Ghost Riders: Heaven’s on Fire #5 review

Uber-talent Jason Aaron had an incredible run on Ghost Rider. Injecting new life into this often-floundering title, Aaron brought spunk and great stories to this franchise. With the series end, a six part miniseries Heaven’s on Fire hoped to tie up the story begun by Jason Aaron, but hopes (even of great writers) don’t guarantee great comics.

With only one issue left, I must say I am very disappointed. It seems like the series just ran out of gas. The brothers Ghost Riders are on a mission to take down the evil angel Zadkiel, who they recently learned us behind their curse. Both sides have some nutty persons: Satan’s son, the teenage antichrist, nuns with guns, a giant eyeball guy on a chopper, and many other freaks. I like the over-the-top characters that Aaron has created, but they just fail to fit together. This series has lots of great ingredients, but they don’t make a good finished product. Jason Aaron had a great concept, but dragged out through five comics it has lost all steam. And there is still one issue to go!

Artist Roland Boschi’s rough, unfinished style works well with the supernatural genre. His quick, thin lines effectively craft the spiritual world. There are weak points where human bodies and faces are distorted and disproportionate.

Ghost Riders’ run is almost at an end for now. I hope Jason Aaron returns with his literal guns blazing for the last tissue. It will take a miracle to pull this one out of the gutter.

1.5 out of 5

Matt Fraction is doing his best to return this X-Men flagship title back to superstar status.  He has a tough job in front of him.  For some reason, the X-titles seem directionless at times.  Actually, most of the time.  This is coming from a big X-fan and I have stuck with it through the great, the bad and the horrific.

This story seems to be taking two steps forward, one step back.  The Sisterhood infiltrates the X-Men’s home in San Francisco.  The big reveal is what they came for and why.  I was hoping that Faction would steer us in a new direction and he is taking us down roads that have been traveled way too many times.  However, there is some good story telling here with an occasional stellar moments.  Fraction is talented so I am willing to see what he does with this, but I am starting to lose hope.

Greg Land pencils a pretty book.  I really do mean “pretty.”  Everyone looks like they just got out of wardrobe and make-up.  There is an antiseptic quality to his panels.  During the fights, it looks like a modeling casting agency is slugging it out in costumes.  He has talent and his faces are exquisite; I’m just not sure if it works for this book.  I’ll keep him, X-Men have been given much worse talent.

Is Fraction succeeding in resurrecting this title?  There are signs of life, but he has much work to do.  At least this book seems relevant; this story actually matters and could open up a can of whoop-ass.  It’s a start.

2.5 out of 5

One shot is all it takes for Mike Benson to nail this Deadpool tale.  I actually picked this book up by accident. Seeing the cover, I thought I might have missed a monthly Deadpool issue.  Man, I was glad I made one of my rare mistakes.

Deadpool is hired by Mr. Kilgore to find his spoiled son who is in over his head.  Seeking thrills, Kilgore junior recently signed up for Pain Factor, a deadly TV reality show.  It’s a combination of Survivor and The Running Man.  The prize is a million dollars and parting gifts of painful deaths for the rest.  Deadpool, disguised as a Kung-Fu Master, joins the cast to accomplish his mission.

Writer Mike Benson nails both Deadpool as a character and a story that works for him.  Deadpool is nuts, but he is one of the deadliest men in the world.  Benson achieves this balance well.  The competitors that Deadpool shares the stage with are hilarious.  My favorite is Eightball, the ex-gangsta rapper who sang the hit “Make Her Sit Funny.”

Deadpool is one of my favorites who can often get destroyed by bad writing and even worse storylines.  This one got it right.  I am looking forward Mike Benson’s upcoming Deadpool mini-series “Suicide Kings.”  It’s a comic that is actually worth $3.99.

4 out of 5