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Ghost Rider: The War For Heaven
Ghost Rider: The War for Heaven, Book 1
We're hell-bent and heaven-bound as Jason Aaron blazes a new trail for the Ghost Rider! Over the years, Johnny Blaze has lost everything to his curse: his family, his life — even his soul. But now he finally knows who's responsible for turning him into a flaming-skulled horror show — and he's out for vengeance! But when fellow Ghost Rider Danny Ketch returns, whose side is he on? What familiar faces has Ketch brought to the party? And who's about to get shot in the head with a hellfire shotgun? Plus: Meet the mysterious Mister Eleven — he might be an angel, a demon or something else entirely! And what secrets lie within the town of Mercy, Idaho? Grab your helmet; it's gonna be one hell of a ride!
COLLECTING: GHOST RIDER (2006) 20-32, GHOST RIDER ANNUAL (2007) 1-2 and GHOST RIDER SAGA.
COLLECTING: GHOST RIDER (2006) 20-32, GHOST RIDER ANNUAL (2007) 1-2 and GHOST RIDER SAGA.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2009
12 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,360 books1,682 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 5, 2024
It is an extremely ambitious story. A twist on Lucifer not being the only fallen angel. I am not sure about the concept of heaven and angels being the bad guys, but that is a different debate.
Now Johnny Balze knows who ruined his life, but he has no idea how far and who he is corrupted or how instrumental the Ghost Rider is to his plan.
A good story and Ghost Rider were drawn well. Really, I don't think it is possible to do a bad visual of Ghost Rider. I did not like the way they drew Johnny or Dan, but that is a personal thing.
I like the family ties and legacy style of the story of I also liked how everyone came together at the end. It was a dark ending and set up for the conclusion of the series.
Now Johnny Balze knows who ruined his life, but he has no idea how far and who he is corrupted or how instrumental the Ghost Rider is to his plan.
A good story and Ghost Rider were drawn well. Really, I don't think it is possible to do a bad visual of Ghost Rider. I did not like the way they drew Johnny or Dan, but that is a personal thing.
I like the family ties and legacy style of the story of I also liked how everyone came together at the end. It was a dark ending and set up for the conclusion of the series.
August 17, 2019
Jason Aaron combines elements from Green Lantern and Alan Moore's Swamp Thing to explode the flaming skull-faced motorcyclist from a simple circus act into a world-spanning team of Spirits of Vengeance -- the Ghost Rider Corps. Still, the majority of the book is filled with angry white men scowling at, yelling at and punching each other. Cheesy, silly, and very, very comic booky.
June 4, 2020
4.5
I'm being generous and giving this 4.5 over the 4. I went into this being one of the very few that likes the second movie compared to the first. I soon realised this was good and not the same as the movies, plus having Jason Aaron doesn't hurt. This book opens in the midst of some family drama and a revenge storyline. You will play catchup if you're unfamiliar with the property like myself but in the end It's all okay and I understood the story.
Why the 4.5?
Why didn't they make a better movie? This has so much going on and I enjoyed it. It's crazy but not a slam-dunk storyline. It lags before it ramps up. The jagged shifts are not a deal breaker though. I'm now reading the next volume and for anyone that wants to give up or are using my review as your guide. Stick with it. Stuff is explained in the first story arc.
I'm being generous and giving this 4.5 over the 4. I went into this being one of the very few that likes the second movie compared to the first. I soon realised this was good and not the same as the movies, plus having Jason Aaron doesn't hurt. This book opens in the midst of some family drama and a revenge storyline. You will play catchup if you're unfamiliar with the property like myself but in the end It's all okay and I understood the story.
Why the 4.5?
Why didn't they make a better movie? This has so much going on and I enjoyed it. It's crazy but not a slam-dunk storyline. It lags before it ramps up. The jagged shifts are not a deal breaker though. I'm now reading the next volume and for anyone that wants to give up or are using my review as your guide. Stick with it. Stuff is explained in the first story arc.
August 8, 2020
I am extremely happy to see Dan Ketch back. He is and always will be my favourite Ghost Rider. I love the blue flames motif they went with to distinguish him from his brother. I could've done without the burial of Blackout though just to prove how tough Blaze is. We get it Aaron, Johnny is the most badass Ghost Rider...even though Dan was far more popular and had far better stories in the 90's. Hopefully Book 2 doesn't end with Johnny making Dan look like a chump in comparison.
August 1, 2022
Too damn good.
November 19, 2019
Jason Aaron has given us some great issues of Thor. Here in his earlier days he is dealing with one of Marvel's "classic" B heroes, a motorcyclist with a flaming skull for a head. He makes use of comedy as GR confronts a gang of super villains with various head replacements such as a dog's head and an eyeball. Ghost Rider's powers are satanic so we also have some spectacular sacrilege. If you understand the "B" nature of this hero (his film was of course also "B", this graphic novel, that reprints fifteen issues and is only Part 1, no doubt gains some additional rating stars. Here he is considering battling an angel, a rather bad one who is trying to take over heaven. It reads quickly and if you like this kind of thing, even fun, though very violent. There is even a scene with machine-gun toting nuns, who hate Ghost Rider, riding motorcycles. Moreover it turns out there are many different Ghost Riders, each with their own flaming skull, involved it the climactic big throw down.
February 2, 2021
I was intrigued about this run by Jason Aaron when it came out on omnibus format. The price was too hefty for me so I just shrugged my shoulder and browsed for other titles instead. Then came the year 2019 when I saw this on a more affordable format divided into two collected edition paperbacks. I patiently waited for the chance to buy and complete the two books and here I am devouring both. I already finished book one and clearly these were the continuation of the Ghost Rider-Daniel Way collection. Book one is crazy and action packed but this was only setting-up the stage for the climax. The plot and how it's written was interesting and I have no complain about it but I have a different opinion on the art which were drawn by various artist. Looking forward to book two.
April 24, 2025
Aaron's sensibilities about religion are a match made in heaven for the Spirit of vengeance.
What follows is one long ride, up and down this highway with Johnny Blaze looking for answers. Being pitted against the 90s GR Danny Ketch, it's brother vs brother with the fate of heaven on the line.
This is a bit of a bumpy road so far. The art is pretty rough throughout, even with flashes of brilliance with a good colorist. gun toasting nurses, evil man eating spirits, hellfire guns, and more Riders than you think, it's all a plot by a fallen angel in rebellion.
Everything that can go wrong will, and Johnny will be angry the whole way. it's a decent story so far, but it's very rough around the edges. Heres to hoping it picks up in the back half.
What follows is one long ride, up and down this highway with Johnny Blaze looking for answers. Being pitted against the 90s GR Danny Ketch, it's brother vs brother with the fate of heaven on the line.
This is a bit of a bumpy road so far. The art is pretty rough throughout, even with flashes of brilliance with a good colorist. gun toasting nurses, evil man eating spirits, hellfire guns, and more Riders than you think, it's all a plot by a fallen angel in rebellion.
Everything that can go wrong will, and Johnny will be angry the whole way. it's a decent story so far, but it's very rough around the edges. Heres to hoping it picks up in the back half.
August 16, 2019
Wow! Crazy and cool.
This is Marvel’s rendition of the Preacher/Spawn/Constantine genre. It’s a modern day fantasy western that involves the forces of heaven and hell.
For the most part, it’s really cool. Sure, the plot meanders and frays at some points... but the characterizations and drama are top notch. The violence is fresh and gritty.
And the art rules! Everything looks so visceral, and the colors play off each other magnificently.
I’m not a long time Ghost Rider fan, so it was exciting to meet these characters and get to know him.
The down side is that this is only the first volume, and it ends when shit was just getting awesome. Guess I need the next one...
This is Marvel’s rendition of the Preacher/Spawn/Constantine genre. It’s a modern day fantasy western that involves the forces of heaven and hell.
For the most part, it’s really cool. Sure, the plot meanders and frays at some points... but the characterizations and drama are top notch. The violence is fresh and gritty.
And the art rules! Everything looks so visceral, and the colors play off each other magnificently.
I’m not a long time Ghost Rider fan, so it was exciting to meet these characters and get to know him.
The down side is that this is only the first volume, and it ends when shit was just getting awesome. Guess I need the next one...
June 26, 2021
It took me a third find to be able to witness a decent and high wired Ghost Rider-arc. This famed anti-hero, iconic and compelling, had lost many opportunities from the hands of bad writers and worse, film adaptations—if not, worst Marvel decisions.
Jason Aaron could be commended here—in spite the visual rendition seemed a mismatch (the previous Ghost Rider comics I read, meanwhile, were rolling hard and good in their art)—his writing did at least Ghost Rider a justice.
The first book of Aaron’s arc was cohesive, so it compelled me to go on. There was something to smile, if not, grin at, for such wild rides and explosive allusions—be it a Milton, Nietzche, John Constantine, and Moore.
The second book however, became campy, artificially British, and absurdly exaggerated. Aaron’s vision seemed to have gone down the drain. Ridiculous characters and disjointed paneling, though not anemic of humor, I still felt that Aaron was rushed in his writing. Though this is a storyline of an anti-hero, I couldn’t still fathom the one-sided sexism here. Much like expected of an anti-Christ story line for Ghost Rider.
In quantity, I can wrap Aaron’s run with 2.5, which are 3 stars for the Book One and 2 for the second.
Jason Aaron could be commended here—in spite the visual rendition seemed a mismatch (the previous Ghost Rider comics I read, meanwhile, were rolling hard and good in their art)—his writing did at least Ghost Rider a justice.
The first book of Aaron’s arc was cohesive, so it compelled me to go on. There was something to smile, if not, grin at, for such wild rides and explosive allusions—be it a Milton, Nietzche, John Constantine, and Moore.
The second book however, became campy, artificially British, and absurdly exaggerated. Aaron’s vision seemed to have gone down the drain. Ridiculous characters and disjointed paneling, though not anemic of humor, I still felt that Aaron was rushed in his writing. Though this is a storyline of an anti-hero, I couldn’t still fathom the one-sided sexism here. Much like expected of an anti-Christ story line for Ghost Rider.
In quantity, I can wrap Aaron’s run with 2.5, which are 3 stars for the Book One and 2 for the second.
December 18, 2019
This was my first real introduction to the Ghost Rider comics, and I have to say, I'm rather impressed. Now, I am a Christian. And as a Christian, I could see some other Christians getting SUPER up-in-arms over the story, which involves angels massacring people and God being under attack by his own soldiers.
In all honesty, for me, there's nothing too terribly offensive in here. It's a work of fiction, and in all honesty, it handles itself with enough respect that... I don't know. If you're willing to keep in mind that this is a WORK OF FICTION and not some heated attack on Christianity.... its a fun read. Strongly recommend.
In all honesty, for me, there's nothing too terribly offensive in here. It's a work of fiction, and in all honesty, it handles itself with enough respect that... I don't know. If you're willing to keep in mind that this is a WORK OF FICTION and not some heated attack on Christianity.... its a fun read. Strongly recommend.
August 2, 2023
He has a bike that goes faster than hell, but he cannot outrun ordinary motorcycles.
This is Ghost Rider in a nutshell...
The plot was so original, so interesting, so full of surprises, that I have absolutely no interest in knowing how it will turn out in the second tome.
This is Ghost Rider in a nutshell...
The plot was so original, so interesting, so full of surprises, that I have absolutely no interest in knowing how it will turn out in the second tome.
April 22, 2024
I'm not a huge fan of Jason Aaron's changes to the Ghost Rider mythos, but he's a good enough writer that the story is still awesome and there are some great moments despite his butchering of the lore.
I really REALLY dislike the art though, which brought this down to 3 stars.
I really REALLY dislike the art though, which brought this down to 3 stars.
May 7, 2025
I haven't read Ghost Rider since the mid 90's so this whole 'heaven's spirit of vengeance' was a bit new to me.
Overall, an epic tale of all the Ghost Riders as they try to stop the latest usurper to the throne of Heaven.
Overall, an epic tale of all the Ghost Riders as they try to stop the latest usurper to the throne of Heaven.
January 4, 2021
This is kind of a dumb story, and artists Roland Boschi and Tan Eng Huat seem to be competing for the title of world's ugliest art...
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews