Space Ghost was created by Hanna-Barbera Productions and designed by Alex Toth in the 1960s for CBS, later it was revived on Cartoon Network. He has his own comic book miniseries in the early 2000’s, but now he makes his rightful return to comics at Dynamite Entertainment. Written by David Pepose and illustrated by Jonathan Lau, Space Ghost is back with a vengeance delivers an exciting new chapter in Space Ghost’s legacy.
Greed and corruption flourish in the darkness between stars. With the territories of the Galactic Federation spread far and wide across the vastness of space, pirates and hijackers ransack the distant colonies. Yet there is a cosmic vigilante who metes out justice throughout the galaxy, bringing vengeance to those prey upon the defenseless. Some say he is a policeman who has abandoned the strictures of the law. Others say he is a phantom, the sole survivor of a war-torn planet. And those who have survived his wrath claim he is more a force of nature, able to bend the very elements of Creation to decimate his enemies.
We have to be honest, we have never seen any of the original television programming or read the 2000s DC Comics miniseries. However, we know of Space Ghost and the real pull for us to read this debut issue is writer David Pepose. He can do no wrong in our opinion. So when it was announced Pepose would helm the writing duties for Space Ghost we knew we were in for a treat.
Space Ghost is a great modern telling of a classic story, David Pepose’s background in comics gives him the unique perspective to tell this tale. Having worked on independent creator-owned comics as well as mainstream titles like Punisher and Moon Knight: City of the Dead at Marvel, Pepose brings experience and passion to Space Ghost. This character has a cult following that deserves an accurate comic book story to accompany its rich history. And that is what we got.
The artwork from Jonathan Lau and colorist Andrew Dalhouse complements Pepose’s script perfectly. The illustrations bring this cosmic world to life on each panel, capturing intimate moments, action scenes and the cosmic space seamlessly. Plus, they capture the presence of Space Ghost himself wonderfully. The colors pop off the page, enhancing every panel with energy.
Lettering may often go unnoticed in comics (which can be a good thing), but Taylor Esposito‘s work stands out in all the right ways. The lettering enhances key moments in the story when needed, guiding readers through action-packed sequences and emotional beats with precision and flair. It’s clear that every aspect of this comic was crafted with care and attention to detail.
After reading the debut issue of Space Ghost, we find that both longtime fans and newcomers to Space Ghost will enjoy this story. The Dynamite Entertainment comic offers a fresh take on the beloved character while staying true to his roots created in the 1960s. It’s always nice to read an outstanding cape and tight story outside of the big two publishers.
Space Ghost was better than we even expected and we expected a lot. The debut issue hits all the right marks with outstanding writing from David Pepose, beautiful lines by Jonathan Lau, vivid colors by Andrew Dalhouse and wonderful lettering by Taylor Espsito.
Space Ghost #1 hits local comic shops on May 1, 2024 from Dynamite Entertainment.
David Pepose returns to the Capes and Tights Podcast for Episode 168 on May 22 to discuss Space Ghost and so much more!
Space Ghost #1 Covers
