Comic Review: Cosmic Ghost Rider #1

Cosmic Ghost Rider #1

Marvel Comics

Writer: Donny Cates

Artist: Dylan Burnett

Word has been out for a while now about Cosmic Ghost Rider and his adventures; his deals he has made. The guy literally “wheeled and dealed” his way around the galaxy until he was finally struck down by the Mad Titan. Make no mistake. Frank Castle went through Hell to get here. Was it worth the trip?

The pages on display in this review briefly show the scenes of everything it took for Frank Castle to get here. Pretty succinct, huh? I thought so. At the end of Thanos Annual #1, Frank Castle is taken to Valhalla by Odin. Now in Valhalla, he fights for fun and spends his nights reflecting on his VERY long past. Odin eventually gives Frank the chance to don the flaming garb of the Spirit of Vengeance once again. Only this time Odin is willing to use his magic to send Frank to anywhere in time. All Frank has to do is pick when he wants to go to. He chooses to…READ THE ISSUE! I’m not spoiling this one, folks.

Donny Cates…talk about the “it” guy right now. This guy is on fire in the comic book world and he delivers another quality piece of material. He is setting up a limited comic series with unlimited possibilities. Cates actually has a very good moment in this issue where we don’t know what is going to happen next, but whatever happens, we have never seen it before. I’m mentioned the opening pages already, but LOOK AT THEM! This is how Cates chose to open this comic. To feed us all this information. Twelve panels and we know enough of the story to get started. We don’t know where Frank is headed after this issue, but I have no doubt it will be a good ride and that confidence is all thanks to Cates. 

Any series containing Ghost Rider means there is a ton of potential for awesome artwork. I am always honest in my reviews, so there is no use in holding back now. Burnett seems to be on easy street the first half of the issue. Looking at his Odin lets me know this guy can draw a pretty good Santa Claus if he had to. Now onto the good stuff! Once Frank’s head is replaced by the flame-brain the artwork comes alive like the Devil screaming out of the pipes of Cosmic Ghost Rider’s bike. Burnett can draw this character and all that embodies him. There are some other panels that really catch my eye that doesn’t include our main character, but Burnett seems to save all of his time for drawing fire and demons and I have no problems with that.

With only four issues left of this series, it already feels too short and that’s high praise after one issue. If Cates keeps us knocked back on our heels with his story and Burnett keeps crushing the character art like he is then this series will leave a mark. Maybe it won’t cure polio…wait…I think we already have that*. Either way, this series will at least be a lot of fun to read.

*Editor’s Note: we’ve had a cure for polio since the early ’50s.