Ghost Rider #8 (Legacy #251)

[shakalooloo]

In this issue, I turned a page to find a double-page spread advertising Spider-Man's upcoming Dark Web crossover, and I wondered how in the world a story about demons being unleashed merits a tie-in issue with Ms. Marvel, but not Ghost Rider!

But anyway, I'm more annoyed by this issue's clarifications on the limitations of Johnny Blaze's powers.






Yeah, flat-out confirmed that he can only change now when an innocent is in direct danger. Why then, does Hlel bother with all these demonic attacks when sending some dude with a gun will get the job done easily?

From this issue, seems to me this limitation was only introduced in this run to justify keeping Talia at his side, for the power-up she provides him.

So, why am I still reading this series that irritates me so much in places? Well, it still does provide some cool (hot?) visuals:





Benjamin Percy, writer; Cory Smith, artist; Oren Junior, inker; Bryan Valenza, colorist; Travis Lanham, letterer

Comments

[deh_tommy]

Is that cover in any way accurate or is it all lies?

[beyondthefringe]

Well, she does smooch him to bring out the demon within, which is how we get that final panel.

I dunno. On one hand, Percy seems well-suited for a title which leans towards the weirdness, gore, and heavy metal visuals. On the other, I'm not always convinced by his take on characters in general. That road rally with everyone from Wolverine to Doctor Doom to Rhino on their customized bikes was just a little over the top for me to believe it took place in the "normal" MU continuity. But Ghost Rider works well on the fringes away from normal superhero stuff.

[blues32]

Do you think they got an invitation? I mean, how else would the like of The Rhino learn about a race in Hell?

[super_fly]

There's a few logistical difficulties in romantically embracing a spirit of vengeance:

1) No lips
2) Fleshless skull enveloped in scorching demonic hellfire in close proximity to your own face
3) Probably thinking about punishing the wicked and not about you

[deh_tommy]

You list these like they are flaws, but all I see are features.

[sabertoothlotus]

Love (or lust) can overcome all things.Maybe you *are* the wicked and enjoy being punished. GR has faced a few masochists who really enjoyed that ol' penance stare before.

[blues32]

Just Madcap and Thanos and for very different reasons. Madcap enjoyed it because it's the first ounce of pain he has felt since gaining his powers and Thanos because it let's him relive every terrible deed he has committed.

[cainofdreaming]

Huh. You'd have to be someone very mad to enjoy it. Mad enough to wear a cap.

[blues32]

What a load of garbage. He's never needed that before. Danny had something like that, but he learned to overcome the limitation. I mean, first Danny had to touch the gas tank of his bike or something too.

How is Johnny even able to turn into Ghost Rider? I thought this whole thing went down because Blackheart stole the spirit of vengeance from him?

[cainofdreaming]

How would Johnny even have the authority to just give it away anyway? He's cursed (or blessed, since the heaven thing) with it, not its owner.

[blues32]

Another fine question that I'm sure this comic will not answer.

[shakalooloo]

Blackheart enraptured Johnny, trapped him in a facsimile of his perfect life and then just... uh... left him there. Inevitably he broke free, but had a naughty demon centipede in his head until Wolverine cut it out.

The centipede has since turned into a cool flesh-and-steel monster called Exhaust and is chasing Johnny for Blackheart.

Quite why Blackheart never just carried out his evil plans for Johnny while the latter was in his clutches, helpless, has not been elaborated upon.

[blues32]

Probably because Blackheart just makes bad decisions in general. He tries to be like his dad and it just doesn't work for him.

[ap0cryphal]

I can't help but compare this to the early arcs of Immortal Hulk, and this still comes off rather poorly. The art and aesthetics are suitably grimy and gruesome, but - it's not *clicking*.