Ghost Rider, Vol. 3: Dragged Out of Hell

Ghost Rider (2022)

by Benjamin Percy, Cory Smith (Penciler), Oren Junior (Inker)

Spirits of Vengeance as the original Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze comes face to face with fellow Rider Danny Ketch!

Hellfire and Danny Ketch! The FBI has cast out Johnny Blaze and Talia Warroad, maybe because they’re too destructive and unmanageable…or maybe because there is some corruption present that reaches inside the very institution meant to protect us. As Johnny and Talia head down to Savannah to investigate a necropolis, there are hints of old friends and new foes on the horizon. A new chapter of horror is beginning for the Ghost Rider…and Danny Ketch is roaring up to speed in the rearview mirror! But both he and Johnny have changed significantly, and they’ll hardly recognize one another as their paths converge to war!

 Ghost Rider (2022) 11-16

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy

136 pages, Paperback

Published November 28, 2023

About the author

Benjamin Percy is the author of seven novels -- most recently The Sky Vault (William Morrow) -- three short fiction collections, and a book of essays, Thrill Me, that is widely taught in creative writing classrooms. He writes Wolverine, X-Force, and Ghost Rider for Marvel Comics. His fiction and nonfiction have been published in Esquire (where he is a contributing editor), GQ, Time, Men's Journal, Outside, the Wall Street Journal, Tin House, and the Paris Review. His honors include an NEA fellowship, the Whiting Writer's Award, the Plimpton Prize, two Pushcart Prizes, the iHeart Radio Award for Best Scripted Podcast, and inclusion in Best American Short Stories and Best American Comics.

Reviews

[Bill Riggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started out with a lot of potential but the ending felt rushed and cheap.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere between a 3 and 4 star. I really enjoyed most of this volume. It's fast paced, and Johnny is on a mission to save his brother. So it's fun, exciting, and the fights and transformations are great. But it feels very rushed that last issue that ties up a big 6 issue arc way too quickly. Also the final issue is okay but feels like a annual not a main issue of the storyline.

A 3.5 out of 5.

[Tom Zilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story partially ruined by an incredibly rushed finale.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is shaping up to be the run of Ghost Rider we have needed to see for quite some time now!
Highlights:
- The bike that Johnny is riding is a manifestation of Diesel, the Spirit that was ripped from Johnny last Volume. As he and Talia Warroad cross the country in search of a Spirit that is causing havoc in Savannah, GA, the bike goes rogue, being corrupted.
- As their investigation continues, it appears as if Danny Ketch is involved, and he is... in a way. He has gone to see Dr Diyu at Infernal Labs in an attempt to remove the Spirit of Corruption from him. Diyu ends up taking it from him and using it for revenge, which is why all the chaos appears to be his fault. Diyu uses the Spirit of Corruption to get into Hell, where she hopes to resurrect her brother.
- When Talia and Johnny find Danny, he's very near death... so Johnny must follow into Hell after Diyu to stop her and save him.
- In Hell, Diyu is stopped by her brother, who welcomes her to Hell... and Blaze is able to bring back the Spirit of Corruption to Danny so that he may live again.
- We get a really cool side story showing a passenger that was driven somewhere by Johnny, Dan, and Robbie... very haunting, well written.
- Lastly, we see a member of Orchis, Father Pike, becoming interested in Ghost Rider... (This must lead into the next storyline with Wolverine "Weapons of Vengeance"!)

Loving Ghost Rider right now. Please Marvel! Keep this one going well!
Recommend.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another awesome volume in this Ghost Rider run! I love the relationships we see Johnny actually have a bit more in this one with Talia and Danny. This one has me wanting to read more and look into more Ghost Rider stories, honestly. I love the actual horror style and feel of this book and I’m really looking forward to the next volume, especially given the inclusion of Orchis at the end of this one.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Danny Ketch (another former Ghost Rider) is being used by Infernal Labs as a sort of anti-Ghost Rider, going out and riling up demonic stuff so that the chief scientist can open a portal to Hell to save her brother. Yeah, it's a lot, and pretty dependent on your knowledge of past Ghost Riders.

Current Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze and his pal Talia try to stop Danny (who looks suspiciously like Wolverine's Weapon X form) in a convoluted chase/fight sequence across the realms. This volume is book-ended with one-shots, the first dealing with Exhaust, the last looking at the long history of Ghost Riders.

It's all fine, but I'm kind of tired of fine at this point in the series. After putting the Infernal Labs scientist to bed, we see another scientist, Orchis this time, who is interested in that Ghost Rider juju. Looking forward to a rehash of this volume in the Wolverine crossover, I guess.

[Alex Sarll]

Part of the problem with this series is that it wants to be a horror book, but is so reluctant to take its foot off the accelerator that it ends up mere splatterpunk. Yeah, a lead with a flaming skull for a head is never going to suit the full MR James treatment, but you can keep the rider in reserve, play somewhere like Savannah for its shadows before he's unleashed. Instead: a demonic charnel-house, more numbing than unnerving, not to mention pretty much indistinguishable from Hell proper a few issues later. Danny Ketch is here too, in full Weapon X mode ahead of the Wolverine crossover I've already read, but compared to how good Percy's run on that book has often been, this itself feels a lot like Ketch, the second-choice sibling.

[Mik Cope · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mad scientist creates a technology enhanced Ghost Rider. The cute Goth ex F.B.I. agent joins Johnny on his quest to clean up America from demonic infestation. And to top it all, Johnny ends up on the Highway to Hell. What's not to like?

[Jesse A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another volume that was alot of fun.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Benjamin Percy tem se saído um dos piores roteiristas do momento, ainda assim, ele é bastante aclamado nos Estados Unidos a ponto de não largar o osso de três títulos regulares. Um deles é o título de Johnny Blaze, o Motoqueiro Fantasma, cuja resenha do terceiro volume em desenvolvo nessas terríveis linhas. Nele, Blaze está ao lado da amaldiçoada Talia Warroad, uma feiticeira punk que quer ajudar a ele a desfazer os males causados pelo Motoqueiro Fantasma, equanto Blaze tenta se unir a sua contraparte demoníaca. Nesse meio tempo, eles vão se encontrar também com Danny Ketch, o irmão perdido de Blaze, e responsável pela fase mais popular do personagem, nos anos 1990. Outro que cruza o caminho dos dois é Robbie Reyes, que não dirige um motocicleta, mas sim um cupê antigo. Os desenhos dessa edição, em grande maioria são feios e confusos como a própria história desenvolvida por Percy. Em seguida, teremos um encontro entre Wolverine e Motoqueiro Fantasma e, se a gente conseguir entender a história, já vai estar no lucro!

[Roman · Rating 3 out of 5]

​​Через недавній анонс нової серії про Гуда в ролі Примарного Вершника вирішив наздогнати ран Персі.

Джонні та Талія подорожують країною після перемоги над Блекгартом і добивають демонів які залишилися. Однак коли наші герої прибувають у Саванну то застають місто у вогні й дізнаються, що це накоїв Примарний Вершник, але не Джонні, а Денні Кетч. І от вся арка розповідає, що сталося з Денні та як Джонні з Талією його шукають.

Як на мене, то це поки що найслабша арка в рані Персі. Оскільки все що тут відбувається це досить цікавий і місцями моторошний білд-ап до сутички якої так і не відбувається й арка завершується просто тим, що Джонні рятує брата. Тут навіть конфронтації з вченою яка забрала у Денні духа помсти не відбувається і вона просто втрачає контроль над духом та залишається в пеклі. В результаті маємо концептуально цікаву арку, яка завершується пшиком. З того, що ще розчарувало можу виділити те як Джонні майже одразу позбувся мотоцикла яким став паразит з минулої арки в 11 номері. От хто тут продовжує радувати так це художник серії Корі Сміт, його малюнок вкотре рятує ситуацію, чого тільки вартує момент з тим як Примарний Вершник використовує хрест з кладовища як вогняний меч для боротьби з демонами. Крім нього номери в цій арці ще малювали Дейв Вехтер (11 номер) та Кріс Кампана (16 номер) які загалом непогано впоралися з роботою, але були набагато слабшими за Сміта.

Щодо 16 номеру то це такий невеликий окейний філер який розповідає про те як усі три Вершники (Джонні, Денні та Роббі) в різні моменти свого життя перетиналися із загадковим попутником.

В результаті третя арка Примарного Вершника вийшла поки, що найслабшою у серії. Вона не є поганою, але має втрачений потенціал, оскільки могло вийти й краще. Ну, а далі в серії на нас чекає кроссовер з Росомахою.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The middle issues of this volume bring back Danny Ketch, who has been tricked into helping shady tech organisation Infernal Labs try and meld magic and science together, which has historically never ended well. It's nice to see Danny again, even in this limited capacity, as well as some acknowledgement of his Spirit Of Retribution thing that he had going on over in Ed Brisson's run before this, though the conclusion to this arc does feel a little rushed.

The opening and closing issues that sandwich the middle arc are fun too - the first issue resolves the Exhaust plot from the first ten issues, while the closer focuses on a hitchhiker that Johnny, Danny, and Robbie Reyes have all met across the years, tying everything together quite neatly.

On art we have series artist Cory Smith for the middle four issues, while Dave Wachter pops in for the first one, and Chris Campana flies in for the final one.

Percy's Ghost Rider continues to burn up a storm, with Ghost Riders galore and an ongoing narrative that keeps the pedal to the metal all the way through.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, we've tied up the Blackheart plot. Danny and Talia Warrroad (the former S.H.I.E.L.D. occult expert) go around the country kicking demon ass and cleaning up the darkest parts of the MU.
They're chasing something awfully familiar. Danny Ketch is around (He's in EVERY Ghost Rider series) and has made his own deals and things look awful Department H'ish (check out that helmet).

Guess it's time for Percy to tie in all his characters in his next book.
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I feel like this would have been better off pushed as a MAX imprint. You could have more gore and violence (something 'Ghost Rider' series always tease). The Talia 'romance' does add a different spice to things. Can't think of another Ghost Rider series that had a active love interest for either Rider.
=======
Bonus: God damn tie in to the Krakoan X-Men? Son of a...
Bonus Bonus: No longer Death Rider but still the 'Spirit of Corruption'? Maybe? Poor Danny.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okayish read, wrapping up the plot points with Exhaust and showing the bike of that character is influencing Johnny, then the romance with Talia is the best part and then the stuff with Danny and showing how he is being affected also and revealing whats going on with him, where he has been and under control of some dr. whose been delving in demonology and I found that character quite compelling and she could be a great foe for GR's down the line but here we see how Johnny saves his brother and its a cute tale of sorts lets say, and shows the bond between them and gotta give it to percy, he writes those moments really well!

And then the ending sets up the Wolverine/GR crossover to come which should be fun to read, aka Project Hellfire!

This is one of those runs which is shaping up to be a memorable one!

[Khurram · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a bit disappointed in this book. It stated out ok but seemed to go downhill very quickly. I wanted yo give it 2.5 stars. It is only because of some of the great visuals of Ghost Rider that it got 3 stars instead of 2.

Johnny Blaze and Talia are continuing their mission to finish cleaning up after Blackheart's mess. "Distracting" each other along the way. Now, they come to the worst of the worst. Could something else have been unleashed into the world a mixture of hell and science?

I am not even fully sure what happened in the last two chapters apart from setting up the next crossover arc. Maybe it will make more sense in Ghost Rider Wolverine Weapons of Vengeance. The book finishes with a varient cover gallery.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ghost Rider continues to tread water as author Benjamin Percy takes Johnny down a darker path, which is fine, but the story itself was just meh. Talia's inclusion is solid and I like her as a character but she has had almost know development, she's just there to help and be snarky. I thought the antagonist, Infernal Labs, was too quickly addressed and there was more meat on that bone. There was also some continuity issues. Percy does a phenomenal job with the horror side though. Cory Smith handled most of the art chores and did a really good job. Overall, an average read that could have been much more.

[Rahul Nadella · Rating 2 out of 5]

While still being a really good story I felt this conclusion felt a bit rushed. It could be that I really like stories with as much detail and depth as possible but this felt a bit anticlimactic and quick. Overall this arc was decent I just wish the conclusion had a bit more to it. The direction of the book is still very exciting though and I really look forward to finding out what's on the horizon.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danny Ketch is finally back. He's Blaze's brother along with being the Ghost Rider of the 90's. These issues feel almost like an introduction to what will happen after the crossover with Wolverine, which the last issue leads into. The story's fine, even if it feels like Vertigo-lite at times.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the Infernal Labs story, though it really should have been spread out over a couple more issues--too rushed as it is. The rest of this is...meh. The artwork is also quite variable--four artists over the span of six issues?

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
These stories are excellent. Dark. But good.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A journey to Hell. Techno Ghost Rider. Harnessing the infernal has consequences.

[Derrick O'Rourke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

This is a very entertaining read and well worth picking up. Action scenes are good and it's good development of characters.

[Nate Deprey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talia Warroad is my favorite new Marvel character in a long time. It's an honest miracle that Disney would let her exist at all and she really comes into her own in this collection.

[Patrick Penner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty much all you can ask for in a ghost Rider series. Fast paced, lots of demons, and of course, hell.

[Gary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Great Marvel Readthrough, pt 366

[Nathan Mosier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art was 5/5, story was 2/5

[Remxo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent straightforward Marvel horror. Highlights are Smith's art and the covers by Barends.
3.5