PREVIEW SPECIAL: Space Ghost #1 from Dynamite

The tale of the all-new modern-era of Space Ghost is here!

Adding to their impressive roster of cartoon-themed comics, Dynamite launches into new territory with Space Ghost #1, with David Pepose (Punisher, Moon Knight: City of the Dead, Darth Vader: Black, White, and Red, Spencer and Locke) with art by Jonathan Lau (Black Terror, Red Sonya, Green Hornet, Project Superpowers) and Andrew Dalhouse (Black Panther, Daredevil, JLA, Power Rangers) at the helm, fans of the original, or the wacky talk show, and those who only know of the legend are presented with an all new-take on the beloved cult-favorite character. 

A huge thank you goes out to David Pepose (@peposed) and Dynamite Comics for providing the advanced copy which I was fortunate to review! Don’t worry, no spoilers here!  The story kicks off with a dire warning, but with a glimmer of hope!

The promo from Dynamite is this:

Greed and corruption flourish in the darkness between stars. With the territories of the Galactic Federation spread far and wide across the vastness of space, pirates and hijackers ransack the distant colonies with cruel disregard for the innocent scientists living within them.

Yet there is a cosmic vigilante who metes out justice throughout the galaxy, bringing vengeance to those who prey upon the defenseless.

Some say he is a policeman who has abandoned the strictures of the law. Others say he is a phantom, the sole survivor of a war-torn planet. And those who have survived his wrath claim he is more a force of nature, able to bend the very elements of Creation to decimate his enemies.

They call him the SPACE GHOST – and his adventures begin here!

The opening salvo of pages throw readers right into a catastrophic situation. A space colony with a technological secret is under siege. We are introduced to known characters Jan and Jace and their pet Blip. There are no smiling, happy-go-lucky moments here. Within moments of an introduction the story takes off with fatal results. While these kids can hold their own, one can’t help but feel their trauma in the forthcoming panels where reality sets in. 

The coloring and line art depicting the sheer terror in the eyes of Tansut as our hero arrives in a panel with a chilling presentation which evokes a similar tone to a certain Dark Knight. Intentional or not, the artwork scores on introducing us to a vengeful, determined persona. This is not a Space Ghost you toy with. It is on the sixth interior page where the anxious anticipation kicks up 10 notches. It becomes an escape comparable to the mad dash at the end of Super Metroid for the SNES. Sirens blaring, alarms escalating the feeling of urgency and panic. All to convey an effective message. There will be danger. Lurking in the shadows will be the fear of death.

Space Ghost has arrived. This is clearly conveyed in the main cover art by Francesco Mattina. Gripping cover, with words unnecessary as the facial expression on the vigilante speaks all volume.

I fondly recall the adventures of Space Ghost as a child in the ’80s, I must have been watching the Space Stars cartoon block which also included the Inhumanoids. This being said, I became a very religious watcher of the Space Ghost: Coast-to-Coast animated talk show on Adult Swim during my high school and college years. The stereotypical Hanna-Barbera style of episodes were replaced by an absurdly funny talk show which became a cult favorite. 

Background aside, this isn’t the Space Ghost you think you know. The tale of the Cosmic Vigilante has always been one whose story has been flexible due to a general lack of origin story. In 2005, DC Comics presented their take on the character which had a traumatic origin story. In 2024, it seems from the onset of this new series, Pepose, Lau, Dalhouse, and Esposito work together like a dream team in a room of creative ideas. They did their homework. While not named outright, villains from the classic Intergalactic Hi-Jackers are present, and later familiar faces appear more “feral” in nature than the campy cartoons one might recognize them from.

When a comic can pull me into this level of emotional investment, there is no doubt Space Ghost is a must-read. I felt my eyes go wide as tragedy shook characters, shattering the glass of where I thought any limits would be. If I felt the pain and fear of imminent danger with each panel, then I imagine the same will be felt by more readers. 

Often the writing and artwork are immediately judged as the standard for how a comic will be received. Often credit easily goes to those writers and artists like Jonathan  Lau and Andrew Dalhouse (@adalhouse) , but I’d like to take a moment to also offer high praise to letterer Taylor Esposito (@TaylorEspo) who puts an emphasis on the emotional turmoil and sense of urgency our protagonists face. 

If I felt a sense of intense action and suspense, then I imagine everyone who reads this will feel the same. The door to the universe of Space Ghost lore and legacy has been kicked wide open for the ultimate in exploration. Pepose, Lau, Dalhouse, and Esposito are leading the charge into new and exciting territory. If you love Space Ghost, you will not pass this opportunity up. If you have never heard of the character, now is the time to jump in. 

Space Ghost #1 is available this Wednesday, May 1st from your local comic shop. Here is a rundown of all which you need to know for release day!

• Space Ghost #1 is published by Dynamite Comics
• Written by David Pepose
• Illustrated by Jonathan Lau
• Colors by Andrew Dalhouse
• Letters by Taylor Esposito
• Cover and variant cover credits:
• Main and Foil Variant Cover with trade dress and virgin variant – Francesco Mattina
• Variant Cover B – Jae Lee & June Chung
• Variant Cover C – Bjorn Barends
• Variant Cover D – Michael Cho
• Variant Cover E – Black Space Authentix

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