• Written by: Howard Mackie
• Art by: Daniel Picciotto
• Colors by: GURU-eFX
• Letters by: VC’s Travis Lanham
• Cover art by: Ben Harvey (cover A)
• Cover price: $3.99
• Release date: June 21, 2023

Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider #2 finds Danny Ketch delivering the penance stare to Nogoodniks while getting his human life back together. Meanwhile, Blackout and Carecrow receive an offer of a power boost in exchange for a few small favors.

---

Is It Good?

Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider #2 sets the stage for a voracious villain to use known enemies from Ghost Rider’s past to make his life a living Hell. It’s a solid issue following up an equally solid #1, so Danny Ketch will be well and truly pleased.

When last we left Danny Ketch and his alter ego, he defeated a pair of low-level criminals who were granted power upgrades by an enigmatic individual called the Broker. Now, the Broker sets his sights on a higher class of villains at the behest of his flesh-hungry master, giving Blackout and Scarecrow the boost they need to go on a rampage.

Mackie’s script hits the nail on the head for all the things you would want in a Ghost Rider comic. You get plenty of Ghost-Riding, chain-whipping, flame-headed action. Howard Mackie builds up a formidable challenge for the Spirit of Vengeance by forming an alliance of enhanced villains, and the cliffhanger raises the stakes exponentially when Scarecrow decides to take hostages with a personal connection to Ghost Rider.

Mackie’s pacing is energetic, the dialog works, the scene transitions are smooth, and this issue as a whole is a quick read.

The minor down point of the issue is the plethora of plot points and scenes that develop. A lot comes at you fast, and the issue feels slightly rushed and busy. Thankfully, there aren’t enough characters to make the speed confusing, but it’s tough to find the plot under all the noise.

How’s the art? Grim, gritty, creepy, and just right for a Ghost Rider comic. Daniel Picciotto’s style suits the Rider and his enemies to a tee with rich hatching lines and a strong eye for gestures. GURU-eFX’s colors elevate Daniel Picciotto’s already strong art considerably.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Bits and Pieces

Ghost Rider #2 delivers another solid issue with old enemies coming back to cause trouble with enhanced powers and deadly stakes to keep the Rider on his toes. That said, the story is clear but a bit too busy in spots, so the main plot gets lost in the noise.

7/10