This past year, Geoff Johns – comic icon and writer of landmark runs on the Flash, Green Lantern, and Justice League among others – founded a new imprint at Image Comics called Ghost Machine. Gathering some of the best talent in the industry, Johns has weaved together several books with the promise that they will all be connected to an Unknown War, due to erupt five years in the future.
Each initial series takes place at a different point on the timeline of this new world. Redcoat, one of the first wave of Ghost Machine comics, takes place in the late nineteenth century and follows the misadventures of self-professed coward Simon Pure. Simon fought in the American Revolution on the side of the British, hence the redcoat. Simon, along with others from the era of the Founding Fathers, is immortal after accidentally interrupting a ritual involving Benjamin Franklin.
The America of Redcoat is, in many ways, a cracked mirror version of our own. Magic exists and the Founding Fathers through unnatural means forged their new America thanks to mastering its use. As we have come to learn in the previous installments of the series, these Founding Fathers are dark, corrupted versions of the men we have read about in history books.
The issue continues on from the shocking reveal of the last issue, though in retrospect a twist we should have seen coming, with Simon captured by the cult of the Founding Fathers and their Grand Architect. The Founding Fathers cult needs Simon for their ritual that promises to cleanse America in fire. Using the cursed axe that George Washington used to cut down the cherry tree, they have only to wait until the sun rises for their plan to succeed. Simon’s only hope rests in the hands of a young German boy whom he had befriended named Albert Einstein.
As usual, Johns has created a cast of characters that we care about, even the villains of the story. In the great tradition of memorable comic book villains, the antagonist’s motivations are understandable even though his plans are so destructive. The pain of the character’s past is palpable. Through the eyes of Albert Einstein, the reader is introduced to this wonderfully constructed world and also to the concept of what it really means to be immortal. Einstein proves to be an anchor for Simon that ties him to the mortals living around him in the present. The overall world building that Johns has undertaken with this series is deep and interesting. I really hope there will be more issues. This alternate America deserves fuller exploration, and there is a promise of a potential sequel.
No review of Redcoat can be complete without pointing out Bryan Hitch’s artwork. His work, as always, is emotional and cinematic, portraying his characters emotions and personality, as well as the high stakes of the moment. With just a close-up of Simon, Hitch is able to convey the roguish charm of the character. Just looking at his Benedict Arnold, we can sense the arrogance of the character leaping off the page. Hitch is assisted on inking duties by Andrew Currie and together, they do a great job of enhancing the lines of Hitch’s pencil work. The same goes for comic veteran Brad Anderson’s colors that truly captured the power of the magical ritual that surrounded Simon.
Overall, this is a fantastic issue, making sure not to pull back the curtain too far, letting the world retain its mystery and allure for future stories. Redcoat #6 still provides a complete ending to the events of the series up to this point. I eagerly await picking up the next issue. Will Johns and Hitch provide even further closure on some outstanding mysteries? Will we be given any insight into the overlying narrative arc of the Ghost Machine books and maybe learn more about the Unknown War? Either way, it has been a fun ride so far, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the imprint.
Creative Team: Geoff Johns (writer), Bryan Hitch (artist), Andrew Currie (inker), Brad Anderson (colorist)
Publisher: Image Comics / Ghost Machine
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