Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points, the comic book blog to the ODPH Podcast. For this entry, we’re checking out a fantastic series on the Comixology Originals line via New Wave Comics. With a spectacular first season in the books (and in print via Dark Horse Comics) Comic fans are in the midst of a strong return for Lara Dominguez and her champion ways with season number two. THE BLACK GHOST: SEASON 2 #4 by Alex Segura, Monica Gallagher, George Kambadais, Ellie Wright, and Taylor Esposito picks up with a new player making waves in Creighton while Lara is trying to fend off her past from defeating her future. Let’s take a deeper dive into what’s happening her, shall we?

THE BLACK GHOST: SEASON 2 #4 Creative: Alex Segura, Monica Gallagher, George Kambadais, Ellie Wright, and Taylor Esposito Credit" Comixology Originals via New Wave Comics — THE BLACK GHOST: SEASON 2 #4
Creative: Alex Segura, Monica Gallagher, George Kambadais, Ellie Wright, and Taylor Esposito
Credit" Comixology Originals via New Wave Comics

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

In case anyone is new to the story of the Black Ghost, the story centers around Lara Dominguez, a Creighton police reporter formerly from Miami. Dominguez becomes entranced with the adventures of The Black Ghost. As the story progresses in season one, Lara faces her own personal issues all the while, readers have front row seats to see Lara emerging as a hero that her city needs. It’s a great read that you should definitely check out and as previously stated, it’s out on print via Dark Horse Comics for those looking for a physical copy. That being said, Season 2 hasn’t shown any signs of a sophomore slump.

Season 2 starts out with Lara trying to find a balance out with her personal and heroic identities. Readers see Lara trying to deal with her issues head on by attending AA meetings. The struggle of balancing hero vs human life takes many forms as her reporter instincts draw her into investigating Creighton’s shady police commissioner Paul leGrande while the hero side of things takes a shot as a mysterious letter emerges that shakes Lara to her core. Factor in a new player in town with a deadly agenda and Lara’s life has never been tested like this. That player is names Harrow. Making an impact right out the gate, Harrow’s actions have now set Creighton on the edge of a massive crime war that Lara might not be able to stop. With a growing body count, Lara and Harrow met last issue with Lara being left for dead, only surviving because Harrow didn’t see her as any threat to her. This left Lara in a very bad state testing her will with everything she’s been working to improve.

This issue opens up with a sequence to where Lara meeting Rebekah, a Creighton Homicide office whom Lara has some history with. Once back to present time, Lara is confronted by Rebekah and Molly, her current love. They try to reason with Lara but Lara claims she isn’t drinking and is ok from the encounter with Harrow. So much so that Lara is continuing to infiltrate the club where she thinks holds the key to stopping the war once and for all. Once diving head first back into her mission and dodging the intervention, Lara finds herself undercover at an establishment names Stallions. Once sneaking into an office, Lara discovers a board with the city’s major players on it. Digging into the pictures, Lara starts to uncover the secret of Harrow and how she’s involved with this whole puzzle. This leads Lara into a path for more information but at what cost.

Readers won’t be ready for what unfolds next. Even after Lara starts seeing the pieces fit, does she even see the picture? With all of her investigation skills, is Lara ready for what lies ahead. The final moments of this book will answer that and leave some jaws dropped to what is set to happen next. The tension and stakes have never felt heavier on our hero.

Segura and Gallagher really amps up the drama within these pages. Lara's struggles with balancing both lives drives this story into some interesting directions. Seeing how she deals with the intervention by Rebekah and Molly was a very strong moment. The writing team present Lara as an imperfect person who continuously is trying to improve herself. Yet, with all her falls, she still gets back up trying to do the right thing. The slow burn approach to Harrow’s reveal was a great twist as well. Seeing Lara’s investigative skills come into play made for very noteworthy moments, none bigger than the conversation she has right after getting the lead on Harrow. Pacing gave these type of moments time to grow and connect with readers. The build to the last act was exceptional. It all lead to a great conclusion for this issue, with a great cliffhanger to build off of heading to the final issue of the season.

Not to be outdone, Kambadais hits on all the key story elements . Seeing first hand how Lara bounces back from the initial encounter with Harrow added a small piece of anticipation of where the story was heading. the big reveal also put into perspective Lara’s reaction to the reveal. At first glance, she is celebrating but once readers dig deeper into her reactions, Kambadais’s art sells the moments surprise element incredibly. Another noteworthy moment was the initial timepiece of when Lara meets Rebekah at the bar. With the additon of Ellie Wright’s coloring, it came across as a more detailed moment than one that misses the mark. Fortunately, readers don’t have that problem with this issue. Each fragment of the story escalates an intense visual feel to connect with the words being stated in those areas of the book.

Final point: the latest chapter of Lara Dominguez takes readers on a steady building powder keg of emotional moments. Segura, Gallagher, Kambadais and the rest of the creative team keep applying the pressure to Creighton’s defender and never lets up on seeing if she can remain strong enough to handle the challenge ahead. Season two of the Black Ghost rolls on into a must-witness finale. It’s excellent work that shouldn’t be missed at the Comixology store this week.

Hit me up on Twitter and let me know what you thought of The Black Ghost: season 2 #4.

Thanks for reading.

THE BLACK GHOST: SEASON 2 #4 (COMIXOLOGY ORIGINALS/NEW WAVE COMICS)

Ken M