Ghost #4
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Pencils: Geraldo Borges
Inks: Andy Owens
Colors: Dan Jackson
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Cover: Ariel Olivetti
Another issue of Ghost, happy day! The last issue with Kelly Sue DeConnick doing any writing, sad day. We may be saying goodbye, but she leaves us with one heck of a send off. So how is DeConnick’s goodbye issue? Let’s find out!
The story is stand alone this time, and it’s a dark one. Childhood memories of murders and attacks on sex workers in the present day are abound. Thankfully Elisa is on the case, for both past and present. Elisa is shown alive in her youth, with pretty much the same desire to help others and make sure the perpetrators get what they deserve.
Small lines and expressions provide some fine tastes of each character. Whether it’s Tommy’s face after being voted down, or the conversation before opening a storage unit, you could hand this issue to someone new and they’d pick up on who these people are in just a few minutes. I’d suggest sending them to the first few issues first, but this does do a pretty good job on its own.
The art is great and captures the terrible moments without making them far too gruesome for what they are. The whole issue feels like one of those coming of age/loss of innocence movies. The story was able to convey such dark elements without ever feeling like it was exploiting them. That takes skill since it’s way easier to just play up to the gravitas of the situation for the sake of shock. This issue handled it smoothly though, and I really appreciated it.
I won’t spoil the story, but it’s a heck of one for DeConnick to leave us with. She’ll be missed on the book, but I trust Sebela will be able to continue giving us great work as well. I’ll miss having these two writing together on the series, but I know it’s in good hands. There’s plenty of places to go with someone who has Ghost powers and a desire for vengeance and justice. Here’s to more Ghost.
Dr. Alexander Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net
