REVIEW: 'Space Ghost' #1 by David Pepose, Jonathan Lau, and Andrew Dalhouse

 

SPACE GHOST #1

writer: David Pepose

artist: Jonathan Lau, Andrew Dalhouse

Letterer: Taylor Esposito

covers: Francesco Mattina (A), Jae Lee & June Chung (B), Bjorn Barends (C), Michael Cho (D)

FC | All Cardstock Covers | 32 pages | Adventure | $4.99 | Teen

In Stores May 1, 2024

Greed and corruption flourish in the darkness between stars. With the territories of the Galactic Federation spread far and wide across the vastness of space, pirates, and hijackers ransack the distant colonies with cruel disregard for the innocent scientists living within them.

Yet there is a cosmic vigilante who metes out justice throughout the galaxy, bringing vengeance to those who prey upon the defenseless.

Some say he is a policeman who has abandoned the strictures of the law. Others say he is a phantom, the sole survivor of a war-torn planet. And those who have survived his wrath claim he is more a force of nature, able to bend the very elements of Creation to decimate his enemies.

They call him the SPACE GHOST — and his adventures begin here!

Award-winning writer DAVID PEPOSE (Punisher) and superstar artist JONATHAN LAU (Vampirella Strikes) kick off this action-packed series with a surprise attack on Space Colony Omicron — home of the brilliant scientist Dr. Jerrod Keplar and his young children, Jan and Jace, as well as their pet monkey, Blip. With the colony’s defenses overwhelmed, all seems lost — but these ruthless pirates didn’t count on the wild card that is Space Ghost!

This debut issue also includes covers from some of the finest artists in the known universe — including FRANCESCO MATTINA, JAE LEE & JUNE CHUNG, BJORN BARENDS, and MICHAEL CHO!

Score:

★★★★★ (5/5)

If you're unfamiliar with the character, 'Space Ghost' #1 by David Pepose, Andrew Dalhouse, and Jonathan Lau is a great introduction by providing a clean slate and a rip-roaring adventure. If you are familiar with Space Ghost it'll depend if you know him from the Hanna-Barbera cartoons of the 60s and 70s, or the 'Space Ghost Coast to Coast' animated talk show parody of the early 2000s, or maybe from the gritty DC Comics miniseries from Joe Kelly and Ariel Olivetti. Regardless, this new series stands on its own and establishes a guardian of the galaxy that's heroic and larger-than-life in a thrilling new story. 

The return of Space Ghost needed a big splash, a new explosive introduction, that wouldn't require any prior knowledge from the audience and Pepose understood that perfectly. With a space colony under siege from pirates, Jan, Jace, and their father are forced to run for their lives. As all looked dire, a hero emerges from the shadows to help them fight back.  The first appearance of Space Ghost is a classic homage to similar panels of a hero arriving to serve some justice. Jonathan Lau and Andrew Dalhouse use color, light, and shadows to create an iconic image. Throughout, the action is fast-paced with so many spectacular touches similar to Green Lantern comics with the use of bright coloring for explosions, cosmic blasts, subsonic grenades, speed lines, punches, and more. Letterer Taylor Esposito also has plenty of sound effects to create along with the lettering. It's an exciting first issue that just picks up steam as it goes. 

Pepose resists the need for a backstory or a flashback origin montage in the first issue and just lets Space Ghost show what he can do as a formidable superhero. He lets his heroics and powerset shine but also shows his humanity. For fans of the character, we get the appearance of a famous foe and Pepose promised we'll see more familiar faces in future issues. 

'Space Ghost' is the kind of space adventure that's fun, exciting, and impossible to put down. This is a triumphant return of a beloved character, and readers can fall in love with him all over again. A new hero for a new generation that stays true to its origins while putting the emphasis on adventure, drama, and good old-fashioned sci-fi heroics.