Ghost Rider #17, from Benjamin Percy, Geoff Shaw, Rain Beredo, and Travis Lanham, kicks the “Weapons of Vengeance” storyline into a new gear. United once more, Johnny Blaze and Logan start to investigate the grisly mutant murders running across the United States. But Blaze is struggling to control the Ghost Rider’s hunger for vengeance, while Logan is reeling from the fallout of the Hellfire Gala. Meanwhile, more details about Ghost Rider and Wolverine’s first meeting come to light.
This being a Ghost Rider comic, it’s only natural that the lion’s share of the focus goes to the titular Spirit of Vengeance. Unlike the Weapons of Vengeance: Alpha one-shot which should have split focus between both antiheroes, it makes sense for Blaze to get the spotlight here. Percy continues to shine a spotlight on how similar Blaze and Logan are, once again utilizing inner monologue to do so. “Kings one day, exiles the next,” Blaze says during one of these monologues. “Suppose I can relate.” Another hallmark of Percy’s run on Ghost Rider is that he knows how to build up a great deal of suspense. That’s present in the mysterious monster that’s been murdering mutants, and in the way that Blaze is barely holding the Ghost Rider in, which only makes the full on horror moments hit that harder.
What else makes them hit harder? The artwork from Shaw and Beredo. Shaw revels in drawing gore; mounds of flesh and bone are shaped to form macabre towers. Blaze’s skin bubbles with fire as the Ghost Rider struggles to gain control. But the most amazing image comes toward the end of the issue, where Blaze corners a guilty soul. The Ghost Rider’s hand punches through his chest, then one explosion of blood and flesh later stands in all his flaming chained glory.
Beredo’s colors bring the right amount of moody, with the flames from Ghost Rider’s head sometimes providing the only light within the issue. Topping it all off is Lanham, who crafts bold orange and black narrative boxes for Blaze while ringing the Ghost Rider’s speech bubbles with a scratchy black halo.
Ghost Rider #17 cranks the throttle on the Weapons of Vengeance crossover, delivering some macabre imagery as well as more introspection. The last page promises a showdown for the ages, which will hopefully make Wolverine #36 worth the cover price.
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