Here's the
Vengeance Unbound review for
Mythos: Ghost Rider # 1. Obviously, spoilers ahoy:
The third Mythos special takes a look at the origin of the Ghost Rider with its bizarre attempt to modernize the comic with the movie - or at least, that's the publicized intent. I'm just left with one question: "what the hell was the point of this?".
Over the years, Marvel has given us countless retellings of the Ghost Rider's origin, some of which being straight adaptations of his first Marvel Spotlight issue. The most recent example came in the current Ghost Rider series just two months ago, which begs the question of why this issue was deemed necessary at all. With all of the changes made to the classic story in this one-shot along with the attempt to set it during the present day, it's obvious that it's not intended as canon for the character's mythology. Plus, as a story meant to introduce people to the character, it fails to even explore what the Ghost Rider's powers or mission are after his initial transformation. Honestly, I can't view it as anything but a failure given what the comic was intended to do.
But when we get to the story itself, writer Paul Jenkins doesn't do half bad. The main crux of Jenkins' alterations to Blaze's origin comes in the fact that the Devil comes to Johnny instead of the established vice versa, but it works here in a story that's more or less operating in its own little world. Gone is Johnny's dabbling in the occult and Roxanne's "pure heart" saving him from damnation and instead it comes down to the one simple deal. It's simplified, and if this were intended to be the character's definitive origin in continuity it just wouldn't work - but here, in this one "mythological" retelling, it suits things just fine.
But where Jenkins stumbles is the attempt to set the story in the modern day while keep Johnny as a stunt biker, a concept that's unfortunately dated badly in its 1970's creation. There's a slight change with Blaze now being an X-Games sport-bike rider, but it still doesn't help. You can give us the date as many times as you like, the story will always feel like it's taking place decades ago - it's just the nature of the concept itself. But regardless, Jenkins does a fine job of getting inside Johnny's head and the details behind his deal with Lucifer. Blaze has always been the everyman, the loveable loser, and you can still see that aspect shining through the gruff exterior in this story.
The main selling point of the book, of course, is the fully painted art by Paolo Rivera. Visually, the book is stunning to look at, but Jenkins stumbles here as well by robbing the artist of what he's come to paint. Throughout this issue, we're given 5 pages that feature the Ghost Rider, and I can't help but feel a bit robbed by that. Rivera still does an excellent job with his renditions of Blaze and Roxanne, but c'mon - the book isn't called Ghost Rider for its health. The only thing about Rivera's art in itself that bugged me was his decision to make Satan resemble the celebrity John Tesh. Yes, it's a cute little joke, but damn if it didn't pull me right out of the story once I caught onto the resemblance. This has been a recurring problem in many of Marvel's books of late, with artists going way too far with the photo referencing of celebrities, and this is just another of the growing list of examples. There's also a confusing bit near the end, with Satan standing on the ramp when Johnny does his stunt - is the Devil really there, or is it all in Blaze's head? It really could've been made more clear, because as it stands it makes little sense.
Mythos: Ghost Rider is an odd animal; in theory, the book doesn't work, but the application wasn't half bad. Is it essential for Ghost Rider readers? Most definitely not. But it's still a decent story with some visually gripping artwork...it's just, well, completely unnecessary.
Grade: B-
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