Space Ghost #12 - Dynamite Entertainment

SPACE GHOST No. 12, April 2025

Considering that at the start of this twenty-two page periodical both “Ghost Planet lies in ruins” and “Space Ghost clings to life”, many a bibliophile were probably excitedly wondering just how David Pepose’s subsequent plot would show the titular character still saving the day. Indeed, with Moltar’s seismic resonator threatening to blow the entire place apart in less than an hour, and Dax literally bleeding out from a grisly wound to his side, it’s debatable whether things have ever looked quite so bleak for Hanna-Barbera Productions’ costumed cartoon super-hero; “This is bad, Jan… What’re we gonna do?! Space Ghost is down, the bad guys already stole Blip…”

Unfortunately, having created such a dramatically tense dilemma for the central protagonist to overcome, the American author arguably then simply decides to rely upon a series of unconvincing contrivances to ensure that the day is well and truly saved. Foremost of these has to be the notion that Alex Toth’s co-creation can just shrug off all of his numerous injuries at the hands of the savage Council of Doom by having one of his sidekicks partially-roast him alive using the flame-thrower on his Power Band. This solution is understandably incredibly painful. But afterwards seems to result in the brutalized cosmic vigilante being perfectly able to withstand “nearly the level of a nuclear bomb” single-handedly.

In addition, the Ringo Award-nominee would have his audience believe that Doctor Kander Ibal’s band of murderous renegades would throw away their victory just because Metallus destroyed some “magnificently coloured flames” conjured up by Jace, much to the great anger of Moltar. This internal squabble-turned-dissolution of Brak's fellow team-mates appears extremely petty, and whilst it does perhaps show just how obsessed with fire “one of the main antagonists of the Space Ghost franchise” has become. It doesn’t debatably ring all that true for a reason as to why the murderous band of villains would unceremoniously splinter apart just as they are on the cusp of a resounding, planet-wide victory.

Far more compelling than this publication’s penmanship is its layouts, with Jonathan Lau arguably providing all of this comic’s considerably-sized cast with plenty of spotlight. In fact, even poor little Blip, bound and gagged with Widow Web’s vines, is given a moment or two at Robo Corp Tower, even if any explanation as to just how the little monkey's cybernetically-enhanced brain powers the decidedly deadly Project Ultima isn’t terribly forthcoming.

The regular cover art of "SPACE GHOST" #12 by Francesco Mattina