Daniel Warren Johnson - The Ghost Fleet #2 p 14 (Space Mullet and Transformers Easter Eggs)

Daniel Warren Johnson - The Ghost Fleet #2 p 14

Ghost Fleet was the perfect mix of campy melodrama and b-movie storylines, but DWJ and Cates elevated it into fine art, which was their goal considering they dedicated this book to Kurt Russell and obviously made this an ode to Escape from NY—the quintessential fine art b-movie.

DWJ excels across the board, and we get some all time great expressions here, especially that last panel. DWJ also doesn’t get enough credit for his perspectives. Between fish eye lenses and top down perspectives, the half splash definitely looks like something outside of western comics traditions. The best parts are the Easter eggs on the screens. In addition to Space Mullet, he drew his first published Optimus Prime here. It seems like he was dreaming of the Transformers run he’d turn into an Eisner a decade later. Maybe he’ll do the same in another 10 years with Akira.

Written by Donny Cates

11x17 on art board; Dark Horse Comics (trade collected by image)