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

[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.