Something fishy is going on in Stephanie Phillips and Juann Cabal’s Cosmic Ghost Rider, with things seemingly far different for this Frank Castle from the far future. The first issue revealed he’s retired with a heavy dose of Western vibes thrown in when a confrontation gets someone killed. Cosmic Ghost Rider #2 is out this week, and we begin to see what is going on with bounty hunters being hired and choices being made.
Issue #2 opens on a planet on the edge of the galaxy, but judging by the scenery, it’s a familiar-looking dusty street you’ve seen in a thousand Westerns. Enter Monark Starstalker with a purple superhero cape and a gold attack hawk. It’s an excellent opening, defying expectations while reminding us this is a Western through and through. He’s given a job to bring Cosmic Ghost Rider alive, which is a tough task, but throughout the issue, Frank may be in more trouble than he thinks.
This book takes its time with a pace that feels even-keeled and willing to allow its characters to find their voice in their own time. Frank connects with a woman who has just suffered a significant loss and, by the end of the issue, realizes his powers. This may or may not be tied to a mysterious white and gray-looking Cosmic Ghost Rider lookalike, which likely has some ties to Frank. The pace can feel a touch slow as if this was written for the trade paperback, but there are plenty of story beats to keep you interested.
I think you got him.
Credit: Marvel
In a lot of ways, this book feels like it belongs in the same library as the Guardians of the Galaxy movie. There’s an edge to it, a sense of humor, and it also relishes the quirky and weird. That’s aided by Cabal’s cinematic art style that utilizes widescreen panels to control the pace and draw your eye, similar to cinema. Generally speaking, there’s an attitude to the characters that feels modern and punk, and that goes for the cliffhanger reveal character.
The only downside to the art is the sometimes overly simple backgrounds. Blank white spaces, or in some cases, the simplest of interior designs. It can bring your focus to the characters at opportune times, but it can also look blank and overly simple.
The general vibe of Cosmic Ghost Rider continues to mesh well with a modern MCU sensibility that’s hard to resist. Throw in a mystery surrounding Cosmic Ghost Rider’s mojo and some colorful new characters, and you have yourself a growing hit.
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