Reviewer: James Hatton
Story Title: Crucible
Written by: Joe Kelly
Art by: Ariel Olivetti
Lettered by: Richard Starkings
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Original Space Ghost Design by: Alex Toth
Publisher: DC Comics
Sunday night. Brak. Zorak. Talkshow. SPAAAAAAAAAAACE GHOOOOOOOOOOOOST!
I was kind of bamboozled by this book. I know Space Ghost in two forms. The first was in my youth on the USA Cartoon Express in the mix with Captain Caveman, Laff’olympics. I did some research, and it seems that Space Ghost has only had a small foray into the comic world with some Gold Key and Comico offshoots. Nothing severe.
So when I read through this book the first time, I had to stop – think about it – and assess whether I liked this book. I expected the goofball antics of Space Ghost, or even an odd assortment seriousness and campy humor. I got something very different indeed. So, to be fair to this book, before you read it – don’t even consider everything you know about Hanna-Barbara, Adult Swim, or Space Ghost. Just start from scratch.
Story!
Thaddeus Bach is being trained to be one of the few, the proud, the Elite Eidolon. He is a soldier that’s only weakness is his heart. He cares too much. He doesn’t watch the enemy because he’s watching his troop’s back. These are the things that the Elite cannot stand.
So they promote him.
A newcomer and upstarter would be so much better in the highest class of soldier, a ragtag assortment known as ‘The Wraith’. It is there that Thad will do his best work – and he does. On, what I assume is his first mission, he sees the Wrath for what they are. They are corrupted soldiers of fortune who think above the law. They’re vicious and mean and not very nice at all. They’re hateful and deceitful and are using him for his charming good looks and status as ‘general nice guy’.
What is a man who will one day hang around with a little boy, little girl, and space monkey to do about all of this? Well, I’m not going to reveal that one.
I do love Joe Kelly, but this story so far is a bit obvious. There are a few little vicious bits at the end that are more told in the art than anything (see below), but overall Space Ghost isn’t anything special. There WERE veiled references to Zorak though, so we’ll see what happens. (Maybe he’ll show up in his band, The Wayouts! Doubt it though…)
Art!
This is where this book shines. Ariel Olivetti had me from the very cool painted piece of Space Ghost on the cover. The internals all have this beautifully handpainted feel. The musculature is subtle and each scene has it’s own chosen color pallete that immediately immerses you into the story.
Overall!
A shorter review from me, I know – but that’s because this book just doesn’t offer much. It’s a great idea, especially if it lends itself to bringing Space Ghost to a more broad audience. The problem comes up that it almost seems like fan fiction, since everything we know about S to the G has involved campy humor.
As always, I won’t really be able to give this book a full recommendation until the end of the first arc, but since it’s only a 5-ish miniseries, I’d say to ignore it. Unless of course you are a weird Space Ghost completionist. If you are.. why?
