TONY'S ONLINE TIPS for Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Marvel Comics has reprinted all 12 of my Ghost Rider stories in ESSENTIAL GHOST RIDER VOL. 1 [$16.95], as well as issues written by GR creator Gary Friedrich, Marv Wolfman, Doug Moench, and Bill Mantlo. As veteran TOT readers know, I don't usually review comic books or other publications on which I've worked...and this will be no exception to that rule. However, I would like to offer a few credit corrections and an historical note on the Isabella tales contained in this tome.
The contents pages credit Friedrich with plotting GHOST RIDER #6, which isn't precisely correct. The title page credits him with "concept" and that isn't precisely correct either. It was just the best I could come up with at the time. Friedrich wrote a plot for the issue and that's what penciller Jim Mooney worked from it. But I never saw a copy of the plot and ended up coming up with my own plot based on the art and the previous issue of the title. I'm not 100% certain of this, but I think I also rearranged the order of a few pages. One thing of which I am sure is that Gary created one heck of a terrific character and I hope he receives screen credit and more when Johnny Blaze hits the big screen.
The contents list Steve Gerber as writer of GHOST RIDER #11, which is incorrect. Gerber did write MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #8 [March, 1975], which teamed the Thing and GR and which is unfortunately not included in this volume, but I wrote this issue's mini-tribute to the great Bill Finger.
On the other hand, the odious Jim Shooter should probably get co-writer credit on GHOST RIDER #19, my final issue. After all, as a power-mad assistant editor, he decided to rewrite several pages of an already-completed issue to completely derail the finale of a two-year story arc which had been previously approved by not one, not two, but three editors-in-chief. And, yeah, even I'm surprised I'm still angry about that two decades later.
I'd love to hear what the loyal legions of TOT readers, those who read these stories when they first came out and those who are new to them, think of my GHOST RIDER run. Feel free to e-mail me [] or to post your comments on the official Tony Isabella message board:
All I ask is that you don't blame me for Shooter's butchery of my final issue. After readers new to the stories have had a chance to - one hopes - enjoy them, I'll tell you what I actually plotted and wrote for GHOST RIDER #19.
That's all I have for you this go-round. Thanks for spending part of your day with me.
I review The Amazing Adventures of Nate Banks #1: Secret Identity Crisis, Secret Identity Crisis: Comic Books and the Unmasking of Cold War America and The Walking Dead Volume 2: Miles Behind Us.
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
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