With it being almost three months since Ed Brisson's premature end to his epic Ghost Rider storyline, the pain is still fresh with fans. Starting in the pages of 2019's Marvel Comics Presents, Brisson kicked off a wildly impressive story for fans both new and old.
In only a few short issues, Brisson managed to pick up the story with Johnny still in Hell, reintroduced Danny Ketch, and create a new mythos not seen in Marvel before. Ed Brisson perfectly balanced bringing in fan-favorite characters and concepts to make it feel fresh and leading to some thrilling moments between the s.
Danny Pulling A Demon Inside Out
Ed Brisson came out of the gate strong with the first issue. The story kicks off with reappearances of old villains and epic fights, with great art by Aaron Kuder and Juan Frigeri. There are plenty of great moments to choose from, but the battle in Brooklyn is what really sets the tone for the series.
Fighting against a demon that escaped from Hell, Danny uses his classic bike to ride down into the demon and pull it inside out. The attack is so gruesome that Danny doesn't even want to speak about it when his brother Johnny comments on it.
Fight Between Brothers, And Its Aftermath
Though far from their first bout, the battle between half-brothers Johnny and Danny was a fun way to keep fans on their toes. Almost coming full circle, the pair first fought against each other in the pages of Ghost Rider #14 from the 1990 series with Howard Mackie.
And after some time apart, Jason Aaron had them at each other's neck again during his run of the series back in 2008. He even wrote a race between the brothers that took them around the world and back.
Ghost Rider Vs. Necrosis
What has always been a fun concept within the Ghost Rider mythos is finding various incarnations of the Spirit of Vengeance throughout time and space. Readers have seen everything from truckers to nunchaku-wielding spirits. So seeing a Native American Ghost Rider fighting the mysterious and otherworld Necrosis is instantly a visual sensation.
Like most things, however, the fun can only last so long, and seeing the heart-wrenching demise of this Ghost Rider was one for the ages.
Reappearance of Caretaker
One of the many surprises in Brisson's run with Johnny and Danny was his reintroduction of Sara the Caretaker. The mantle of Caretaker was first introduced in the Howard Mackie Ghost Rider tales in the 1990s.
Since then, the former nun, Sara, has taken up the role after finding her grandfather dying and learning the many secrets of the Ghost Riders. Having been absent from the comics, Brisson adding her in was both a huge surprise and a much needed addition to assist Danny Ketch in his struggle to save Johnny Blaze.
Johnny Blaze Vs. Wong
Dr. Strange's assistant, and at this time the guard of Mephisto's prison in Las Vegas, was great to see battling alongside Blaze when the demons attacked. But Wong really proved his strength when Johnny turned on Wong to break the devil out of his jail.
Being able to knock back a Spirit of Vengeance is no easy feat. Especially at that point with Johnny as the King of Hell. The art on these pages provides the right amount of energy and anger that was needed, with each Johnny and Wong showing off impressive attacks until the climactic ending.
Introduction Of The Spirit Of Corruption
Though the battle between Wong and Johnny was impressive, it is the fight between Danny and Necrosis in Limbo during the fourth issue that steals the show.
Fighting for Necrosis's assistance proves to be difficult for a de-powered Danny, and the brutal beating he takes is heart-stopping. Much like Necrosis himself, the art is raw and unrelenting. But in a twist that showcases the creation of the Spirit of Corruption, Brisson proves he has more tricks up his sleeve when it came to fleshing out the dark world of Ghost Rider.
The Return Of The Hearts Of Darkness
Now being the Spirit of Corruption instead of Vengeance, the trio of Danny, Punisher, and Wolverine coming together marks a special reunion between this trio from way back.
In a nod to the 1990s yet again, the trio of anti-heroes appeared together in the Howard Mackie book, Hearts of Darkness, with featured beautiful art by John Romita Jr. The three battled against the likes of Mephisto's son, Blackheart, and saved a town from his influence. They would later team up again in another one-off book, Dark Design, also written by Mackie back in 1994.
Wolverine its Danny And Johnny Have It Rough
A Ghost Rider comic is not one to have much comedy. But when Wolverine is brought in during this series, he has more than one line to lighten the mood around him.
For even casual readers of Wolverine's exploits, it is obvious that life has not been full of roses for the adamantium warrior. Then again, neither has Danny or Johnny. Brisson really hammers the idea home when he has Wolverine explain that he has not had as screwed up a life as the two Ghost Rider brothers.
Spirit of Vengeance Vs. The Spirit Of Corruption
The final battle in Brisson's ending issue may not wrap up the story for fans, but it does present the Spirit of Vengeance and Corruption finally coming to blows.
The battle is more of a savage beating of Danny, as Johnny had finally lost all control of himself. The splash page of Johnny's attacks is particularly heavy, showing how powerful the Ghost Rider's rage is. But it is Danny's final attack, blown up on a full page, that paints a horrifying portrait of pain.
The Ending Speech (King in Black: Ghost Rider)
Far from the ending fans had wanted, Ed Brisson was given the opportunity to tie a bow on his Ghost Rider project in the one-shot issue King in Black: Ghost Rider. And in doing so, he acknowledged the fans that followed him to this point. Danny, now calling himself Death Rider, convinces Johnny to let Mephisto return to his realm, providing a "lesser of two evils" scenario.
In a slight meta-narrative way, Johnny is written as the voice of unhappy fans, while Brisson uses Danny as the vessel to answer his readers' cries. At the end of the issue, Brisson writes, "I know that this isn't the ending you wanted. It's messy, and we all hoped it could go a different way. But sometimes you have to take what you can get."
