Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Jonathan Lau
Dynamite, July 3rd, 2024
When we reviewed Space Ghost’s first issue, we praised it for being an effective plot springboard while providing readers with a hefty dose of action. While it was a great modern take on a character created in 1966, it was still sorely lacking as far as developing the titular character. Fortunately for readers who want a fully-fleshed out take on the classic kids’ superhero, Space Ghost #3 fills a lot more gaps in the enigma that is Space Ghost, and also providing ample amounts of character development for at least one of his sidekicks.
Space Ghost #3 is a standalone story. This helps progress the overarching story about Space Ghost, Jan, and Jace’s fight against Robo Corp. It is nonetheless a singular yarn that can be enjoyed on its own and unlike most comic issues these days, does not feel like it was written for the purpose of a later collection.
This third issue starts on a high note, with Space Ghost and company fighting a group of heavily armed lizard men. While Space Ghost can handle himself fine, the kid sidekicks are in trouble but help comes unexpectedly by a new character – The Widow, who seems to have past history with Space Ghost. While her ability to control deadly plants make it easy to compare her to Batman’s villain Poison Ivy, Widow’s history and interactions with Space Ghost bring to mind more of a Batman/Catwoman dynamic.
It is this relationship that helps further establish Space Ghost as much more than a dark reimagining of the Hanna Barbera cartoon character. Space Ghost distrusts the Widow, but he is willing to listen to reason articulated from his sidekicks, notably Jan, who is the real focus of this issue. The risk of teaming up with a villain might be worth it, instead of hopelessly butting their heads against the might of Robo Corp. The strategy outside of punching everything that moves will not get them far.
Unfortunately for Space Ghost and his friends, this issue evolves into your standard fare double-cross story. The Widow as expected, is planning to sell out her erstwhile allies in exchange for a larger reward from Robo Corp. This might seem cliched and cheap, but Widow is not the point of the story. It’s Jan.
Space Ghost #3 is excellent at fleshing out the sidekicks. They’re not just convenient extra arms for Space Ghost, or victims to save. On the contrary, it is Space Ghost and Jace that looked like bumbling idiots compared to Jan, who has enough intuition and presence of mind to thwart Widow’s plans and save her teammates from capture.
What is not to like? The story is self-contained, yet it helps push the overarching plot along; it introduces a new character (a potential ally or eventual enemy); it helps show some more of the human side behind Robo Corp; and it provides more details on the team dynamics of Space Ghost’s ragtag crew. There’s nothing more a casual reader can ask for, especially since there is also a hefty amount of action scenes delivered effectively by detailed and colorful art.