This issue marks the third iteration of the character, the first being Lazarus Lane from All-Star Western #2 in 1970. Originally part of a host of western characters, this newest version brings the character into a modern day setting while keeping a connection to its roots.
The story starts by introducing Chato Santana and his partner in crime, Jorge, as they put the finishing touches on a deal with H.I.V.E. to supply their gang members in L.A. with new energy beam weapons. We learn that Chato is a pretty despicable person all around, head of a violent street gang whose members are recruited at an early age. The deal goes down but is interrupted by Agent Aaron and his S.W.A.T. team. Chato is shot in the back by his now former partner and caught by the cops. During the fire fight, we learn that the H.I.V.E. standard issue rapid fire energy pistol makes the sound effect ZARK when fired.
Once the copious amount of sound-effects have died down and the smoke has cleared, Chato wakes up to find himself a paraplegic from his gunshot wound. Agent Aaron attempts to get Chato to roll over on his gang by making him bunk with various crazies in the psych ward. One of his roommates happens to be Lazarus Lane himself, now 170 years old and who has apparently been in a coma for decades.
Chato relates his life story to Lane, which I gathered was Jai Nitz's attempt to make the reader sympathetic with the lead character. It doesn't work, at least not for me. Despite Chato showing total loyalty to his gang by refusing every offer handed to him in exchange for information, including an offer to walk again via an experimental operation, this is the only virtue that comes across. He is still a ruthless gang banger with grand designs on expanding his power base through violent and exploitative means. If Nitz is aiming for sympathy, he misses the mark. I'm not saying I completely dislike the character, but I'm not sure I'm on the same page as Nitz.
After Chato refuses every offer to co-operate, Agent Aaron puts the word out that Chato did turn on his gang expecting the inevitable retaliation to finish off Chato once and for all. It works, and while Chato is being stabbed, he finds himself transported to the Spirit World, where Lane offers him the power of El Diablo. Two words: Ghost Rider. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I couldn't help but draw the obvious comparisons. The scene in which Lane offers Chato the opportunity to take his place as El Diablo is very much the end of the Ghost Rider movie, when Sam Elliot reveals his true nature. We learn very little about the extent of the powers Chato now possesses as El Diablo, but I guess being Hell's Assassin is preferable to being either a) dead or b) a paraplegic stool pigeon.
Overall an OK read. I understand that much needed to be set up for the rest of the six-issue mini. My hope and my suggestion is that the series differentiate itself from Ghost Rider as much as possible in the next few issues. This could be an excellent story provided it doesn't become a retread of something Marvel has done before and has done better.
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