Ghost Fleet #8
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson
Colorist: Lauren Affe
Letters: Crank!
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 3, 2015
All good things must come to an end. All roads lead to something.
Some things end in a whimper, a quiet sound that barely anyone hears. Some others, end in a bang, a massive explosion that draws the attention of everyone within earshot.
For all intents and purposes, The Ghost Fleet’s final issue is the latter. A massive affair that delivers both literal and metaphorical explosions in a way that these creators have proven they can deliver like no other team in comics right now.
Cates, an immensely talented and nuanced writer, put all of himself into this book and, when the word came down from Dark Horse that this stellar series’ road trip would be cut short, he promised he and the other talented artists behind this book would end it on their terms. An awesome conclusion for an awesome book.
They did just that.
I can see why some readers may be upset with the narrative left turn here, a stronger focus on humor and sensationalism than previous issues but, you should let go of that and embrace this, the end of Ghost Fleet’s world, with open arms. This is a funny, self-aware final issue that pokes fun at itself but also deliveries a revelatory, and fitting ending. (The dog was too far, though)
Cates delivers a well-written, worthy ending that plays with expectations and, makes a good point about acceptance. Every little thing is tied up here, at the end of the road. Trace, a broken man on a mission discovers that nothing was as he thought, nothing will be ending how he saw it playing out. He, Ward and the other cavalcade of characters accept their ending and, in the book’s “epilogue” of sorts, they embrace it. It’s all in fitting with everything that has been built up across their journey. It feels geniune, authentic and even, a little scary like the book always has.
Daniel Warren Johnson, an incredible artist accompanied by Lauren Affe’s equally incredible colors, brings that fitting, violent and explosive ending to life. The grit, the tension, the perfectly scripted action. It’s all here. It’s all over the top, in your face stuff that’s also refined, perfected and nuanced in the best ways. It’s the end of the Ghost Fleet world and, Daniel delivers that final, bloody trumpet blast from the Heavens perfectly.
A lot has been said about the new Mad Max movie lately, about how it will change the way we watch action movies from here on out. But, I want to give my sincerest thanks to this bloody big rig story, too. Because, it changed the way I’ll read comics. Sure, there will be more action oriented page turners in my reviewing lifetime but, I’ll always ask myself “But, is it as fun as Ghost Fleet?”
It’s a tongue-in-cheek thing. It’s the dial that goes all the way to eleven. It’s the perfect send-off for a book that was always about way more than trucks. It’s also damn near the closest thing this industry should have as a golden standard for blockbuster, action comics making with a real, oily and nitrous heart at the center.
Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson
Colorist: Lauren Affe
Letters: Crank!
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 3, 2015
All good things must come to an end. All roads lead to something.
Some things end in a whimper, a quiet sound that barely anyone hears. Some others, end in a bang, a massive explosion that draws the attention of everyone within earshot.
For all intents and purposes, The Ghost Fleet’s final issue is the latter. A massive affair that delivers both literal and metaphorical explosions in a way that these creators have proven they can deliver like no other team in comics right now.
Cates, an immensely talented and nuanced writer, put all of himself into this book and, when the word came down from Dark Horse that this stellar series’ road trip would be cut short, he promised he and the other talented artists behind this book would end it on their terms. An awesome conclusion for an awesome book.
They did just that.
I can see why some readers may be upset with the narrative left turn here, a stronger focus on humor and sensationalism than previous issues but, you should let go of that and embrace this, the end of Ghost Fleet’s world, with open arms. This is a funny, self-aware final issue that pokes fun at itself but also deliveries a revelatory, and fitting ending. (The dog was too far, though)
Cates delivers a well-written, worthy ending that plays with expectations and, makes a good point about acceptance. Every little thing is tied up here, at the end of the road. Trace, a broken man on a mission discovers that nothing was as he thought, nothing will be ending how he saw it playing out. He, Ward and the other cavalcade of characters accept their ending and, in the book’s “epilogue” of sorts, they embrace it. It’s all in fitting with everything that has been built up across their journey. It feels geniune, authentic and even, a little scary like the book always has.
Daniel Warren Johnson, an incredible artist accompanied by Lauren Affe’s equally incredible colors, brings that fitting, violent and explosive ending to life. The grit, the tension, the perfectly scripted action. It’s all here. It’s all over the top, in your face stuff that’s also refined, perfected and nuanced in the best ways. It’s the end of the Ghost Fleet world and, Daniel delivers that final, bloody trumpet blast from the Heavens perfectly.
A lot has been said about the new Mad Max movie lately, about how it will change the way we watch action movies from here on out. But, I want to give my sincerest thanks to this bloody big rig story, too. Because, it changed the way I’ll read comics. Sure, there will be more action oriented page turners in my reviewing lifetime but, I’ll always ask myself “But, is it as fun as Ghost Fleet?”
It’s a tongue-in-cheek thing. It’s the dial that goes all the way to eleven. It’s the perfect send-off for a book that was always about way more than trucks. It’s also damn near the closest thing this industry should have as a golden standard for blockbuster, action comics making with a real, oily and nitrous heart at the center.
A Look Inside
