Review — ‘Space Ghost’ #8 Feels Like The Beginning Of The End, But Is Better For It

As far as anyone knows, this series is not ending anytime soon. Yet despite that, Space Ghost #8 feels very much like the first part of a classic TV season finale two-parter. It features the title character pushed to the brink of defeat against a foe with deeply personal stakes.

It offers up additional details surrounding the main character’s backstory. It reinforces the themes established in the previous issues. And given where the issue leaves Space Ghost by its conclusion, it leaves the supporting cast in a position where they are more on their own than ever before, effectively raising the stakes for all involved as the book heads into its “season finale”. 

The issue opens with a flashback to Space Ghost’s pre-space vigilante days, establishing General Metallus as the villain responsible for the death of Space Ghost’s family, before establishing Metallus’ return in the present day (would this technique be more effective with more distance between the two appearances? Probably). As expected, Metallus’ presence both sends Space Ghost into a rage and leads to him being cut off from Jace and Jan. 

Not only do writer David Pepose and artist Jonathan Lau use the return of Metallus to raise the stakes — Space Ghost turns out to be no match for Metallus on his own, while the kids are now completely on their own — it underscores the arc Space Ghost has been on since issue #1. The grimdark Space Ghost of the premiere issue has been softened over the subsequent stories due to his association with Jan and Jace.

In the process, the character has moderated from a portrayal that seems designed to put the character as far from his goofy Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast presentation to a more traditional Batman-like figure, brooding and driven but softened by his association with his young charges. 

In Space Ghost #8, Metallus triggers a massive backslide. Enraged at the site of his ur-enemy, Space Ghost reverts to his darker self from early in the series, flying off on his own and in the process, allowing himself to be bested by Metallus. Thus, not only are Metallus’ bona fides as a legit threat beyond the villains featured thus far in the series established, so too is the importance of the family unit that has been developed in that same time: Space Ghost is at his best when working with Jan and Jace (and Blip); cut him off from them, and he’s less effective. 

All of which adds to the “season finale” feeling of the issue: the appearance of a villain tied to the origins of the hero, the way the villain’s presence underscores the development the hero has undergone across the previous stories, and the note of “how are they going to get out of this one?!?” which concludes the story. By all accounts, this isn’t the end of beginning of the end of Space Ghost, but it feels like it, and is all the better for it.