“I’ll be dead long before you were born and I’ll be dead long before you’ll be dead.”
DC has a hidden gem in its arsenal of heroes that could rival some of the biggest and best from the Marvel Universe. That hero is Space Ghost. Originally appearing in the ’60s as a space-faring hero in the cartoon series “Space Ghost and Dino Boy,” Space Ghost was revitalized for the comedic series “Space Ghost: Coast to Coast.” In 2005, DC gave Space Ghost a new lease on life with a six-issue miniseries titled “Space Ghost.”
In this miniseries, Space Ghost is reinvented as Thaddeus Bach, a member of a police force known as the Peacekeepers. Bach’s dedication to justice leads to his betrayal by corrupt members of his organization, resulting in the death of his pregnant wife. Bach is left to die on a desolate world, but is given a chance for vengeance by an alien named Salomon, who provides him with a ship and weapons. This leads to Bach’s transformation into the legendary hero Space Ghost, with a rogues’ gallery of villains and a mythology to rival characters like Spider-Man, Daredevil, or the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The DC Universe could benefit greatly from incorporating Space Ghost as a major player. He has all the markings of a proper Marvel hero, with an interstellar setting, a tragic backstory, and a nickname that has become known all across the star system. Space Ghost also brings a unique rogues’ gallery that could provide plenty of storytelling opportunities should he cross over into a true superhero world. With the character appearing in “Green Lantern/Space Ghost Special #1,” it’s clear that he exists somewhere in the vast DC multiverse.
DC already has the one hero who can rival Marvel’s entire universe: Space Ghost. With a reinvented backstory and mythology, Space Ghost could hold his own against some of Marvel’s biggest heroes and provide the DC Universe with a character full of emotional weight and storytelling potential.
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