J-Max was challenged to review 30 issues of Ghost Rider in (roughly) 30
days. Should J-Max succeed he shall earn his freedom (probably not). However
should he fail in this task then he shall be subjected to an attack by
Bees...DEADLY BEES.So let's join him for his review of Ghost Rider #20
Credits: Howard Mackie (writer), Ron Wagner (artist), Mark Texeira (inker), Gregory Wright (colourist).
Overview: The battle continues into the subway with Suicide in hot pursuit.
Cultural References: A cinema is showing the movie Enter the Dragon
Review: If I was to ever sell my collection of Ghost Rider comics, the two suicide editions would be keepers
Maybe it
is just my love of gloomy, sulky, overly pessimistic characters which I really
can’t explain. But there’s something about someone, with the strength and endurance
of suicide, sulking like a child whilst bashing people out of the way who are
all incredibly concerned about his welfare after he is struck by a train.
I have to
hand it to Mackie, he really knows how to create a fight. Here the battle
between the characters is played out in the melodramatic and over planned style
of a wrestling federation match. They stand apart from each other shouting out
intimidations and taunts while horrified and excited on lookers remain in the
background. Occasionally Suicide jumps in just at the right moment to receive a
hit before melodramatically diving out of the way in the hopes that somehow the
hit will lead to a fatal accident for him.
Zodiak even
joins in trying to kill Suicide, the aforementioned train accident being one of
those occasions, and his astrology themed weapons show up again here as he
charges at Ghost Rider with bull horns or pulls out his poisoned scorpion whip.
The two are once again bickering at each other with Zodiak tries to flee the
scene while ghost rider chases after him shouting “No escape” over and over to
the point where the villain tells him to stop because it is irritating. He even
begins imitating Ghost Rider himself at one point and asks him why he doesn't
say something different for a change.
The
humour really brings this comic to life. Whether it’s the self-referential
humour of the villain insulting Ghost Rider’s monotony, the dark humour of
suicides accidents and over the top death wish and both bounce of Ghost Rider
so well in his single minded pursuit of revenge even that element of the comic
becomes framed in the joke. The fact that Mackie is able to take the characters
he has created and craft something so wonderfully crazy just shows what a great
writer he ca be when he isn't overburdening and overcomplicating a simple
premise.
When
Zodiak is finally caught, he is unmasked Scooby doo villain style which
uncovers a weird dozen or so eyes insect like man. The villain breaks free
again and escapes to the surface where a nearby cinema is showing enter the
Dragon and the brawl continues.
I like
how even a slight touch like this crafts an entirely new elements to the
character as he runs around in the night armoured like a 60s Bruce lee
character and some of his weapons even appear to now be Bruce Lee homages. If I
was reading this for the first time I might even be able to consider him more
of a nod to 60s kung fu cinema many elements. Unfortunately,
unlike Ghost Rider I don't have the luxury of amnesia in these reviews.
If
there’s a scene that exemplifies everything you need to know about this comic
it’s this street battle. The fighters enter the cinema with the usual hostage
situation taking place and Zodiak trying to barter his freedom. Ghost Rider
stares and says no escape. Zodiak tries for sympathy via an exposition dump
explaining how demon masters possess him and force him to kill. Ghost Rider
stares and says no escape. So Zodiak throws a person at him. Meanwhile, Suicide
impatiently watches them wondering why they are not killing him.
There are
so many ideas and elements being thrown in here and it is all played as a joke.
It reminds me of that Monty Python scene in Life of Brian where a chained up
John Cleese accuses Graham Chapman of being given preferential treatment by The
Romans.
The tone
quickly shifts back to the dark side of the comic when the villain kidnaps a
pregnant lady and this is played as the turning point for the battle to move
from comedic violence to real threat which it does almost entirely naturally.
Suicide saves the woman and Ghost Rider faces Zodiak on the precipice.
At the
climax of the brawl, Ghost Rider is literally written into a corner. He
can't kill Zodiak as, ever since a retcon in issue six, he can't kill a human.
He also can’t penance stare Zodiak seemingly as he has too many eyes to focus
on. Instead he simply stands there staring Zodiak out. It almost seems like
Mackie is protesting his own comic.
Suicide
complains that he is being useless and finally, in a rage at the rider’s
inactivity, rugby tackles Zodiak off the bridge impaling them both on the
refuse of an outgoing scrap ship.
There are
other moments at here that seem to be the writer nodding at the industry
itself. On recovering Suicide and Ghost Rider take Zodiak's body after checking
his pulse and verifying that he is "really, really really dead" and
place it in an over to burn to ashes comic as Suicide is very familiar with
people coming back from the dead.
Finally,
just to rub it in, Suicide is declared a hero for saving the pregnant lady
everyone respects and admires him. Of course his reaction: "I just want to die..." And of course origin plug.
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