REVIEW: ‘Space Ghost’ Issue #3

Space Ghost #3 is published by Dynamite Comics, written by David Pepose, art by Jonathan Lau, colors by Andrew Dalhouse and letters by Taylor Esposito. With his three sidekicks accompanying him, Space Ghost’s first adventure as part of a team sees him run into an old friend.

Every issue of this series is a complete adventure, beginning and ending within the confines of its pages. And every chapter takes the audience into a new setting, exploring this grungy version of space. Pepose opens with a fight scene, using the action to ramp up the pace before the exposition begins immediately.

There is a history between the characters that is explained succinctly enough so that the tension is present throughout the book, and the first team-up of the issue unravels. The book does not have many surprises. Instead, it brings the reader in on the deception and waits for the heroes to become aware. Alongside the stories within each episode, a broader tale is ongoing, with Space Ghost’s war against Robo Corps serving as the foundation and drive for his crusade.

The characters are fantastic, with a superb blend of tone generated by their personalities. Space Ghost is a fierce, violent character with a violent journey of revenge and a no-nonsense attitude. He distrusts everyone he meets, although he can warm to others if they serve a purpose. The children, Jan and Jace, provide the series with fun. They are just as willing to fight as Space Ghost but are still learning and, therefore, vulnerable. Pepose writes both of these viewpoints brilliantly, occasionally causing friction among the group. Space Ghost #3 continues slowly, revealing the hero’s backstory, taking time to explore.

An old villain makes an appearance in the rebooted series. Black Widow approaches Space Ghost with an opportunity for a team-up, raising suspicion in the early pages. As the comic progresses, she shows a surprising amount of depth. Although there are twists and turns regarding her allegiance, she also tries to give Jan some advice.

The art is a delight. The power of Space Ghost is excellently presented, with Lau illustrating a huge and bulky figure. He is built to inflict damage. The size difference between him and the kids (as well as their pet monkey, Blip) makes the rest of his crew appear vulnerable. This is the first issue where Jan and Jace are in their costumes, which have been slightly upgraded since the Hanna Barbera cartoon. Lau has taken a more creative licence with Black Widow, making subtle changes to the character.

The character looks younger than she does in the cartoon, but the costume and details in her head dress are faithful to the original. The opening battle is a chaotic set of conflicts, evolving from a montage to an extended fight. The creatures they face are fearsome and imposing, brilliantly serving as treacherous training wheels for Space Ghost’s young protegees.

The colors are fascinating. Whilst the energy created by the technology and some of the neon settings are bright, they never dazzle. The shades of the book remain muted and even gloomy, matching the rough tone of Space Ghost as a character. There are the occasional flashes created by laser gunfire, and red cuts through the darkness in particular. This can be found sparsely in all of the characters. The lettering is consistently superb throughout the book, with no custom word balloons that may affect legibility.

Space Ghost #3 rapidly moves away from the origin story. Where the first two issues are crucial for gathering the group and providing an early example of the danger within this universe, the third chapter goes out and explores it. Pepose and Lau remain loyal to the mythos of the original cartoon while adding their own spin. It allows for a fresh depiction of every character, with the freedom to venture in every direction. Each issue brings something new and self-contained, with a satisfying conclusion that rewards the reader every time they pick up the book.

Space Ghost #3 is available where comics are sold.