GHOST RIDER v.3 #3
"The Hammer Lane, Part 3 of 6: Chain of Fools"
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
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Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights
Writer: Devin Grayson
Pencils: Trent Kaniuga
Inks: Danny Miki
Colors: Dan Kemp
Letters: Comicraft
Editors: Stuart Moore & Nanci Dakesian
Price: $2.99 US/$4.50 CAN |
To be honest, Ghost Rider is not the first character that comes to mind when I think of a Marvel character for Devin Grayson to tackle, but she handles the material quite well. Kaniuga's extreme style suits the title character perfectly, but the conveying of key moments in the action could have been stronger.
As Johnny Blaze slowly begins to embrace his old life as a biker, he has a chance encounter with the methamphetamine drug dealer he learned of at the trucking company Ghost Rider destroyed. The meeting triggers another demonic transformation and an accompanying act of vengeance. Meanwhile, Gunmetal Grey, having been hired by Blaze to kill the Ghost Rider, realizes that conventional methods will not work, and he looks for the Spirit of Vengeance's Achilles Heel.
Kaniuga's vision of the Ghost Rider as a hulking monstrosity is impressive. His new take on the character is consistent with previous ones, but it stands apart as well. It's a shame that the same can't be said of his human characters, who all seem to blend. There's also a lack of clarity in the action. For example, the destruction of the truck stop in the issue's climactic scene was confusing.
Grayson's take on the Ghost Rider strikes me as akin to Johnny Blaze's personal Tyler Durden. What, haven't seen Fight Club? Well, suffice it to say that Blaze is essentially tormented by a creation of his own mind. No, the Ghost Rider isn't all in his head, but its mission is something Johnny seems to be subconsciously fuelling.
This is a strong story, but Grayson takes us into a world that's completely alien to me. Life on the road... truckers, bikers, mercenaries. I haven't met anyone in this book I can really understand, really relate to. Perhaps it's a necessary evil accompanying the title character. Still, Grayson does quite well within the confines of this subculture.
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