Review – Ghost #8 (Dark Horse)

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer(s): Chris Sebela
Artist(s): Jan Duursema, Dan Parsons
Release Date: 24th September 2014

Now this was always going to be a tricky one. Tying up not one but two story arcs from the previous 7 issues. Leaving aside the inaccessibility of this for newcomers, if you’ve missed even one issue of this you’re really going to struggle – however, it is on balance worth it. We get a resolution to both Von Ghastly, the deranged TV host from the first and the mysterious Hunter from the second, and it’s a heck of a payoff.

There’s a risk that Ghost is drifting into being derivative. We have shades of Gaiman’s DC and Vertigo stories here, specifically with the villains. It’s rather frustrating, and there’s still an awful lot of exposition.

Why do I sound so negative? Because I love Ghost. And this is actually a really meaty issue that makes readers old and new reevaluate Eliza. If I’m being picky it’s because this has the potential to be amazing. There’s fantastic plot and characterisation, rich, well-framed art and a punchy ending – all behind a cracking Jenny Frisson cover.

Overall, Ghost veers wildly between extremes. It’s somewhere between a decidedly average 2/5 in some places and an outstanding 5/5 in others. Ultimately, I live in hope – as, it turns out, does our Ghost.

Rating: 3/5

PREVIEW ARTWORK.

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