Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Christopher Sebela
Artist: Harvey Tolibao
Release Date: 7th January, 2014

Ghost has been going through a bit of a chequered patch in its current reboot, particularly since Chris Sebela’s been going solo. The comic simply doesn’t seem to know quite what it wants to be; however, the dramatic ending of the previous issue, with the death of one of the Scooby-gang of hangers-on directly as a result of Eilsa’s spiralling crusade against endemic Chicago gang violence, looked promising.

We’re drawn in by a lovely noirish cover from Emanuela Lupacchino, where the tracks of her tears really offset the incipient violence and stark palette. But in much of the issue proper the art is lacklustre, with some odd penciling around the faces and some plain irritating torsos – randomly pneumatic, gravity-defying breasts (a pet peeve of mine, I freely admit) and improbably ripped chest of the hopeless drunk.

There is some convincing dialogue and reflection on how people deal with grief, but it’s tied up in an increasingly messy plot. There’s a wonderful, wonderful moment where she crawls for comfort under her (unwitting) sister’s bed to sleep, which is full of childhood fear and security combined – and then it’s dashed by the fact that their names are carved in the floor, despite the fact that her sister does not know of Elisa’s existence.

I desperately want this to be good, and as it draws to a finale in the next issue, I hope it can redeem itself. Unfortunately, Dark Horse seem to agree with me, as it’s getting shelved, although will be collected in 2 volumes. Hopefully the sales of those will be positive, but I think that our ghost may go the way of all flesh.

Rating: 2/5.

The Writer of this piece was: Sam Graven
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