Dark Horse‘s ethereal heroine has been resurrected (pun intended) in a number one issue of Ghost, an exciting look at journalist Elisa Cameron’s war against extradimensional demons in Chicago. With her first appearance in 1993, this series represents a character two decades in the making. When the windy city’s mayor banished Elisa to a hellish dimension in the midst of her investigation, two paranormal investigators, Vaughn Barnes and Tommy Byers, accidentally used a powerful box to bring her back as Ghost, a woman trapped between two worlds. Though keenly aware of her current abilities, Elisa still struggles with her past…the fact that she doesn’t remember it.

The balancing act between story and art teeters in favor of the latter. While I’m sure there’s added pressure in a first issue, writers Kelly Sue DeConnick and Chris Sebela commit a cardinal sin…the entire-plot-in-one-sentence trick. “Elisa, I know this whole resurrection thing has been tough on you, but the former mayor installed otherdimensional demon entities into powerful positions throughout the city.” I know storytellers are constrained by space, but it can undermine the intelligence of the reader and detracts from the power of a well placed panel, glance, or comment.

Not to belabor the point, but I read an even better example earlier this year in Captain Midnight (a sister publication from Dark Horse, coincidentally). “You misunderstand Major. The man came through a time vortex of unknown origin in the Bermuda Triangle after chasing a Nazi who stole top secret Albright Industries tech.” Dreadful. Don’t let that scare you off though, the dialogue and story as a whole are exciting enough to make me want to read the second issue (which I will).

The art and color create a vibrant cityscape filled with equally colorful demons. Terry Dodson‘s cover sets an almost unmatchable standard, though illustrator Ryan Sook takes up the challenge. Sook takes this female Moon Knight and adds a melancholy, almost sultry persona as she scours the city for answers (the two panels of Elisa in front of a mirror are particularly exceptional). I’m a firm believer in reinvigorating characters and storylines as zero issues or number one issues, and Ghost is no different. While they should have taken more time to flesh out the story, DeConnick, Sebela, and Sook will take Chicago’s apparitional superhero to new heights.

Story: Kelly Sue DeConnick, Chris Sebela Art: Ryan Sook
Story: 6 Art: 7 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review