Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears

Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears #1-6

by Garth Ennis, Clayton Crain (Illustrator)

Here it is ? the prequel to Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain's smash hit Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation! Travis Parham thought he'd seen hell. As a lieutenant in the Confederate Army, he stood neck-deep in muck and blood, surrounded by the whistle of hot shrapnel and men's screams. Two years later, Parham has carved a new life for himself, doing his best to forget the depravity that lurks in the pits of men's souls. Now, Parham's tranquil world is about to be rudely interrupted. Up from the depths comes a force of nature that transcends his wildest dreams - a fiery wraith that knows a thing or two about evil and even more about vengeance. Collects Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears #1-6.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Horror, Westerns, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

144 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Ennis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.

Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.

Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.

Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.

While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.

Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.

After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.

In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.

Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.

In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.

In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis

Reviews

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Don't you get it? Don't you see once you start it, vengeance got no limits, got no end?"

This was a grimey and enthralling Ghost Rider story that was redemption for Garth Ennis after the sadly disappointing Road to Damnation. Ennis, with the help of masterful artist Clayton Crain, crafts a chilling Ghost Rider yarn set during the aftermath of the civil war that manages to blend solid character moments with horrifying action perfectly to create one hell of a revenge story.

Trail of Tears follows a Confederate soldier, Travis Parham, who has been saved by a kind stranger after being left for dead on the battlefield, suffering from severe injuries caused from cannon fire during a battle. Surprisingly, this kind stranger who helped Travis turns out to be a former slave named Caleb, who is now a free man working a farm with his family. Travis decides to pay Caleb back for his medical help and hospitality by helping him work his farm for months, where they slowly bond over time. Issue 1 is a slow burn start to the story, showing the two working the land, before it ends with the reveal that as Travis is leaving, the KKK is about to make their presence known on the farm. This leads into a wild and action-packed 5 issues that don’t slow down at all, barreling through a gory Western revenge tale that Ennis tells to perfection, with an ending that is guaranteed to send chills down your spine. It’s such a far cry from the immensley unsatisfying ending to his last Ghost Rider story, Road to Damnation, and I’m so happy Ennis got to do more with this character. I knew he was capable of doing more with him, and Trail of Tears proves he was more than capable of it. He just needed to bail on Johnny Blaze and take Ghost Rider to the Old West, and it’s better than you could imagine.

A brutal tale of revenge, forgiveness, and how the choices each of us make, no matter how good the intentions may be, will eventually pave the road to hell for us if we let them, Trail of Tears is by far the most interesting Ghost Rider story I have ever read. I mean there aren’t a ton of great one in the first place, but that doesn’t change how great this was. Ennis completely knocks it out of the park in this one, and Clayton Crain’s art is even better than it was in Road To Damnation, which is saying a lot. Recommended for all who enjoy Ghost Rider, and even more so for Garth Ennis fans, like myself.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a love/hate relationship with Garth Ennis' work. I count some of his work among the best comicbooks I've ever read but a lot of what he produces is utter tripe, bogged down with a puerile sense of humour and a lack of sensitivity that is borderline offensive at times.

As this was recommended by a good friend, I'm happy to say this Ghost Rider mini-series avoids most of the aforementioned pitfalls and averages out as a pretty enjoyable tale of vengeance painted upon a background straight out of Cormac McCarthy. It's not brilliant but it's solid and entertaining.

Clayton Crain's digitally painted artwork reminds me of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's famous poem about the little girl who had a little curl; when it's good, it's very, very good but when it's bad it's horrid. More specifically, his work has a tendency to sacrifice composition for stylistic self-indulgence and clarity for muddy darkness. When he avoids these faults, though, his work is really rather good.

All-in-all, while this isn't without its faults, it's mostly a decent read.

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second Ghost Rider book by this creative team - the legendary Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain, best known for his unique computer rendered style.

Some really nice artwork although it does feel a bit too computer generated especially with some of the 3d panel borders Crain uses in the prologue and epilogue. It was cool to see Crain do a historical book, usually I’ve seen do a lot of photo realistic renders of buildings etc. This has a much more natural feel to it.

This one is quite different than the first book!

We’re back near the end of the Civil War in America, Travis Parham is injured in a battle and only survives because of the help of Caleb, a black man. At first Parham treats him in the typically fashion referring to him as “boy” but is set straight. Caleb is a free man, his family is free, and they own a nice plot of land as well. Over the next two years the two men become life long friends as Parham recovers and helps with prepping the land for farming. Parham also discovers a couple skulls in the woods. An alternative practice to burial that … partakes in.

Parham leaves to go live his own life. As soon as he leaves it seems a group of racists show up and murder Caleb and his family in a way that even the most die-hard KKK member would perhaps find a bit over the top.

Parham discovers this on a trip back to visit Caleb and sets off in pursuit of this racist gang. But it turns out Caleb struck up a deal with a demon by talking to his family using those skulls… and he’s back for vengeance as a horse riding Ghost Rider.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vivid, with sparse dialogue and evocative paintings. The story is classic Ennis too: vengeance, dismemberment and black gallows humour. Somehow it's starting to get old for me though - this feels like Ennis on autopilot, after so many Punisher/Preacher/Kev/Ghost Rider/etc tales I've read of his. If there were a few inventive ideas like what he came up with in Crossed I'd have enjoyed it more.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review - https://youtu.be/h7S3vBWCBJE

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Ghost Rider stories. This is a Clint Eastwood western starring the Ghost Rider. Garth Ennis is a huge fan of spaghetti westerns, and this is an homage to them by way of a Ghost Rider comic.

Set right after the Civil War, this is a dark and gritty western tale. Clayton Crain's art is good as always, and this story isn't bogged down with continuity so you don't need to have much knowledge of the Ghost Rider character to enjoy it. It's dark and visceral, and for Ghost Rider that's a plus.

[J. Kent Messum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was utterly floored by how good this graphic novel was. A huge departure from anything you might already think or know of 'Ghost Rider', but in the best possible way. No comic book frills on this one. Dark, violent, and surprisingly deep in some parts. Some fantastic artwork as well.

[Lukáš Pokorný · Rating 1 out of 5]

Napsat si do deníčku: Když od někoho dostaneš komiks zadarmo, očekávej, že má hodnotu tomu odpovídající.
Banální, hnusně kreslený, hrozně natištěný příběh se zbytečnými dialogy, postavami i dějem o pomstě. Dobrý je, že za měsíc si už nebudu z týhle generický záležitosti pamatovat ani panel. No fuj.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad! So the other day I got into the Ghost Rider Mood, so I thought I'd try some comics, I've seen the movies, first one was awesome, and the second... well it happened! Anyway, so this comic is set in the old west, Travis Parham, is a Lieutenant in the Confederate army, he's injured and left for dead, then he's helped by a African American family, who later get killed and now he's on a revenge quest! So I guess my main gripe, is that this story hardly focuses on Ghost Rider, it focuses more on Travis, and the bad guys who committed the crime! Ennis did this with Punisher, and I don't get it, you read this for ghost rider, not cowboys and bandits! But the story is okay I guess, I did like it when I read it, but after a few hours of thought, its nothing special! The Artwork is amazing though! But ya overall an okay read!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not your typical Ghost Rider and that was a good thing. A great origin type story by Ennis. Gorgeous artwork by Clayton Crain really brought this to life.

[Danger]

Ghost Rider period piece. The spirit of vengeance cutting a path of destruction across the ole south. Good premise, excellent art, just an okay story.

[Bonnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful. Just awful. I read this for work and hated it. The artwork is dark (as in difficult to see dark) and the transitions are painfully bad. The action I would think would be in the panel isn't there, often leaving big gaps in the storyline. The artwork that is there leaves me totally confused. The story was gruesome for the sake of being gruesome and felt like a stereotypical horror film, with characters getting picked off one-by-one in a new and disgusting way each time. And though I thought there was little in the way of character development and interaction, there was a moment towards the end that left me beyond confused (does that move me to the realm of flabbergasted? I don't know). Oh main character,Travis Parham, has slept with a prostitute he just met, when they are dragged outside by the bloodthisty villains. He's had his arm torn off and the town is being slaughtered. As Travis and Jenny the prostitute are slowing creeping away from this, he's trying to convince her to take his money and run away to California (which she earlier expressed an interest in). Jenny becomes this noble figure, carrying Travis and refusing to leave his side, to the exchange of "Oh, Jenny--!" and tender embraces. Why do these characters even care about each other? Of course, then sweet Jenny's head appears to be town off (it was really impossible to tell because of the artwork). But why would the brief exchange of money and sex lead to this sort of a relationship, particularly when the story has stressed how hard and unforgiving the frontier is? I suppose if I liked the Ghost Rider story in any way, maybe this would've appealed to me more. Maybe. But instead it just left a bad taste in my mouth. Ugh!

[Dmitry Yakovenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

В этом томе нам показывают, возможно, самого первого призрачного гонщика, хотя в данном случае, уместнее будет его назвать всадником, ведь события комикса разворачивается во времена гражданской войны в США, а с мотоциклами в то время было туго, точнее их вообще не было. 
В качестве плюсов данного тома можно выделить очень красивый и реалистичный рисунок, весьма оригинальную задумку авторов, которая вылилась в довольно неплохую историю, интересных героев, потрясающего и эффектного Всадника и мрачную атмосферу, которая присутсвует везде, где появляется огненный череп гонщика, однако тут она еще более серьезна, мрачна и поднимает тему войны и рабства.
Из минусов же получается отметить довольно посредственные диалоги, которые являются таковыми не всегда, но тем не менее, режут глаза, некоторые спорные сюжетные ходы и события, а также отсутствие внятной, нормальной концовки истории.
Это просто хороший комикс, очень мрачный и очень жесткоий, в котором есть как плюсы, так минусы. Минусов, к счастью, меньше, но все равно от этого произведения не стоит ждать чего то сверхъестественного. 

[Dubzor · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is what the movies just didn't get about Ghost Rider...his stories need to be about vengeance and damnation with humanity and hope desperately trying to keep their heads above water.

This series was beautifully drawn and colored, with a compelling story of likeable and detestable characters in a world that hits close to home while at the same time a world far more frightening and dangerous.

Loved it every step of the way.

[Gonzalo Oyanedel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird Western bien orquestado para una historia que aporta en mitología, pero resulta prescindible.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, brutal, gritty. . . all appropriate words for this. There are no happy endings.

[Malum · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot is dead simple and the ending peters out rather than goes out with a bang, but I still really enjoyed this. It's super dark and bloody like Ghost Rider should be.

[Myrmidon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonostante io non sia un grandissimo fan di Garth Ennis, devo dire di aver apprezzato questa miniserie.
Non è certo un mistero che il personaggio di Ghost Rider, già di suo, si sposi molto bene con Far West (per pura casualità, il primissimo Ghost, poi ribattezzato "Phantom Rider", era proprio un eroe western), e qui le potenzialità di un concept a prima vista scontato vengono saggiamente sfruttate per dare vita a una sorta di weird western dalle atmosfere horror davvero pregevoli, in grado di catturare egregiamente l'essenza e la mitologia del Ghost Rider, offrendone così un'interessante interpretazione.
La trama, ça va sans dire, è una revenge story: Travis Parham, un soldato confederato durante la Guerra di secessione statunitense, viene soccorso dopo la sua prima (e traumatizzante) battaglia da Caleb, uno schiavo riscattatosi prima del conflitto. Travis passa così diversi anni con Caleb e la sua famiglia, rendendosi utile finché, conclusasi la guerra civile, non decide di tentare la sua fortuna alla Frontiera, promettendo però a Caleb che, se avrà successo, tornerà per lui e la sua famiglia.
Ma pochi anni dopo, su quella stessa proprietà, di Caleb, sua moglie e i suoi figli non c'è più traccia: Travis deciderà così di braccare i responsabili della loro scomparsa, salvo scoprire ben presto che non è il solo a cercare vendetta...

[Pilipma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah... I don't think Ennis should write for Marvel.

Don't get me wrong - covers themselves are worth the price of getting this story in singles. There are some ambitious panels in them books too... but there's just no story. Till the very end I nurtured hope that Garth Ennis is going to pull his famous "make the whole story 100 time better in the last couple of pages" which would have brought this book to a solid 4, but no... not this time.

Still. A rounded up 3 stars for participation and art.

P.S. I wish I was a fly on the wall when Garth Ennis was writting a story about KKK degenerates who couldn't drop n-bombs... cause you my boy Ennis loves him some curse words... must have killed him see those pages fluffed up to fit the Marvel toothless brand.

[Lesser-MoooK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your conventional Ghost Rider story but the Rider in question has every motivation necessary to be a spirit of vengeance.

This read like a Jeepers Creepers script, where we don't follow the monster but a human character that witnesses their power. Makes the book feel very eerie when we see less of the Rider but we see what he's capable of, in all it's gruesome glory.


This was a pretty decent story.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

certified garth ennis story.

the pacing was the worst aspect of this. I think the story itself worked, it just happened very “on the rails” rather than, y’know, the characters themselves progressing the story.

[Pedro Espada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garth Ennis le va el género oscuro como anillo al dedo,más el dibujo tan inquietante de Crain hace un relato de grim western memorable sobre, como no,la venganza.

"Dios, por qué nos das tantas formas de condenarnos?"

[Đenis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Westerny nie su moja parketa, ale toto je pekne krvave predstavenie Ghost ridera.

[Kryštof · Rating 3 out of 5]

Garth ennis and ghost rider is a great combination. I'm not the biggest fan of Clayton Crain's art, but it really fits the tone of the story, so I actually liked it. My final rating is 7,5/10

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cool take on ghost rider

[Saifullah Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally in love with ghost rider again.

[Urgewyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid western Ghost Rider story with a real unfortunate title.

[Emmanuel Ben Muula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love n hate this at the same time

[Joshua Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art style is amazing.

[Kshitij · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is dark, the characters are broken and the art is haunting. What's not to love?