Avengers(Volume 5): Challenge of the Ghost Riders
Author: Aaron, Caselli, Keith
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publishing Date: 2020
Pgs: 112
Disposition: Hoopla eBook via Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
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REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
The challenge of the Ghost Riders! Robbie Reyes wants to finally get rid of the flame-headed monster that lurks inside him. So it's time to do the common-sense thing: perform an exorcism on his car. The only problem is, Johnny Blaze, the original Ghost Rider and current king of Hell, has some plans of his own for Robbie and his friends the mighty Avengers! Now, it's Ghost Rider vs. Ghost Rider in a wild race through the deepest depths of the underworld, while the Avengers must fight for their lives against their own Celestial headquarters - now possessed by a rather shocking, rather murderous hell-damned soul!
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Genre:
Comics
Marvel Comics
Graphic Novels
Superhero
Super Teams

Why this book:
I really enjoy Aaron and the first four volumes were pretty good. So…here we go again. And I hit a dry spell in what I was getting from the library.
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Favorite Character:
Daimon Hellstrom, The Son of Satan...that's a helluva visual evolution. I prefer his original look. But cool having him reappear here. Always been a favorite character with a chewy backstory.

Boy-Thing is a great concept. I do wonder though. Man-Thing was underneath it all what was left of Theodore Sallis. But Boy-Thing was grown from a cutting of Man-Thing. So…is there a human under there? For that matter, is Sallis still underneath the Man-Thing? Looks like I need to do some Man-Thing reading…Giant Size Man-Thing here I come. …what? That’s literally what one of the books featuring the character was called back in the day.

Least Favorite Character:
The Power Cosmic, Frank Castle, Punisher, Cosmic Ghost Rider is a horrible character who comes across neither as cosmic or Frank Castle. You can't just put a skull on a character and give it a gun and call it Frank Castle, that just doesn't track.

Favorite Scene:
Wow! That scene where Robbie takes it to Johnny Blaze is greatness. Robbie is my favorite Ghost Rider. Digging it.

Favorite Quote:
Captain America: “Buchenwald in '45 that was hell. This is just another Tuesday.”

Favorite Concept:
The Breathing Gun is badassed.

A Ghost Rider race, sweet.

Cover and Interior Art:
The art was great throughout.

Hmm Moments:
So his Hell Charger is a Christine. Or is it?

Calling the Ball:
The potholes on the Highway to Hell, re: The Traffic Jam of Hell, with the eyes staring out of them is freaking awesome. Hell being a traffic jam…would be hell, sheer unmitigated, unrelenting, neverending hell.

Burning Blade's houseplant, not the smartest move.

Meh / PFFT Moments:
Cosmic Ghost Rider Frank Castle... Meh, too much of a good thing.

Predictability/Non-Predictability:
Well, of course, it’s comic books after all. The good guys are supposed to win. Though Robbie’s parents showing up in hell was a surprise. Wonder if that will be touched on in his series.

Dreamcasting:
Jared Leto as Daimon Hellstrom so that fandom could hate him for his portrayal of another comic book character before they even give him a chance in the role. Or, Brad Pitt. I could see him as an older, sleazier Son of Satan who has been through it all and is still kicking demon ass whenever it rears it’s ugly head.

The Poker Game/DND Table:
A poker table with Captain America, Son of Satan, T’Challa, and Captain Marvel. Coubt the King of Wakanda would play…same with Cap…and SOS would cheat. Used to love the poker games that would pop up in Marvel Two-In-One with The Thing from the Fantastic Four hosting.

Soundtrack:
Highway to Hell by ACDC…too easy.
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Pacing:
Well paced. Great flow.

Last Page Sound:
Good stuff.

Conclusions I’ve Drawn:
This Avengers lineup is growing on me. Didn’t like the mix to begin with, but…yeah. Won’t ever be my fav, but is already Top 5.

Things I’d Like to See:
The evolution of Boy-Thing.

Author Assessment:
Definitely continuing through the Aaron Avengers run.
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Ghost Riders galore as Jason Aaron uses his Avengers forum to revisit the title he used to write a decade back. Johnny Blaze and Robbie Reyes race for the right to be king of Hell. There are cameos by a dozen or more minor characters who have used the Ghost Rider name throughout Marvel's (retconned) history. It's kinda stupid and also pretty short at four chapters. A reprint of All-New Ghost Rider #1 by another writer is thrown in to fill out the page count. ( )