Space Ghost #1 is written by David Pepose and published by Dynamite Comics. Artwork is by Jonathan Lau, colours by Andrew Dalhouse and letters by Taylor Esposito. Main cover art (left) is by Francesco Mattina.
Space Ghost #1 is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Across the vastness of space, evil flourishes in the darkness between stars. With territories spread far and wide across the Galactic Federation, pirates and hijackers have ransacked these distant colonies with cruel disregard for the innocent scientists living within them.
Yet there is a cosmic vigilante who metes out justice across the spaceways, bringing vengeance to those who prey upon the defenceless.
They call him the Space Ghost.
Review
It’s hard to believe but 2026 will make the 60 years since the first appearance of Space Ghost. First created for Hanna Barbera cartoon series of the same name, Space Ghost has been a mainstay of popular culture ever since. Portrayed by no-less than six voice actors, he’s become an iconic and instantly recognisable character. But one who has yet to find longevity in comic books. All that is about to change with the launch of a brand new Space Ghost series from Dynamite Comics.
Written by David Pepose, Space Ghost picks up elements from the classic cartoon, beautifully fleshing them to add extra context and depth to setup a potentially incredible series. We enter the world of Pepose Space Ghost as a station is under attack from space pirates. On the station is Doctor Jarrod Keplar and his two children Jan and Jace. Yes the original kid sidekicks from the 1966 Space Ghost cartoon are back alongside their pet monkey Blip. Pepose is building a world which is first and foremost gripping but which also appeals to fans both old and new.
Similar to the work that BOOM! Studios has done revitalising the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers brand, Pepose and Dynamite are breathing new life in to these characters. Jan is now a sharp shooter with a keen eye for her target whilst Jace is a dab hand with a computer. It takes both characters far beyond their generic sidekick roots, instantly giving the book a broader ranger and depth.
It doesn’t take long to get to grips with the world of Pepose’s Space Ghost. With humans spreading out across the galaxy, a Galactic Federation has been formed with other species along the way. Whilst the worlds within the Federation live in relative harmony and prosperity, the space in-between however is a lawless black hole with only one man to protect it. The vigilante Space Ghost. Think of him as a Robin Hood-type legend but with the presence of Batman. In fact his entrance – thank you Jonathan Lau – is Dark Knight-eque in all the best ways.
Coolly Pepose sets issue #1 from the POV of Jan and Jace. Rather than presenting an origin for Space Ghost or revealing too much about his character, we’re instead presented with the legend of Space Ghost. Is he a literal ghost? Is he a space cop turned vigilante? We simply don’t know. This also makes our first experience of seeing him equally thrilling and tense as he blasts his way through the invading pirates with serious ferocity.
Lau does a stand up job of bringing the world to life. A book like Space Ghost requires an artist who is able to balance out the sheer scale of a story set in space with the intimacy of portraying its characters. As far as opening issues go Space Ghost #1 balances those two aspects admirably. The opening page has a Dune-eqsue grandeur in its conflict whilst later panels focussing on the Keplar family pick up on the raw emotions of the scene perfectly.
Verdict
I’m all in on Dynamite’s Space Ghost. Writer David Pepose has struck gold in turning the character in to a vigilante to be explored and discovered. Whilst artist Jonathan Lau brings an epic sci-fi scope and scale to the visuals.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
