic than most. Phillips uses that power to remind us of the horrors Frank witnessed in war and the loss of his kids. It’s also a mighty good way of showing he’s done self-loathing and is ready to move on. That’s refreshing, as the character has had plenty of baggage in the past.
Art in the backup is by Jonas Scharft with colors by Arif Prianto. They pack a wallop of energy blasts and great detail. The scale of one threat, surrounding Frank with hovering bodies, is great, reminding us of the incredible powers of cosmic characters.
I’m ready for more Cosmic Ghost Rider, and given the pieces put in place, Cabal and Phillips have a surefire hit on their hands here. While the main story is a bit slow to the punch, the twist is compelling, and it’ll be interesting to see how this future Frank Castle continues to evolve and grow.
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