World War Hulk Review – “Ghost Rider #12-13”

The World War Hulk reviews are now officially caught up. Next week, there’s only one WWH review (Iron Man #19-20) and no new Harry Potter to read, so we should have no problems getting a new movie review up by the end of the weekend as we try to do.

General Information

Title: Ghost Rider #12-13

Author: Daniel Way

Illustrator(s): Javier Saltares (penciles), Scott Hanna (inks) and Dan Brown (colours)

Original Publication Date: Cover dated August and September 2007

Cover Price: Each issue $2.99 US, $3.75 Can

Past comic reviews can be found here.

Premise

Johnny Blaze ignores the objections of Zarathos and tries to talk down the Hulk.

High Point

The ultimate decision of Zarathos is something you don’t often see in comics.

Low Point

The spoiler free version is “the ending.” The spoider-guarded version: The way the Hulk has been depicted in the World War Hulk series, I find it impossible to swallow the

idea that he’d look Zarathos in the eye, and then let him just drive away without ending the fight more

decisively. End spoiler.

The Scores

The ending is original, but the rest isn’t. At this point, I’ve read

only 39 out of 202 issues of Ghost Rider (counting all five series, but not the Marvel Spotlight issues

that started it all), and it felt like I’ve read just about all of it before. The only parts that seem really new

are the parts that show him to have far more power than he had before Daniel Way took over the title. A recent

interview revealed that the next story arc, beginning in issue 14, is the one Way pitched to launch the series,

but Marvel postponed it to give some space between that story and the movie. This means two things: one is that a

major status quo change is likely coming, and the other is that the first 13 lackluster issues have all been

filler. I give it 4 out of 6.

The artwork remains the strongest element in the series, garnering 5 out of 6 for its

clear depictions and uniquely coloured feel.

The story delivers what it needs to, but not much more. There’s really not

much of anything here. I honestly don’t see why this was stretched into two issues instead of being delivered in

one. I give it 3 out of 6.

The characterization is interesting for a few pages. The initial

argument about whether or not to participate, the first encounter with the Hulk, and the final decision by

Zarathos are all well done. The final decision by Hulk, however, isn’t consistent with the way he’s been depicted

in the rest of this event. I give it 4 out of 6.

The emotional response is weak for a large portion of the story.

The start and end of the conflict are good, but the stuff before and between doesn’t really do a lot for me. I

give it 3 out of 6.

The flow is smooth, partly because we see so many of the little details. We don’t need

13 panels in 3 pages showing Ghost Rider getting through the barricade the way we all expect him to; that’s just

slowing down the pace of the story. (When sound effects are continued from one panel to the next, you need to use

fewer panels.) I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, it’s two full issues for two pages worth of illuminating character

moments that will have no disernible impact on the World War Hulk event at large, or on this title in particular.

If you think that’s worth it, pick these up, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I give it 3 out of 6.

In total, Ghost Rider #12-13 receives 27 out of 42.

World War Hulk Review Checklist