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space ghost annual 1
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Space Ghost Annual 1 review – Dynamite Entertainment 7/23/25

Jeffrey Lyles , , , , ,

Space Ghost Annual 1 felt a little too much like the finale of a series that’s been one of the best reads of the last year from any company. There is definitely a sense of finality as Space Ghost, Jan and Jace battle all of their biggest rivals in The Council of Doom now under the control of Ultima. It’s the big culmination of the first year of Space Ghost under the Dynamite Entertainment banner with some big moments for all the main characters.

Issue 12 had the big twist reveal that the founder of The Council of Doom, Xander Ibal, was under the thrall of Ultima, which wants to subjugate all of humanity under its collective hive mind.

With the aid of the Space Corp satellites, Ultima is coming close to taking over control over the entire space system unless Space Ghost and company can stop it first.

Writer David Pepose has been building to this big confrontation almost since the first issue and he doesn’t fail to pay it off big time. For readers who have been invested in the title since the start Space Ghost Annual 1 plays out like a logical conclusion to several subplots established along the way.

space ghost annual 1 covers

From Space Ghost not trusting the twins to handle the brutal nature of his battles against some of the galaxy’s deadliest criminals, his grief over losing his family, Jace’s uncertainty about being a hero, Jan coming to grips with her father’s death and the true secret of Blip, there are some long gestating subplots that get a feel-good moment in Space Ghost Annual 1.

The care Pepose has put into these characters is evident as they stay fully in character throughout, Jace doesn’t have to do something more heroic than Jan or vice versa. Pepose plays them as complementary sidekicks. They’re not going to willingly disobey Space Ghost’s commands and then get captured. Pepose has done an excellent job of showing what they can do to be an asset instead of kid hostages every issue.

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As usual, Jonathan Lau delivers phenomenal art on Space Ghost Annual 1. Pepose serves up several big time, chaotic moments and Lau comes through with these huge, sweeping pages filled with action-packed panels. It’s not just the major action moments where Lau shines. He also conveys the intense emotions, specifically two separate moments involving Jan and Space Ghost, that come to a head as the battles rage on.

Colorist Andrew Dalhouse serves up a sumptuous color buffet with the striking white in Space Ghost’s costume, dazzling laser and fire effects and massive explosions. Letterer Taylor Esposito keeps the dialogue lines clean and easy to read while incorporating some clever special effect fonts.

For all those devoted readers, myself included, worrying that Space Ghost Annual 1 was serving as the series finale, that’s not the case at all. Yes, this is the conclusion to this opening act, but the creative team remains intact as Space Ghost Season Two kicks off a new arc with a fresh threat for Space Ghost and crew. If it retains the same consistent level of the initial arc, Season Two won’t lose its spot on the Top 10 must-read comics each month.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Photo Credit: Dynamite Entertainment

Ready to relive the excitement of Space Ghost Annual 1? Pre-order Space Ghost Vol. 2: The Council of Doom, coming in both trade paperback and hardcover, on Amazon.

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