Tag Archives: ghost

The Origin of Sister Imperator is Revealed!

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Together with Tobias Forge, founder and mastermind of global theatrical rock phenomenon GHOST, Dark Horse Comics presents Sister Imperator, a comic miniseries that pulls back the curtain of mystery on an influential figure from official GHOST lore. Writer Corinna Bechko joins Forge in writing, along with artist Puste, colorist Thiago Rocha, and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt, to tell the hidden history of the woman who became the force behind Ghost. Featuring cover art by Mikael Eriksson, this four-part miniseries will begin in March 2025.

A figure shrouded in mystery, Sister Imperator didn’t begin her life as the revered representative of the Clergy and behind the scenes overseer of GHOST’s dark machinations. The gruesome events that led her to become loved and feared by so many began in small-town New England, leading her down a winding path of violence and vindication, are finally revealed.

GHOST’s award-winning discography and the enthralling spectacle of the band’s live rituals have amassed legions of devout followers numbering in the millions. The most recent GHOST full length studio album IMPERA won the American Music Award for Favorite Rock Album in 2022 and the iHeartRadio Best Rock Album in 2023. GHOST’s first-ever feature-length film “Rite Here, Rite Now” broke box office records upon its June 2024 theatrical release, and was followed by the announcement of a massive 2025 global arena tour. And now, the world will discover the truth behind the mysterious Sister and her integral role she’s played in GHOST mythology since year zero.

Discover the truth behind one of the most powerful figures in the Ghost mythos with Sister Imperator #1 (of 4), which arrives in comic shops on March 5, 2025, for $4.99. Visit Comic Shop Locator for more details and stores near you.

Sister Imperator #1

Spider-Man and Iron Man Bring the Battle to Walgreens!

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Walgreens stores have long been the home for exclusive Marvel Minimates based on Marvel’s many animated television shows. Now, two new adversarial two-packs have hit the shelves, comprising Series 12 of the long-running series!

From Marvel’s Spider-Man, Miles Morales (a.k.a. Spy-D) takes on the Prowler, and comes with a removable mask, interchangeable web-slinging hands, a web line and two display stands. From Marvel’s Avengers, Iron Man faces off with the Ghost, and includes a removable helmet, removable hair piece, flight stand, and two display stands.

Each two-inch mini-figure features 14 points of articulation, and is fully interchangeable, for endless customization. Look for them in the toy line at your local Walgreens store, and find a store at Walgreens.com!

Dark Horse and Blakeslee Vineyard to Release Ghost Wine

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Dark Horse Comics and Blakeslee Vineyard Estate have collaborated to create the 2015 Ghost Pinot Noir, which is available now for purchase at Blakeslee Vineyard Estate Tasting Room in Sherwood, and on their website. Interested parties may also contact the Blakeslee Vineyard Estate Tasting Room directly at 503-625-6902.

The 2015 Ghost Pinot Noir is packaged in gorgeous, black matte two-pack collector boxes. The ethereal art on each wine bottle is by award-winning illustrator and New York Times bestselling author Adam Hughes. The 2015 Ghost Pinot Noir is a limited edition of 300 hand-numbered boxes. The selling price for the two-pack collector boxes is $250.00 (not including shipping).

Ghost’s Elisa Cameron first appeared in Comics’ Greatest World in 1993 and spawned multiple series and appearances over the years. In Ghost, Elisa believes she is dead, a ghost doomed to walk the Earth with no memory of her past life. As she struggles to make sense of her situation, she learns that she is the victim of an experiment gone terribly wrong. Elisa finds an ally who helps piece together her past life and uncover the secret project that suggests she may not be dead after all.

The 2015 Ghost Pinot Noir is a limited edition collector’s item and is only available domestically in the United States.

Review: Ghost #12

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ghost12-covThis series has been an unheralded standout in terms of its quality and storytelling, but unfortunately it is so unheralded that this is the final issue of the series.  The story continues Elisa’s campaign of justice against the forces in the city that are working against a calm and peaceful order.  She has already paid a heavy price for her actions through the death of her friend Tommy, and now instead of justice, she is after revenge.  Once again her campaign finds her in the mayor’s office, though as this is the second mayor that she has had to deal with, she understands better why the mayor’s of the city keep aligning against her.

The stories here have been a bit beyond what one gets in most superhero series, mixing the usual amazing powers and heroics with some deeper messages.  Some of this has to deal with the responsibility of power and the choice of ethical actions, while others have shown the destructive nature of revenge, in this case showing that when someone chooses a course of actions which have repercussions, that it is important to remember the motivation for those actions or else they become as bad as their targets.  It is also interesting here that a concept is put forward which unfortunately won’t be expanded on, that there will always be the same amount of evil no matter the actions of any individual, sort of like a philosophical version of Newton’s third law.

As a final issue there is not much more which can be asked of this than what it accomplishes.  It never feels rushed as though it is trying to squeeze in one last large story arc in to a single issue.  Instead it finishes organically, giving the main character an appropriate sendoff, while wrapping up loose ends.   There are even some engaging action sequences in this story, adding some fun to the deeper messages.  It is unfortunate that this series never gained better traction, but at the very least one can hope that its connection to the Project Black Sky imprint means that the hero will not be out of print for long.

Story: Chris Sebela Art: Harvey Tolibao
Story: 8.8 Art: 8.8 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy

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

Review: Ghost #11

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ghost cover 11This is only the third issue of the darker turn for the main character in this series, but already she is starting to see the negative effects of her actions.  In the purest sense, this is maybe not a truly dark turn for the character rather, she is simply one of a changed outlook, that of a changed outlook more to that of a utilitarian brand of justice in that she fights for the greatest good.  If she ends up insignificantly different from the villains that she fights, at least from a legal sense, then it is still judged to be of value, as her crimes of murder are stopping others from doing the same.  Of course any ethical issue is never as easy, and by this third issue, Ghost has already learned the cost of violent revenge.

This story is told through her friend Tommy.  At the end of the previous issue we saw him being gunned down by the group of people assembled to ambush Elisa as she ventured into yet another grey area of crime fighting.  The majority of this issue deals with the fallout from this attack, as Elisa learns once again that there is a deeper cost to her actions than simply those of the crimes that she commits.  Revenge in itself acts as a catalyst of entropy, despite her best interests and best efforts, things still end up worse than before when she is involved with her self-appointed crusade.

Revenge forms one of the major bases for characters across comics, and yet it is very infrequently looked upon as a destructive force, more so as a motivation for those that have an interest in crime fighting.  For instance, Batman can use revenge to reach impossible feats, and it is very infrequently shown to have the same effects on him that it has on most.  That is where this story succeeds, in that it looks at one of the common character background motivations and but displays it from a different angle, and one which is likely more realistic in comparison to the real world.  It makes this series one of the better superhero series on the market at the moment, flying a little bit under the radar, though worthy of a look by those interested in a bit more depth in the story telling for their heroes.

Story: Chris Sebela Art: Harvey Tolibao
Story: 8.8 Art: 8.8 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy

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

Review: Ghost #10

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ghost 10On an ongoing basis this is one of the most interesting titles to come out on a monthly basis.  Initially in the series it was the setup which defined the series, as the main character Elisa/Ghost comes to terms with being what she has become after her journey to Hell.  While those were engaging stories for a character that was easy to identify with and one that was well-conceived, it is really in the recent issues where the character starts to develop a lot more character, and particularly by facing some of the trials of superheroism head-on.

As in the previous issue, this veers sometimes into an almost philosophical look at the role of a superhero.  Will Ghost maintain the morals of Elisa and not kill?  Or will she take on the more vengeful aspect of her new persona, even if she can see it ending in her own demise?  Can she punish the evidently guilty for crimes?  Or is she constrained by a legal system?  More so should she take the utilitarian viewpoint that killing one can save hundreds, or should she hold all life to be sacred?  And should she donate every waking minute that she has to heroics, or should she take breaks and have an alter ego?  The combination of all of this into a single issue might make it get bogged down, but it works well, especially with Tommy.  He is perhaps her voice of reason, but she finds an easy excuse to ignore him because of his alcohol problem.  In the end she might have to think twice about his words though.  Mixed into all of this is even a healthy dose of action, even giving those looking for not-much-extra in their reading some easy panels to get through.

The end result is the best issue so far in this series, one where Ghost has to wrestle with what exactly her role is to become as an agent of good.  Thus far in this series, she has been established as an unconventional hero, but so too is this an unconventional series, with its base as a regular superhero comic, but its extension as often something more.

Story: Chris Sebela Art: Harvey Tolibao
Story: 9.0 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a free copy for review.

Review: Ghost #9

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Ghost 009My first exposure to the character of Ghost was the Project Black Sky Sampler which was released in October.  After reading through the collection of first issues for the main characters in the shared universe, I was only really impressed by Ghost as a character, and so now this was the first chance to read her story monthly since this exposure.  Interestingly enough, this issue bills itself as a great starting point for new readers.  Since my return to regular comic book reading two months ago I have seen this a lot on a lot of issues, as a sort of cheap trick to entice in new readers.  I am not sure if it is the case here, but the story is not overly complicated anyway.  Having read the first issue, it is easy to pick up the gap, even if these are the only two issues that I have read thus far in the series.

Ghost has her memories back, and more.  Now fully comprehending her power she decides to seek out those that she knew in her previous life.  Going to visit her former best friend is an interesting mix of emotions as she is hesitant to expose herself to her after her friend has already grieved her supposed death.  While still working on this though, she sees her friend about to become abducted in a sex slave ring, and without being seen she intervenes.  This is a nice lead-in, not only into her past but also into her future as a superhero and how she plans to use her powers.

The end result is pretty good.  The main character is still being fleshed out in terms of background, but the struggle that she has with her ethics over visiting her friend plus the decision about her new career as a superhero work well to the character development for the series protagonist.  Add in some decent and fun action as she sets out on her first mission as well as a contemporary enough emphasis on her heroics, and the issue ends up fitting together nicely.  As a standalone issue it works by itself, and so it lives up to the claim of being a good starting point, and anyone at all interested in this series that has been putting off reading it might want to start here.

Story: Chris Sebela Art:  Harvey Tolibao
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a free copy for review

Review: Project Black Sky Sampler

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project black sky sampler coverSince my return to regular comic reading I have been seeing these pesky little imprints on comics that look somewhat interesting.  Always printed by Dark Horse, they say “Black Sky Project.”  The problem with me is that I am somewhat of an absolute reader, in that I read absolutely everything or absolutely nothing.  In terms of Project Black Sky, I have never really known where to start, despite the fact that most series are not very advanced, and so I never really did get into any of them.  I would rather start with a #1 and then sort out what I want to read after I have worked my way through the series.  As if Dark Horse was reading my thoughts I discovered that they will be releasing a Project Black Sky Sampler, including the first issues of each of the series under this imprint.

Suffice to say, that for anyone that is curious about any of the series or the overall tie-in that this is an excellent place to start.  Each of the main four main characters was introduced and explained and the plot got going for each of them.  In my opinion, the best was by far Ghost, whose supernatural background does not match my own tastes very well, but whom is well written and well-drawn as well as providing an engaging story from the get-go.   If there is one criticism of this sampler it is that going in that I thought that Project Black Sky would be better explained than it was, as opposed to this being essentially just a collection.  That is likely to be the response of the readers that have already been invested into these series.  This issue is not really for them, unless they are trying to complete a collection.

The overall effect of this release is what it aimed for though, at least in terms of myself as a reader.  While three of the series I am happy to follow in passing, I am likely going to give Ghost a try on a monthly basis, and for anyone interested in a superhero setting outside of the Big Two, they might just find something, or everything, that they are after in this book.

Story: Tim Seeley, Fred Van Lente, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Christpher Sebela and Frank Barbiere Art: Mike Norton, Freddie Williams II, Ryan Sook and Colin Lorimer
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Read

Boom studios and Archaia provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.  

Around the Tubes

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The weekend is almost here! What’s everyone doing during yours?

Around the Tubes

Kotaku – Marvel Kills Amazing Iron Man Suits – Boo!

CBR – Shia LaBeouf’s website ‘about’ page was also copied – What the hell is wrong with him?

ICv2 – Former Marvel COO Jemas Back in Comics – Very cool.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

CBR – A Boy and A Girl

Comic Vine – Black Science #2

Comic Vine – Daredevil #34

CBR – East of West #8

Comic Vine – East of West #8

Comic Vine – Ghost #1

Talking Comics – Harley Quinn #1

Comic Vine – Mind the Gap #16

Comic Vine – Pretty Deadly #3

Talking Comics – Saga #17

Comic Vine – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #29

Comic Vine – X-Men #8

Review: Ghost #1

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20131215-203321.jpgDark 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

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