Anyway, I've picked up several series, both in singles and in trade; this includes series like WicDiv, Moonshine, and American Vampire. Now, in addition to this, I definitely flocked to Marvel's reboot of the Robbie Reyes: Ghost Rider series, which was revamped from its earlier incarnation a few years ago. I picked it up off the shelves without reading the first series (mainly because I'm amazing at context clues, and don't mind starting sequels, since they're whole new story arcs). I was familiar with the character cause he was supposed to show up in fourth season of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
My haphazard stack of Ghost Rider single issues, tbh.
I fell in love with this series right quick. By like, the first issue I was like screaming to the roof tops with joy. (Or, you know, just really happy). I liked the storyline, as it crossed over with other Marvel characters and stories, gave a view of an area I'm familiar with, and had Latino representation in not-completely stereotypical images. (Really, I'll take what I can get).
I very quickly put it on my pull (yes, I have one now) and fervently hoped that it would be extended or they'd be allowed another story arc.
Real life depiction of me happy with this title tbh
But, because my life is a play, I soon learned that my optimism regarding this titles was extremely misplaced.
My friend send me this article.
And I am distraught.
Cue the dramatics in my life.
My life is a play. Is a play. Is a play.
So I'm like inconsolable, tbh. I hate everything. I hate life. I hit all five stages of grief, in a very dramatic manner. I am of the upset.
So flashforward to this weekend, I finally pick up my pull and I receive issue five of Ghost Rider, which will be its final issue...
and I'm more upset. Like, what the fuck.
The whole issue is obviously an attempt to wrap up the story arc, which wouldn't need wrapping up in the first place of the writers hadn't been adding all the characters in the fucking Marvel continuity to it. Like why did Melinda May and Agent Coulson need to be there? Why did we need so much fucking exposition on The Totally Awesome Hulk chasing the purple thing? Why did we need like thirty panels describing Robbie's distrust of the former cholo who just got out of prison? WHYYYY??!?!
Because, ultimately, what that got us was a rushed ass ending issue that basically allowed no interaction between any of the characters introduced, a fight scene where Robbie destroys the alien thing through the power of rage (very deus ex machina), and a promise that Ghost Rider will be back.
WHYYY STOP IT YOU LYING LIARS THAT LIE ABOUT COMING BACK BECAUSE I AM DISTRAUGHT 👿😡😭
Obviously, this issue was a goddamn mess.
It had several problems, but most of those were most likely the result of the rush to combine two parts of the story arc into one issue.
Except for one.
The strange fact that Robbie did not speak to anyone who was not the soul of his murderous uncle. He did not speak to any of the amassed Superheroes, did not speak to the Agents, or anyone else.
Honestly, I'm just attempting to understand why Robbie Reyes was not allowed to speak in his last issue. Why was ROBBIE REYES STRIPPED OF HIS VOICE IN HIS OWN COMIC BOOK??
From what I understand, Robbie is not able to speak while he is the Ghost Rider and is only able to communicate via his violent actions toward those threatening his community. And while this is extremely problematic, the fact that Robbie did NOT SPEAK throughout the last issue of his last story arc in the foreseeable future moves this concept from problematic to offensive.
I am offended.
How are you going to strip one of the few Latino heroes in contemporary popular culture of HIS VOICE IN HIS OWN DAMN COMIC BOOK?!?? Because that's exactly what happens. The issue ends with Amadeus Cho explaining what that purple goo villain was and what it did, and Robbie just silently looking on, saying nothing. And I just want to understand why.
Why did we get six panels of the villain doing crazy shit yet we couldn't have just one of Robbie speaking to the people he saved? Why was the only time he said anything an inner monologue with the demonic soul in his head? Why was the Latino lead of the damn comic book not allowed to speak, yet everyone else was given a voice? Why was he marginalized in his own fucking comic book while others took center stage?
I don't want to say this was on purpose, because I'm positive it wasn't. The main writer and a chunk of the artist are Latino and they were trying; but I'm just confused as to how this oversight was allowed.
And this offends me. Now, maybe I am being too touchy, or maybe I am a special fucking snowflake or whatever, but is it really too much to ask that Latinos are allowed a legitimate voice whenever we're on stage?
Maybe I was placing too much on a simple comic book, or maybe I expected too much. But damn. It's still worth a read, seriously, but I've got to say that reading that last issue left a seriously bad taste in my mouth.
Smh.
Either way, I hope that Robbie Reyes' story gets picked up soon, again, and in a way that actually lets him speak, considering that he represents a large demographic of people that are often left without a voice.