Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #147

After several issues devoted entirely to the 'Siege of Darkness' storyline, there's an almost clean slate to the anthology series. Wolverine has been gone for a while and Danny Ketch bid adieu last issue. Taking over the Ghost Rider feature is the most punk rock of all the Spirits of Vengeance, the aptly named Vengeance.

A little about Vengeance. In human form, he's Michael Badilino. Former member of Special Forces, Badilino is a rough and tough New York City cop. Some think he's a part-time vigilante when he's not on patrol. Those guys don't know the half of it. 

There's a new killer on the streets of the Big Apple and it's causing Badilino's 'Ghost Rider' sense to go off. The murderer is meta-human called Psiphon, who gains power and endurance from feeding off the negative emotions of others. I think you can tell where this is going as Badilino is a big bad ugly and his alter ego, Vengeance is even meaner.

Unlike most other issues of this series, the Vengeance story is the only multi-parter. Falcon stars in a drama involving his day job as a social worker, an abused child and a string of arson cases. Native American hero, American Eagle is back in New York trying to save a pair of Indian teens who have run in with the wrong crowd in the big city. 

The last story involves those former Danny Ketch Ghost Rider allies, the Masters of Silence. This 8-pager is their last appearance in the Marvel Universe. But other than why I've gleaned from the Marvel Wiki, is about all I know about the story. It's forgettable.

I'm happy with the new Ghost Rider feature. It's a breath of fresh air. The American Eagle story keeps making me wish that Marvel would have made a fish out of water title with the character back in the 90s. And I loved- I mean LOVED that Falcon story. Powerful stuff that features Sam Wilson's true superpower- social justice. But gee, I wish I could have recalled that Masters of Silence story. They're such a stylistically appealing group of heroes. But obviously, they were grossly misused. 

3 out of 4 ain't bad.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

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