“Marvel Mangaverse: Ghostlocke #1” Review – Riding the Road to Glory

The Run Down

Alas, my most anticipated issue of the “Mangaverse” anniversary event has come! After reading, I’m beyond ecstatic to say that writer Alyssa Wong and their team didn’t disappoint! If you missed last week’s issue, it’s safe to say that things are heating up. In this issue, we lay witness to Kwannon, aka Ghostlocke, fighting the likes of Cletus Kasady. If you know that name, then you know exactly the madness you’re in for….

Writer: Alyssa Wong
Artist: Michael YG
Colorist: Raúl Angulo
Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher
Cover Artists: Yuji Kaku, Aka

The Writing

While not the most emotionally impactful of the new “Mangaverse” series, Alyssa Wong manages to keep the stakes high and exciting while delivering a cool blend of Psylocke and Ghost Rider. Also, in a way that no other entry in this event has, Wong makes this book wear horror unapologetically on its sleeve.

First off, there were several points throughout the story where I sat here thinking, “I need this version of Kwannon in the mainline universe.” Thanks in large part to Peach Momoko’s “Sai: Dimensional Rivals” (which you should absolutely check out), I’ve been more into Psylocke in recent months. Pair that with my love for Ghost Rider, and this feels like a match made in Heaven! Despite them seeming like slightly opposite ends of the spectrum, Wong manages to make the concept work flawlessly. Pair that with this amplified horror version of Carnage, and you have yourself a recipe for arguably the most metal thing you’ll have read in a while.

That now leads me to my second point: what they managed to craft here felt genuinely horrifying. If you thought Cletus Kasady was a monster in the mainline universe, you haven’t seen anything yet! What Wong managed to do with Carnage made me feel genuinely afraid to step outside at night. Let me tell you, as a horror lover, that’s no easy feat to make me feel that way. The only thing that could add to his terrifying nature would be the art of Michael YG. Oh, wait.

As for the pacing and overall story, they made this just as fun and dark as a Ghost Rider tale can be. At no point did Wong let up on the gas, keeping the pace steady while remaining engaging. Meanwhile, they managed to stay somewhat true to both characters, merging both the powers of Psylocke and the Rider. This, while keeping some of Betsy’s personality traits mixed with Kwannon’s compassion, makes for a very interesting read.

The Art

The fun and greatness of this book don’t stop at the writing, as we’re also blessed with the art and colors of Michael YG and Raúl Angulo! As I previously stated, the art from Michael YG was truly terrifying. I didn’t think it was possible, but he somehow managed to take the character of Carnage and make him feel even more intimidating. Throughout the whole book, the art truly comes off as that Wong let him go hog wild. At the turn of each page comes unique panels bordered by the Rider’s famous chain, a manga reference or two and something straight out of my worst nightmare. All of this paired with the intense action, insane detailing and perfect character designs make this a true visual feast.

All of that is boosted that much more by the amazing coloring of Raúl Angulo. The colors of pink, purple, and black always go amazingly well together, and that’s on no better display than here. The way that Angulo makes them play together is simply magical, and I can’t look away, even while I write this. Michael YG and Angulo together created something truly stunning, helped all the more by Ariana Maher.

Here, Maher truly gave it her all. She truly had her work cut out for her, with whole panels sometimes being filled to the brim. The way that both the dialogue boxes and the sounds were written truly amplified the personalities of both the book and its characters. She did this all in such a way that I don’t think can be replicated, all while keeping it easy to read and follow.

Final Thoughts

Wong and their crew breathed fire into Marvel’s Mangaverse with “Ghostlocke #1”. While not being as emotionally heavy as last week’s “Arcane Avengers”, this manages to be dark, fun, and a breath of horrifying fresh air. With each issue being amazing in its own way, “Ghostlocke #1” stands out with a roaring engine and vengeance in its heart.

Overall Grade: 9/10

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Comments

If you’ve been reading the Mangaverse anniversary event, is “Ghostlocke” one you were looking forward to? If you read it, what’re your thoughts? Sound off in the comments below!