Space Ghost Annual #1 – Tragedy is Another Word for Opportunity

The cosmic vigilante is here in Space Ghost Annual #1. What happens when Dax has to recount his own failures and shortcomings? With the past threatening to repeat itself, Dax struggles. What follows is a story of emotion, sacrifice, and doing the right thing even if it’s hard.

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Jonathan Lau
Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Cover Artist: Jonathan Lau

Writing

David Pepose does a beautiful job keeping you on the edge of your seat this entire issue. The Space Ghost Annual issue is surprisingly heartfelt and shows us the delicate side of Dax. Pepose crafts a beautiful narrative that shows the events leading up to where we find the story now and the impact it has had on Dax. Ultimately we see that while Dax truly enjoys the good he’s been able to do as Space Ghost, there are other priorities he has in his life.

Life, finding a way to sometimes kick us in the teeth even when we have the best of intentions, may be the best lesson we can take from this issue. Pepose gives us the same Space Ghost kind of story we have come to love, but adds a little more heart to this one. You can truly feel through Pepose writing and Lau’s art how much Dax truly cares for the twins. While the story is heartfelt, it is not without action and suspense. I felt like Pepose kept me on the edge of my seat, carefully hiding the outcome of the story. The result is a roller coaster of emotions in an issue that promises only greater things to come in the world of Space Ghost.

Art

Jonathan Lau, Andrew Dalhouse, and Taylor Esposito did a superb job with art on this issue. Lau crafts panels that feel like a delightful blend of old school and new school techniques. When even a monkey sidekick feels emotive, you know you’re watching an artist who truly gets the characters they are representing on the pages.

Andrew Dalhouse does a beautiful job with colors, capturing both the darkness of the conversation between Dax and Space Ghost and the bright action of the story flashback. The colors feel like a perfect blend between color and shade. Taylor Esposito does a really good job with lettering. Even in panels where SFX add huge impact to the panel and the story, Esposito finds a way to include the SFX in a meaningful way while still letting the art shine.

Final Thoughts

This was such a great annual issue. If you haven’t picked up Space Ghost before and take a look at this issue, it will be what convinces you to add the stories to your pull list. The story will well done, heartfelt, and features beautiful visuals.

Overall Grade: 9.5/10

How did you like the Annual? Let me know in the comments