Space Ghost #9 Hits Hard With Heart, Horror, and a Mind-Bending Cosmic Beatdown

Dynamite’s Space Ghost #9 comes out swinging and never lets up. David Pepose takes this series into full psychic-warfare mode, but what makes this issue pop is that it never forgets the heart. Yeah, there’s dream-trap chaos, cosmic danger, and enough mental pressure to make anybody fold like cheap lawn furniture, but underneath all that spectacle is a story about grief, guilt, and the painful work of moving forward. WEPA.

This issue throws Space Ghost and the kids into a shared nightmare engineered to hit them where it hurts most. That setup gives Pepose room to flex in different directions, and the book uses that freedom well. Jace gets tossed into a wild sci-fi fantasy that plays with his need for purpose and control, while Jan gets the most devastating emotional material in the issue. Her confrontation with the false version of Doctor Contra lands with real weight, not just because of the loss hanging over everything, but because the script understands that grief lives in the little details. That one tiny family truth becomes the blade that cuts through the illusion, and it’s easily the most powerful beat in the book.

Jonathan Lau absolutely understands the assignment here. The issue moves through different realities and tones, but the storytelling stays crisp. The opening chase has urgency, the courtroom nightmare feels oppressive, and Jan’s birthday dream shifts from warm to disturbing in a way that sneaks up on you. Andrew Dalhouse’s colors do a ton of heavy lifting too, making each mental space feel distinct without turning the whole thing into visual soup. That matters in a comic like this, because once you start bending reality, clarity becomes king. This team keeps it readable and stylish.

What really makes this issue sing is how it deepens the family dynamic at the center of the series. Space Ghost isn’t just a mysterious space badass here. He feels like a protector carrying his own scars while trying to guide two kids through theirs. Jan and Jace also continue to grow in ways that feel earned, especially Jan, who gets some of the strongest character work of the run so far. By the time the Tempus tease drops, it feels less like empty setup and more like the next storm building on already emotional ground.

There are a couple spots where the issue could have breathed a little more. Jace’s fantasy segment is cool enough that you almost wish it had another page or two to really marinate, and some of the villain dialogue gets a touch crowded. Still, those are small complaints in an issue that delivers action, character, and emotional payoff in one tight package. Space Ghost #9 is sharp, dramatic, and packed with the kind of momentum that keeps this run feeling far more alive than a simple nostalgia play. This one’s a win, baby! WEPPAAAAAAAAAAAA….

Score:
4/5

Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Jonathan Lau
Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Publisher: Dynamite Comics

Author Profile

Al Mega: I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!