Future Quest Presents: Space Ghost #2

Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Ariel Olivetti
Published by: DC Comics

After an explosive first issue, Parker and Olivetti are back this month with the continuation of this new Space Ghost saga as we find our hero, with Jace, Jana, Igoo and Blip as they explore the Planet Amzot to find the crystals needed to make more Space Patrol armbands.

However, these are comics, and plans rarely go off without a hitch. First Jace gets absorbed by a Light Orb, then they get to face off against a crystal dragon, and all this culminates to a face off with Metallus introduced last issue.

Parker has done a good job in this issue of putting obstacles in front of our heroes on what could have been a pretty basic fetch quest. The draw in this issue is that we get the big fight with the crystal dragon, but we also get to learn who and what Metallus is through a series of flashbacks tailored to explain why he and his crew are the way they are. Add to that, we also get another flashback involving Jace, Janna and Blip and how they first met Space Ghost on probably the worst day of their lives.

All of these elements help form a good idea of not only the characters themselves, but also the universe that they inhabit. With Jace and Jana, we learn the perils of space travel and the meaning of sacrifice. With Metallus we see how a greater evil can lead a simple contractor to turn to evil themselves because they feel slighted. Yes, we do get a plethora of deep themes within a comic based on a Hanna-Barbera cartoon and I love it.

Ariel Olivetti brings all this to life with his beautifully painted panel work. It’s strange to say this, but I feel like Olivetti was born to draw Space Ghost and his adventures and because of this, it is almost unfair to critique him on this book.