By Keigen Rea — Ghost Cage #1 wears it’s video game influences like a face tattoo: proudly, lovingly, and obnoxiously, but in a charming way. 

It starts with what is effectively a tutorial, where an old man (my dad?!?!) exposits (I’m a robot??), and literally delivers the action hero to Level 1. No doubt comparisons to Mega Man (and Astro Boy) will run rampant, but I think the first issue does a great job of feeling inspired rather than derivative, which largely has to do with the style and tone of the art and dialogue.

It should come as no surprise to see that a comic by Nick Dragotta is able to dance between funny and epic, because that’s just what he does. More than maybe any creator right now, Dragotta is able to depict the grandeur of a metropolis and a pigeon within pages of each other, and panels later a lil’ ghost guy “lol”ing. And while the art is obviously what sells here, Goellnor’s co-written dialogue is almost as sharp, and acts to emphasize everything good in the line work. All of it is executed perfectly, which is all the more impressive, given that the issue is told without color, typically a major way that creators emphasize the tone of their projects. Really, choosing to forego colors in favor of screen-tone art is an impressive decision, and helps to make the project stand out all the moreso. An added benefit is the way it accentuates the scale.

My favorite thing about Ghost Cage #1, however, is how immense it feels. Just looking at the preview pages, I knew this was going to feel unlike any other comic being made right now. The title page feels like it deserves a theatre screen to behold, and sets the tone for all of the action across the issue. What Dragotta does with splash pages and double page spreads here feels like a lesson on how to use space and line work to evoke scale, a lesson that just about any other artist in the medium can learn from. Truly majestic and meaningful work that I can’t wait to see in print. 

I’m not surprised this team pulled this comic off so well. I was sold on the creative team, sold again on the preview images, and sold a third time when Comics Bookcase’s editor, Zack, said I could do this very advanced review. This is no doubt going to be one of my favorite issues of the year, and the series will likely land on a similar list when it concludes in May. It’s immense, funny, and gorgeous, while still telling a meaningful story. 

Overall: Nick Dragotta is a witch and Ghost Cage #1 is magic. 10/10

ADVANCED REVIEW: Ghost Cage #1

Ghost Cage #1 (of 3)
Writers: Caleb Goellner & Nick Dragotta 
Artist: Nick Dragotta 
Letterer/Designer: Rus Wooton 
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $5.99
The highly anticipated follow-up project from critically lauded EAST OF WEST artist NICK DRAGOTTA!This ALL-NEW, EXTRA-LENGTH LIMITED SERIES teams artistic dynamo DRAGOTTA with rising-star writer CALEB GOELLNER (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures). When his megacorp power plant falls under attack by terrorists, the super-scientist who revolutionized and controls all energy on Earth sends his ultimate creation (and an adequate employee) in to destroy his most monstrous secrets.
Release Date: March 23, 2022

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Keigen Rea is working on getting his teaching credential. That’s all he has time for.