Ghost Rider # 25
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Tan Eng Huat
Published by Marvel Comics
Okay, so Ghost Rider. Why did I choose it? Well, it was just time for a super-hero comic book. I mean, it isn't really a super-hero comic because he's not necessarily a hero – although some may find him a badass.
But, as a character, he really doesn't make any sense. (Okay, sure, neither does, say, Wonder Woman or The Incredible Hulk.) But, today's comic book writers and screenplay writers really seem to be doing their best with these super hero comics to try and make the situations plausible – presenting the why's and how's of these characters and how that translates into modern life. (I think?)
It's like Batman – if you just saw the most recent movie (and you must have since the entire population of earth saw it opening weekend), I feel like they've done some really clever things with our Dark Knight to make the story plausible. One only has to suspend the smallest bit of belief. For instance, Batman's ability to fly. You never see him run and take off like a jet plane. No. You see him drop from extreme heights and sort of hang glide or coast using his winged cape. And, it totally works. Not only does it work, my stomach would drop during those shots – in a completely thrilling way.
On the other side, here's Ghost Rider--who I first saw in a video game. And I was like, "what…how…what's the story with that guy? A flaming skull?" And the gamer told me a bit about Ghost Rider. This was all pre-Virgin Read, by about 2 years. So, my take-this-literal mind just couldn't grasp how one gets around with a flaming skull. How do you eat? How do you sleep?
Well, of course, it doesn't flame all the time. I finally saw the movie. It flames when he's really, really mad. And yet, how? How is it that your head was on fire for hours, and then you're totally back to normal afterwards? I mean, the Hulk busts through all his clothes, and has a crazy mean headache when he returns to normal. Sort of like the worst hangover in the world. But Ghost Rider…? Nah. He's just pissed he's the Ghost Rider. I mean, I would be too. But here's where I get into this issue now.
I read the intro at the beginning: "Johnny Blaze is cursed, doomed to live life as the Ghost Rider. A brutal spirit that exists only to mete out vengeance against evildoers. After years spent being a pawn of hell, Blaze has recently learned that the Ghost Rider is actually a weapon of Heaven, bonded to him by the renegade Angel Zadkiel…."
Oh! That's good! That's good, right? I mean, here, for so long, he thought he was cursed and couldn't stand it…but turns out he's on the side of Heaven! I mean, that's got to make him feel better about things…right? Oh wait….
"At long last, Blaze knows exactly who's responsible for ruining his Life. But the only question is, how does he get revenge on an angel?"
Ah, man, Ghost Rider. Isn't time for a little Acceptance? I mean, it's been years. You're the "Ghost Rider." There's nothing you can do to change it. How about a little Serenity? Accept things as they are….the good news is that you are not a Pawn of Hell, right? All that guilt you've always felt post-Rider – its okay now…right?
No. No. Ghost Rider is going to stay all Ghost Rider-y and "mete out vengeance against" this Angel.
Now, I see where my assumptions are wrong here. Because they do not say that he's on the side of Heaven. No. No. It's a "renegade" Angel. And all this Angel's followers have the goal of aiding Zadkiel "in seizing the throne of Heaven for himself."
Yo, I'm not religious or anything. But isn't this, like, crazy blasphemous? Or at the very least, totally offensive toward Angel-type-people and all that heaven-y stuff? If I have my stories straight – there was only one renegade Angel, ever. Lucifer. Right? I mean, this comic book, if nothing else, has gigantic balls. Ballz! Ballz on Fire!
And in all this writing, I have only spoken of the premise. Because, I mean, with that premise….Ghost Rider attempting to find this Zadkiel and his followers and seek revenge against well, these other vengeful people…its just a slaughter-fest.
I think the most hysterical and pun-ny thing in the book is that he defeats "The Deacon" using the Bible as his weapon and his defense. How metaphorical. And ironic at the same time.
Oy. So, did I enjoy this testosterone filled romp? No, I did not. I mean, I'm too girly for this. Seriously. I just marathoned Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for the New Elle Woods. Ghost Rider is not my cup o' tea. Ya'll go enjoy Ghost Rider all you want. I'm gonna sit this entire series out.
-Nina Stone, 2008
Nina,
1. Wonder Woman is entirely plausible as a character. ENTIRELY.
B. Nowhere in the Bible does it say even one renegade angel fell. I could go on about this for hours and my gift to you, as a fan of this site, is that I won't. However, the tradition of that falling angel is usually accompanied by a bunch of angels on his side also being cast out, like henchmen in the old Batman TV show, wearing black turtlenecks that say "Bad Angel No. 2" and "Bad Angel No. 3." So that makes one thing about Ghost Rider that is not inherently wrong just for existing.
(Unless you're right that this storyline would offend hardline angel-lovers. That would be cool, too. That's always a fun tree to shake.)
Posted by: Guy Smiley | 2008.07.22 at 18:16
Hi Guy....!
So, I'm gonna pull my Jew card and slap it right on the table and say, I don't really know anything about the story of hell and fallen angels and all that Jazz, because we Jews don't grow up with the whole Hell concept. (AND to top that, I didn't grow up with so much Jew-y-ness either). Somewhere along the scholastic lines, maybe in a bit of World Civ. splashed with Art History, I heard tell of the whole Lucifer thing. Oy vey! Shalom!
As always, its great to hear from you. Thanks for commenting.
(And.....do you know where I could get my hands on an Bad Angel No. 1 turtleneck? I mean, for Tucker...not for me. )
Posted by: Nina | 2008.07.23 at 06:59
Christians get that one wrong all the time, too. You'd be amazed at how many people get all fevered about a long, old book full of archaic language and ideas that they've never even read. Insert Tolkein joke here.
If you're gonna play Batman Henchman Dressup, you also need to put him in a little black beret or knit cap, and a black mask like a blindfold with eyes cut out, you know? And give him a nickname like "Inky" or "Chuckles." And suddenly your shiny new marriage is a lot stranger than either of you may have bargained for ...
Posted by: Guy Smiley | 2008.07.23 at 19:52
Perhaps this series is of the devil...and I am quite, quite serious.
Posted by: Rafa | 2011.03.10 at 00:57