Ghost Rider: Vengeance Unbound

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS # 122

SYNOPSIS
In Grimbat's Castle, Ghost Rider, Cloak, and Dagger stand over the stunned villain - but Grimbat's wife, Melona, warns that the battle has only begun. Grimbat undergoes a strange transformation, sprouting three heads and distorted features. He has used the power of Dagger's light to become anything he desires, and easily swats Cloak away. He grabs Dagger and explains that her light has made him more powerful than ever before. Ghost Rider attacks Grimbat and gives one of his heads the penance stare, causing him to doubt his actions. He claims everything he's done was to help his people. Melona then tells him to face the error of his ways - he drained her completely of light and now he wants to do the same to Dagger. Grimbat tells Melona that she should be dead, but in truth she has been hiding and attempt to regain her former power. Cloak attempts to engulf the monster, forcing him to release Dagger, and the power of Cloak's darkness weakens Grimbat and forces him to question himself. He realizes that he must try and help his people in a different way - by asking Dagger to empower him once more to break up the atoms of his being and become a source of lasting light to shine down on his world. Melona and Dagger agree to combine their power to do as he wishes, and in return Grimbat blasts open a doorway back to Earth. Dagger and Melona then use their power to destroy Grimbat, his energy sailing into the sky to provide endless light. In thanks, Melona gives Dagger a golden crown to remember their people by.

Ghost Rider, Cloak, and Dagger then enter the gateway and arrive back on Earth. Cloak mentions that he can't help but feel pity for Grimbat, but the Ghost Rider states that he simply learned the error of his ways - that it is never just for the innocent to suffer, no mater what the cause. Back on Zianon, Melona stands under a bright sky and thanks Grimbat for his personal sacrifice...while back on earth, Dagger looks at her crown and swears to never forget.

ANNOTATIONS
This four-part story takes place between Ghost Rider # 32 (vol. 2) and Ghost Rider # 33 (vol. 2).

This issue of MCP also contained stories featuring Wolverine/Venom, Speedball, and the Knights of Pendragon.

REVIEW
Finally this story ends, and not a moment too soon. From start to finish, "And Let There Be Light..." has been a taxing ordeal to withstand. With a laughable premise, terrible script, and mediocre artwork, it's a blessing that this story was only allotted four chapters.

Once again we're given the idea that Grimbat has been abusing his search for light to gain more power for himself, but this plot point is spoon fed to us without any evidence to support it. Why did Grimbat want power for himself when it seems that he honestly did just want to help his people? What made him turn a 180 degrees at the end, from wanting all the power for himself to willingness to sacrifice himself for the planet? Where did Melona come from, and why was her light drained without the planet emerging from the darkness? If Grimbat stole her light for himself, why is still so adamant about helping his people? In the end, the characters' motivations are contradictory and frustratingly incomprehensible.

And as I've mentioned before, this story seems to exist solely because the writer wanted to do a Cloak & Dagger story with Ghost Rider stuck in due to a prerequisite. Ghost Rider serves little purpose - as does Cloak, for that matter - and the story really only hinges on Dagger. Ghost Rider's characterization is tolerable this time, if only because of just how little the character speaks.

This story shows with frightening precision just how badly stories can be in Marvel Comics Presents, with this one easily being the worst to grace its pages on the Ghost Rider side. Avoid this four-issue arc like the plague.

Grade: F

VENGEANCE UNBOUND
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MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS # 122 SYNOPSIS In Grimbat's Castle, Ghost Rider, Cloak, and Dagger stand over the stunned villain - but Grimbat's wife, Melona, warns that the battle has only begun. Grimbat undergoes a strange transformation, sprouting three heads and distorted features. He has used the power of Dagger's light to become anything he desires, and easily swats Cloak away. He grabs Dagger and explains that her light has made him more powerful than ever before. Ghost Rider attacks Grimbat and gives one of his heads the penance stare, causing him to doubt his actions. He claims everything he's done was to help his people. Melona then tells him to face the error of his ways - he drained her completely of light and now he wants to do the same to Dagger. Grimbat tells Melona that she should be dead, but in truth she has been hiding and attempt to regain her former power. Cloak attempts to engulf the monster, forcing him to release Dagger, and the power of Cloak's darkness weakens Grimbat and forces him to question himself. He realizes that he must try and help his people in a different way - by asking Dagger to empower him once more to break up the atoms of his being and become a source of lasting light to shine down on his world. Melona and Dagger agree to combine their power to do as he wishes, and in return Grimbat blasts open a doorway back to Earth. Dagger and Melona then use their power to destroy Grimbat, his energy sailing into the sky to provide endless light. In thanks, Melona gives Dagger a golden crown to remember their people by. Ghost Rider, Cloak, and Dagger then enter the gateway and arrive back on Earth. Cloak mentions that he can't help but feel pity for Grimbat, but the Ghost Rider states that he simply learned the error of his ways - that it is never just for the innocent to suffer, no mater what the cause. Back on Zianon, Melona stands under a bright sky and thanks Grimbat for his personal sacrifice...while back on earth, Dagger looks at her crown and swears to never forget. ANNOTATIONS This four-part story takes place between Ghost Rider # 32 (vol. 2) and Ghost Rider # 33 (vol. 2). This issue of MCP also contained stories featuring Wolverine/Venom, Speedball, and the Knights of Pendragon. REVIEW Finally this story ends, and not a moment too soon. From start to finish, "And Let There Be Light..." has been a taxing ordeal to withstand. With a laughable premise, terrible script, and mediocre artwork, it's a blessing that this story was only allotted four chapters. Once again we're given the idea that Grimbat has been abusing his search for light to gain more power for himself, but this plot point is spoon fed to us without any evidence to support it. Why did Grimbat want power for himself when it seems that he honestly did just want to help his people? What made him turn a 180 degrees at the end, from wanting all the power for himself to willingness to sacrifice himself for the planet? Where did Melona come from, and why was her light drained without the planet emerging from the darkness? If Grimbat stole her light for himself, why is still so adamant about helping his people? In the end, the characters' motivations are contradictory and frustratingly incomprehensible. And as I've mentioned before, this story seems to exist solely because the writer wanted to do a Cloak & Dagger story with Ghost Rider stuck in due to a prerequisite. Ghost Rider serves little purpose - as does Cloak, for that matter - and the story really only hinges on Dagger. Ghost Rider's characterization is tolerable this time, if only because of just how little the character speaks. This story shows with frightening precision just how badly stories can be in Marvel Comics Presents, with this one easily being the worst to grace its pages on the Ghost Rider side. Avoid this four-issue arc like the plague. Grade: F	Marvel Comics Presents # 122 Published: Feb. 1993 Original Price: $1.50 Cover: Joe Madureira Title: And Let There Be Light..., Part 4: "The Light Within" Writer: Paula Foye Artist: Alexander Morrissey Inker: Ken Branch/Tim Tuhoy Letterer: Michael Higgins Colorist: Mark Bernardo Editor: Terry Kavanagh Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco