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Apparently Ghosts Aren't Invisible – Dark Horse Relaunches The Series

By Alex Wilson

Ghost follows the exploits of woman back from hell to hunt down the demons that sent her there while trying to recover the memory she lost. Two paranormal investigators aid her in her quest to track down the demons in power and finally find peace along with answers to who she once was. The series is written by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Chris Sebela and featuring the art of Ryan Sook.

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This character isn't a stranger to the world of comics, originally premiering in 1993. To be completely honest from the start, I'm not familiar with the character. I feel that fact should be noted. This is my first time engaging in the world of Ghost and I have to say, it's pleasant.

Personally, I'm a big fan of stories with demons, witches, and all things occult. I keep a Wiccan alter in my apartment just because I think the culture is interesting.

Right from the first few pages we get to see the creative talent of Sook with our main character, Ghost, fighting a demon on a train while an unsuspecting couple watches in horror. Sook doesn't just produce garden-variety demons. He takes risks with his art and creates truly creepy monsters from hell. Most demon comics I come across just give their demonic characters horns and a pointy tale, calling the transformation from man to minion of the damned good. Sook creates some shit I wouldn't show to kids, stuff you would expect out of over the top Korean horror films. If this series continues for a while I would love to see Sook come out with an art book full of the hellish figures he created.

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The rest of the art in the book flows well. I never feel lost as a panel transitions to the next or scenes change. We get nice establishing shots to set the scene and let us know exactly where we are. Sook keeps the story moving at a nice pace while still providing adequate space for action sequences.

DeConnick and Sebela build an engaging world, revealing enough to keep the reader interested but while still creating mystery. The challenges I find with writing established characters in a new series launch are writing enough to nod back to established fans but still draw in new ones. Ghost keeps readers engaged, even if they are new to the franchise.

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Ghost, the center focus of the story, kept me engaged as she looked for revenge and clues to her past. She felt unique and driven. Some of the dialog, however, feels stilted and cliché with other supporting characters appearing bland and a bit generic. Most of the supporting cast feels archetype, a goofy character paired with a series character. They don't feel terribly original. The story, though, engaged me enough to keep me moving through the book and I understand this is a new series so character development may occur later.

Overall, I dig Ghost. The concept held my attention and the art and imagination of Sook blew me away. Ghost currently sits on the shelves of your local comic book shops so if you dig demons or supernatural superheroes then you'll fall for Ghost.

@mralexwilson : I'm Alex Wilson and I'm a sort of writer who enjoys scribbling notes, writing stories in various formats, and making soap along with baked goods but not at the same time. You will likely find me writing, mumbling to myself while trying to write, or cooking for friends. Yes, I have friends. If you can't find me then I've probably gone out to the desert to camp as there is no cell phone reception there.


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Hannah Means ShannonAbout Hannah Means Shannon

Editor-in-Chief at Bleeding Cool. Independent comics scholar and former English Professor. Writing books on magic in the works of Alan Moore and the early works of Neil Gaiman.
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