Ghost Machine #1 isn’t pulling any punches. It boasts a roster of all star creators, most notably Geoff Johns – who’s best known for being DC Comics’ go-to architect over the past two decades. It’s a whopping 64 pages, which at $4.99 is a hell of a deal. The kicker is that Ghost Machine #1 is launching four distinct universes, meaning that readers are essentially getting four comics for the price of one! It’s the type of big swings that have made Image a force to be reckoned with, and continues its recent trend of letting major creators launch their own imprints – a strategy that’s bearing fruit with the runaway success of the Massiveverse, KLC Press, and most recently the Energon Universe.
Ghost Machine #1 contains the following tales:
- Geiger and Redcoat, which take place in the Unnamed Universe, are written by Johns. Gary Frank illustrates Geiger while Redcoat is illustrated by Bryan Hitch. Brad Anderson handles colors.
- Rook: Exodus is written by Johns and illustrated by Jason Fabok, with Anderson on colors.
- The Rocketfellers is written by Peter J. Tomasi with art and colors by Francis Manapul.
- Hornsby & Halo is written by Tomasi & illustrated by Peter Snejbjerg with Bjarne Hansen on colors.
- Hyde Street is written by Johns and illustrated by Ivan Reis; the duo also collaborated with Lamont Magee on Hyde Street Amusements while Reis illustrates the Devour story written by Maytal Zchut. Danny Miki and Brad Anderson provide inks and colors for all three tales.
What stands out the most about Ghost Machine #1 is how much variety is in each story. Geiger and Redcoat are post-apocalyptic superhero tales with connections that stretch across history itself. Rook is cutting edge science fiction. The Rocketfellers is a fun sci-fi romp that could best be described as “What if The Jetsons met Back to the Future?” Hornsby & Halo puts a devilish spin on the “nature vs. nurture” debate – quite literally, as an angel and devil are raised in opposing families. Finally, Hyde Street dips into the weird and macabre. There’s literally something for everyone; superhero fans, horror fans, sci-fi fans – chances are you’re going to pick up this comic and want to read at least one of the titles contained within.
It’s also a great showcase of Johns and Tomasi’s versatility. With Geiger, Johns delivers a journey through the Unnamed Universe that feels more complete than the recent Geiger: Ground Zero miniseris, then careens straight into horror with Hyde Street. Ditto for Tomasi, who filters the family genre through the sci-fi and supernatural with wholly different results. They’ve also mastered the art of telling a complete story while also leaving enough room for said story to be picked up in their respective titles. The only story that feels like it needed more fleshing out was Rook; I don’t know enough about this world or its characters to be fully invested.
Ghost Machine #1 is also populated with artists who have worked with Johns and/or Tomasi over at DC. All of them bring their own unique style to the table, making the various titles feel like their own unique world. Frank once again brings the world of the Unnamed to life, as Geiger’s body burns with emerald green fire. Manapul gives the Rocketfellers a futuristic look that fits right in the world of 2024. Reis’ work on Hyde Street pulls monsters and menaces out of every shadow, making the reader question who they can trust. Anderson and Leigh take on a Herculean task by applying their coloring and lettering to the majority of the book, but they succeed in giving each story a distinct voice as well as look.
Ghost Machine #1 delivers a smorgasbord of comic book goodness, opening up a variety of new worlds to readers. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s exactly the kind of comic publishers should be looking at. Whether it’s a radioactive man, a family from the future, or the darkest corners of our own imagination the Ghost Machine is charged with potential.
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