Ghost of a Ghost #1: A Frantic Black Ops Thriller in the Hellboy Universe!

Overview

Writer: Mike Mignola & Chris Roberson

Artist: Michael Avon Oeming

Colorist: Taki Soma

Letterer: Clem Robins

Cover Artist: Michael Avon Oeming

Ghost of a Ghost #1 brings a slick, psychedelic spy-thriller energy to the Hellboy universe. Following Agent Jian, whose exposure to the strange substance enkladite has left her with unexpected abilities. The issue sets up an international mission involving missing researchers, occult science, and a team of highly capable operatives who may not all be working toward the same goal.

Writing

Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson make the premise feel expansive without losing Jian as the story’s center. She is confident, wry, and clearly used to danger, but the first issue also gives her a lingering sense of unease about the powers she developed. The plot moves quickly through introductions and briefing-room exposition, though the number of names and moving parts means readers may need a refresher or two down the line.

Issue 1 ends with a satisfying escalation, introducing a threat that feels genuinely dangerous and perfectly bizarre for the Mignolaverse. Ghost of a Ghost #1 is a visually distinct, fast-moving debut that should appeal to Hellboy readers and anyone looking for offbeat supernatural spy fiction.

Art

Michael Avon Oeming’s art is instantly recognizable, with his signature energy that keeps the story moving. His clean, heavily stylized figures and bold compositions give the book the feel of a retro-futurist espionage cartoon with a supernatural edge, like Kim Possible meets Spawn! Taki Soma’s electric palette – full of purples, acid greens, and bright pinks – keeps every page lively, while the shifting panel designs make the action feel strange and unpredictable rather than merely procedural.

Final Thoughts

Ghost of a Ghost #1 succeeds because its weirdness is intentional, accessible, and not a barrier to entry. The story offers enough mystery to pull readers in, while its distinct visual identity keeps the pages turning. It is an energetic and stylish first chapter that expands the Hellboy universe in a fresh direction without losing its fondness for the strange.

Overall Grade

8.5/10

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