Ghost Rider #6

Genre action Starring Hell To Pay, Part 1 Of 2 Author Daniel Way Publisher Marvel Comics External Links Official Marvel Comics Website

Following last issue's origin recap, the sixth issue of Ghost Rider delves into the adventure that put Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider in Hell. Guest penciler Richard Corben brings us the next two issues that cover this adventure whilst Ghost Rider is in the middle of a fight between he and Lucifer. Writer Daniel Way constructs the two stories that, as of right now, have no connections other than Blaze and Ghost Rider. In each instance, a decision has to be made that will prove critical in the life of Ghost Rider. One will lead to his time spent in Hell; while the other will determine the way that Ghost Rider will use the Spirit of Vengeance, begging the question: will he be able to control it?

Before we touch on the gateway to Hell piece, Way starts us off on another conflict between Ghost Rider and Lucifer. If you are tired of seeing this battle take place, you might as well stop reading this comic right now. It is a battle that will have a long shelf life as an underlying storyline and is here to stay. Sure Ghost Rider is bound to have other confrontations outside his main purpose of returning Lucifer to Hell, but it is that purpose to which he will always return until it is complete. There is a lot of work to be done knowing the number of pieces of the 666 that are still out there (currently 665 I believe). It is one of those pieces in the form of the baptizer that draws Johnny to the religious ceremony.

It is hard to be absolutely certain that the person doing the baptizing is one of Lucifer's 666 pieces playing out a sadistic turn. The colorization of the figure and lack of evil in his eyes are not in any way different than the others in his group. But he certainly does not seem too upset that he has just killed one of God's children, and the fact that he wants to keep trying his hand at baptizing would seem to indicate that he is one of the 666. It seems even more so when Lucifer does show up on site and he is wearing the baptismal robe. However, Ghost Rider did not kill the "piece" as I believe Numecet said he would have to do. The piece merely transformed into Lucifer. It leaves some room for interpretation that I would like to see clarified before we go much further into this mission.

The ensuing fight between the two does not go Blaze's way at all. In fact, it goes horribly wrong leading to the dismemberment of the lower half of Ghost Rider's left leg. Clearly this is possible because it happened. Now that the leg is broken off, how does that get fixed should the blazing skull prevail? What powers will he call upon or to where does he turn? This something that I don't think that even Night Nurse can fix. More importantly, how does this affect Johnny Blaze in his human form? Regardless, it seems that this is the thing that will push Ghost Rider to reach down inside and let loose with the full fury of the Spirit of Vengeance. He has long held back from utilizing this, only recently learning that it has a much greater power than he even suspected. Now he must decide if he wants to use it regardless of if he can harness it or not, and it seems that he will do just that. We are left hanging until next issue to see if he goes through with it and the repercussions if so.

The other storyline is a flashback to why Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider ended up in Hell. This would be the adventure that put GR there prior to issue one and led to his current predicament with Lucifer. What is the reason for this flashback? It does not seem to be connected to the current battle elsewhere in this issue between GR and Lucifer. Instead it just seems like it is something that we are randomly being shown for background information. And since there seems to be no real connection between the two stories, one of them should not be being told right now. This is a real disconnect that Daniel Way has failed to bridge or explain to us and is one of the reasons that this issue fails.

The story itself of a random night in jail with Clay from the Hell's Angels and shows Johnny's typical gullible nature. After getting released, Johnny steps into Clay's limo to come face to face with Mr. Bedelstraum, Clay's lawyer. Perhaps Johnny would not have picked up on it, but clearly the name Bedelstraum is some derivation of one Lucifer's many names (think Beetlejuice). This must be Lucifer in disguise and if not, it is one of his minions doing his bidding. You would think that after all the bad deals that Johnny has made over the years that he would wise up at some point. The deal Mr. Bedelstraum offers "in lieu of payment" has bad news written all over it. Still, Blaze accepts it and even before we get to the next issue we can see where this is going.

Richard Corben steps in to pencil this issue and the next. Jose Villarrubia handles the colors. For both, it is a drastic change in art compared to what we have seen the first five issues. On the letters page, Assistant Editor Michael O'Connor, indicates that Corben is a legend. Coming from someone in Michael's position, I can hardly argue with that. Yet when you compare the style we have been seeing with their lush colors and strong pencils with details, it is a big step down. I realize that many artists that take on projects have more than one to handle at a time and that they often need a reprieve just to catch up and stay on track. But I would much more have preferred someone that was stylistically near Saltares and Texeira than this. I am very disappointed and am glad to know that they are coming back in issue eight. The question then becomes, for how long?

All things considered on this issue, something has gone wrong. Not only did Daniel Way fail to connect the two stories within this issue, he failed to connect it with the previous one. Artistically we were handed something drastically different further separating the connection between the previous issues. There has to be a better segue in order for non-diehard fans to stay on board. I am willing to hang in there because I know it is only temporary, but there are some who will not. This is not a good example of what this character and book is capable.