Growing up, I loved cartoons and I’d watch them after school and of course Saturday mornings. One that I was always excited for was Space Ghost. I loved the characters, the design, and generally the stories. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them, and as far as comics, I have only read the most recent release a few years ago from DC. So, I was excited to hear that Space Ghost would be returning and after reading Space Ghost #1, beyond excited for where it’s going.

In this new take on Space Ghost, 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. But, there’s a cosmic vigilante to bring justice, one whose existence are just whispers.

Writer David Pepose steps in to launch Space Ghost with a hell of a start that feels like an injection of life into the almost 6 decade property. One thing that always stood out to me was the rather thin world of Space Ghost. We didn’t know much beyond his direct adventures like his origin, what this galaxy is like, are there others, where did Jace and Jan come from… there were a lot of questions I felt were unanswered and I just rolled with it.

Pepose begins to flesh out all of those questions and more in Space Ghost #1 as we learn more about this world and characters. Pepose’s Space Ghost is much more like Batman than anything else. He’s a character whose existence is whispers and unconfirmed but he’s feared by those that break the law. We see an “origin” of sort as Space Ghost meets his sidekicks as he saves them from marauding pirates who are after something. There are hints of corrupt cops, corporations, and more, and it all comes together for a world and concept that has far more depth than what I remember.

Jonathan Lau provides the art which is fantastic. Featuring colors by Andrew Dalhouse and lettering by Taylor Esposito, the art perfectly builds the myth of Space Ghost. The style has a bit of Flash Gordon mixed with the classic cartoon and builds to the reveal of our hero. Lau and the team dig into the pulp aspect of it all delivering a comic that feels like both an update to the characters but also a throwback in some way as well. There’s a great use of reveals and building to moments through the art and you get the sense of dread and fear as the attack on Jan and Jace goes on. It’s art that perfectly matches the story.

Space Ghost #1 is a debut that feels much more like a sci-fi Batman as our hero is glimpsed almost like a ghost than man. Pepose also makes him fallible, giving us moments where he falters a bit and we don’t know how exactly he’ll get out of the situation. It makes for a much more grounded start and one that teases and promises a hell of a series. This is how you take a thin property and expand the world while also honoring its past.

Story: David Pepose Art: Jonathan Lau
Color: Andrew Dalhouse Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dynamite Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle