Ghost Rider (1990) # 34

"Victims of Our Past"

Cover Date: February 1993; On Sale Date: December 1992

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Bret Blevins; Inker: Al Williamson; Letterer: Janice Chiang; Colorist: Gregory Wright; Editor: Bobbie Chase; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Bret Blevins

In Cypress Hills Cemetery, the Ghost Rider punishes a man that had raped and almost murdered a young girl. The Rider leaves the man to anguish from the effects of the penance stare, taking the young girl to the hospital. The man relives every moment of pain he's ever caused, hurting him so badly that he vocally wishes for death. Suddenly, a crimson-gloved stranger, dressed in the red garb of a ninja, grabs him from behind and shoves a sword into his chest. Later, the Ghost Rider relinquishes control back to Dan, who returns home.

Back in the cemetery, a group of young punks deface some of the tombstones. The ninja confronts them, saying the dead should be allowed to rest in peace. He then attacks and slaughters the punks. At his house, Dan finds himself unable to sleep yet again. His mother comes in, and tells him that she's made him a special breakfast, as its going to be the last time he'll be eating at the house. He tells his mother that she's not the reason he's moving out, and he'll love her no matter what. Dan turns to the television, where Linda Wei is reporting from the cemetery, the scene of a series of grisly murders. A message was written on the wall of a tomb, which reads: "Come Ghost Rider. Stop me. Finish what you started. More will die until I can." Thinking the message is from Blackout, Dan runs out of the house and speeds off on his bike toward the cemetery.

Meanwhile, on an elevated train above the cemetery, the Death Ninja attacks another group of punks, slaughtering everyone in the train car. Dan hears the scream from the train as he rides below it, the rain carrying down streams of blood. Dan rides his bike up the platform, managing to grab onto the back of the train as it speeds off, his bike falling into the cemetery below. On his way inside the car, Dan encounters a young girl with a head wound. Seeing the blood, he instantaneously transforms into the Ghost Rider and bursts into the train. The Death Ninja attacks the Rider, but is quickly put down. The Ninja claims that he was one of Deathwatch's men, the night the Rider was resurrected, and was stabbed with one of his own swords by the demon. The Ninja had been working for someone else, more powerful than Deathwatch, and as penance for failing in his task he is being forced to live as a rotting corpse. The Death Ninja must bring the Ghost Rider to his master, and until then he will never know rest. He tells the Rider that the two of them are simply pawns, stuck between two players, both of whom will be coming for GR very soon. Ghost Rider plunges his fist through the Ninja's chest, knocking him off the train to be crushed beneath the vehicle's wheels.

Later, Dan searches the cemetery for the motorcycle, and finds the Caretaker sitting across it. He tells Danny that the two of them will be seeing a lot of each other in the future, and that he needs to put as much distance between himself and his loved ones as he can. The Caretaker walks off into the cemetery, leaving Dan with even more questions than before.

THE ROADMAP

The Death Ninja was killed by the Ghost Rider while posing as one of Deathwatch's men in Ghost Rider (1990) # 3.

Danny was told by his mother that he was adopted in Ghost Rider (1990) # 33.

The medallion design burning from Dan's palm, one of the first signs that the Ghost Rider's power came from within him and not the motorcycle, first happened in Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: Hearts of Darkness.

Although it was never said for certain, it can easily be surmised that the Death Ninja's mysterious "master" was Centurious, who was responsible for almost all of the threats encountered by the Ghost Rider and John Blaze during this time. Centurious' involvement in the Ghost Rider's life is revealed in Ghost Rider (1990) # 37 and Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 10.

The Caretaker first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 28.

CHAIN REACTION

We're still plodding along through the Midnight Sons era of the series, and "Victims of our Past" is probably the best issue of the new horror-oriented status quo. Of course, this doesn't mean that the issue isn't without problems.

Possibly the best part of this story is the follow-up to a minor plot point that - most likely - wasn't necessary but makes complete sense when you think back. In the first story-arc, Ghost Rider killed - on panel - one of Deathwatch's men by stabbing him in the stomach with his own weapon. It wasn't until a few issues later that Mackie established the Ghost Rider's "no killing" rule, so this action in the third issue - this murder of a villain - stuck out like a sore thumb. Only a few astute readers would likely have picked up on this error, but - to his credit - Mackie ran with the contradiction and crafted a truly chilling story out of it.

Despite his utterly silly name, the Death Ninja had all the makings of a possibly great villain. His visual design of a rotting corpse beneath the blood-red pajamas of a ninja were brought to life vividly by Bret Blevins; and let's face it, he's a zombie AND a ninja. The one major drawback to the character is his motivation, his wish to be released from his servitude and allowed to die, which too closely mirrors that of Suicide from the series' second year. Mackie apparently realized this as well, since Suicide makes a lackluster return appearance in the next issue. Suicide always struck me as a ridiculous character, and Death Ninja easily trumps him on the scary-meter.

But, because this issue is during the Midnight Sons era, we're given more cryptic clues to upcoming mystical storylines and teases toward the Ghost Rider's origin. It's fairly evident that Mackie was making up most of this as he went along, and the Death Ninja's "master" - who in hindsight is obviously Centurious - and motivation are clearly in contradiction of what has already been established. Death Ninja claims that he masqueraded as one of Deathwatch's men in order to get close to the Ghost Rider, but Centurious wasn't aware of the Rider's return until well into the second year (specifically during the Reverend Styge story in # 18). This was one of the major problems of this period of the series, with constant retconning of motivations of characters in the book's first two years. The same thing will be applied to Deathwatch and Mephisto later on, and it really smacks of sloppy storytelling and a clear lack of direction. This was an ongoing problem in the X-Men books around this time, with vague subplots and clues being dished out willy-nilly in hopes that a resolution to them would come to the writers when the time came. In the case of Ghost Rider, it made for some incredibly awful plotting and constant retconning that drug the series down into near unreadable territory.

One good thing about this issue, though, is Bret Blevins finally clicking with the series to provide some truly grotesque and haunting artwork for the Death Ninja. A lot of the praise can be given to inker Al Williamson and colorist Gregory Wright for truly making the artwork stand out from the page. Unfortunately, this is definitely the best work Blevins will produce on the title, and his quality will start downsliding throughout the remainder of his run.

So while this issue should get higher marks, all we're ultimately given is a story written on the fly with no clear agenda for the future. Death Ninja had the potential to be a good recurring villain, but after the next issue disappears into obscurity.

Ghost Rider (1990) # 33

"What Does It Matter?"

Cover Date: January 1993; On Sale Date: November 1992

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Bret Blevins; Inker: Al Williamson; Letterer: Janice Chiang; Colorist: Gregory Wright; Editor: Bobbie Chase; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Bret Blevins

After spending a night out stopping criminals, the Ghost Rider relinquishes control back over to Dan, who has begun to question the meaning of his life since his return from death. Following a bout of insomnia (which he believes to be perpetuated by his last confrontation with Nightmare), Dan decides to have a workout. While exercising, his mother interrupts, also unable to sleep. She confesses that there's something she's always wanted to tell her son, but only now has found the courage to do so.

Meanwhile, in a Soho loft, Madcap performs his cable access "Madcap Comedy Hour". Unable to feel pain of any kind, demonstrated by him stabbing himself repeatedly with a large knife, Madcap states that the people of New York City must be made to see that nothing in life truly matters. Back at the Ketch house, Dan is stunned by his mother's revelation: he's adopted. Slightly rattled and confused, Dan hugs his mother and immediately takes off on his bike. Elsewhere, Tyler Meagher address the rest of H.E.A.R.T. Their offices are rocked by an explosion, and all of the women but Meagher are killed.

Dan rides past Grand Central Station, where he's surprised to see an insane man crash through a plate glass window. Seeing the man's innocent blood, he automatically transforms into the Ghost Rider, who finds the early morning rush hour crowd transformed into a frenzied mob by the crazed Madcap and his hypnotic powers. Madcap tells the Rider that his mission is useless, as the dead people he avenges don't care what he does because they're dead (makes sense to me). Ghost Rider grabs Madcap and gives him the penance stare, which shakes the perpetually numb lunatic into spasms of pain. Content that vengeance has been served, the Rider leaves Madcap drooling on the floor. Back at H.E.A.R.T. headquarters, the assassins radio their leader, Mr. Stern, who tells them to bring Meagher in for a debriefing on her new target: Ghost Rider.

THE ROADMAP

Ghost Rider and Dan's last confrontation with Nightmare happened in Ghost Rider (1990) # 30.

H.E.A.R.T. last appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 15, where they were working for Deathwatch.

Stern first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 25, and took over the Firm by way of killing his superiors in Ghost Rider (1990) # 32.

The identity of Dan's real mother won't be revealed until years later, with the introduction of Naomi Kale in Ghost Rider (1990) # -1. Dan learns that John Blaze is his brother in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 16, and it is revealed in Ghost Rider (2006) # 5 that Barton Blaze is his father.

CHAIN REACTION

After the conclusion of "Rise of the Midnight Sons" and Dan's return to the living in the previous issue, this is the first story that attempts to get the book back on track after months and months of crossovers. Though it can arguably said that it started with the first chapter of "Rise of the Midnight Sons", this issue really began the downward slide of Ghost Rider, especially in comparison to the vastly superior Spirits of Vengeance title that was running at the same time. Along with an artist that didn't mesh well at all with the book, writer Mackie brought out a seemingly endless stream of characters and plots that either went nowhere or were frustratingly vague and "mysterious" (usually meaning that no plan for them past their initial appearances had been made).

This issue, for instance, begins the soon-to-be-abandoned subplot about Dan searching for his birth parents after learning he and his sister were adopted by the Ketch family. It's obvious from this and other issues that Mackie meant Dan's birth father to be a factor in the Ghost Rider curse, but with the later revelation that John Blaze is his brother it almost certainly means that - had the case with the father been true - Dan's dad would have been Barton Blaze. This forgotten plot was picked up years later by Ivan Velez, who instead made Dan and John's mother, Naomi Kale, the originator of their respective problems with the Ghost Rider. But at this point, it seems that Mackie could have had a plan in place for Dan's search for his parents, but it was either dropped due to editorial mandates or was simply lost in the shuffle amidst the numerous crossovers that would plague the title in the next year.

Mackie also trots out another one-shot villain for this issue; Madcap had previously been a Captain America villain (as had the Scarecrow, who had proven to be an intriguing addition to Ghost Rider's rogue gallery). What Mackie had planned for the character past this issue - if he had any plans at all, given the set-up for a sequel story at the end of this issue - is unknown, since Madcap and the Ghost Rider never crossed paths again.

This is Bret Blevins' second issue as the regular Ghost Rider artist, and it's becoming painfully obvious that he's been mismatched on this series. While his goofy, cartoonish artwork was perfect for a book like Sleepwalker, he simply couldn't bring the realism or darkness that this series demanded. Following artists like Javier Saltares, Mark Texeira, and even the mediocre-at-best Andy Kubert, Blevins work comes off as incredibly out of place.

Unfortunately, despite some good ideas and a wealth of interesting subplot material, this issue is brought down by the fact that so many of the story elements are never touched upon again.

Ghost Rider (2019) # 7

"Hearts of Darkness II, Part 3"

Cover Date: September 2020; On Sale Date: July 2020

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Aaron Kuder; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Jason Keith; Editor: Chris Robinson; Senior Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder

On the street outside of the Sanctum Sanctorum, a fully demonized Johnny Blaze confronts the defeated Dr. Strange. This is witnessed by one of Lilith's children, who allows Lilith to see the events through their eyes. Lilith puts out a call to the demons in Manhattan to join her by killing Blaze and his captive, Mephisto. Blaze, fully corrupted by the demons he's sent back to hell with his Damnation Stare, prepares to kill Dr. Strange, but is stopped by a hail of bullets. Danny Ketch has arrived with Wolverine, the Punisher, and the Caretaker, and Danny transforms into the Spirit of Corruption. While Danny and Johnny fight, the other three are left to defend Mephisto and Dr. Strange from the incoming demon horde. Johnny quickly gets the upper hand in the fight, beating Danny mercilessly; but before he can finish the battle Danny stabs him in the chest with his sword, incapacitating him. This gives Dr. Strange the opportunity to exorcise Johnny of the demonic corruption that is influencing him, returning him to his human form. Johnny hugs Danny and thanks him for saving him from the demonic corruption, but promises that he isn't done with his mission. Johnny transforms back into the Ghost Rider and rides away with Mephisto dragging along behind him, stating that they still have to face Lilith.

Later, at the Fadeaway Bar, Danny and the Caretaker enter to find both Emma and Stacy Dolan held captive by Blackheart. The Son of Mephisto states that Danny will join him against Lilith or everyone he holds dear will die.

THE ROADMAP

Johnny Blaze became the King of Hell to save Dr. Strange and Las Vegas in Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider (2018) # 1.

This is the last issue of the series and the story concludes in King in Black: Ghost Rider (2021) # 1.

CHAIN REACTION

This issue concludes not just the "Hearts of Darkness II" arc but also the series as a whole due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's truly a shame that this series got chopped off at the knees like it did, with two issues solicited past this that were never published. The pandemic hit the comics industry hard, essentially shutting it down for several months, and this series was one of the unfortunate titles that Marvel decided they couldn't justify publishing as the company got back on its feet. I suppose we should be grateful that we at least got this final issue published, months after it was supposed to be released.

It also works fairly well as a resolution to the storyline about Johnny being corrupted by Hell with a final confrontation between him and Danny, now the Spirit of Corruption. That showdown is the heart of the comic, and Brisson does a great job making it the central focus while also juggling tons of other balls in the air. The guest-stars, specifically Wolverine and the Punisher, wind up being as superfluous as I feared they would be, but they do help to add to the issue's chaotic feel. Nothing really gets fully resolved, of course, since this was actually meant as a chapter in an ongoing series, but it does at least reset Johnny Blaze back to where he was at the series' beginning. He's still the King of Hell and he's still dragging Mephisto around with him, but at least he's not evil anymore.

Aaron Kuder returns to illustrate this final issue, and shows just how capable he was on this series. His use of negative space, such as the page with the aerial shot of Blaze walking toward Dr. Strange, is masterful and doesn't feel like a waste of space. He also handles action very well, particularly during the brutal fight between Johnny and Danny, showing just how outmatched Danny is with each subsequent panel of the fight. Kuder's health kept him from being the artistic rock that the series needed and he can't be faulted for that, but I wonder if his presence on a regular basis could have saved the series from cancellation?

This is ultimately unsatisfying as a final issue (it even ends on a cliffhanger!), but it's a solid conclusion to the present story-arc. Thankfully, Brisson is going to get another chance to wrap everything up in the near future.

Ghost Rider (2019) # 6

"Hearts of Darkness II, Part 2"

Cover Date: May 2020; On Sale Date: March 2020

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Juan Frigeri; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Jason Keith; Editor: Chris Robinson; Senior Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder

On Long Island, Stacy Dolan's home is visited by Blackheart and the corrupted Emma, who tells Stacy that they need her. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, Danny Ketch and the Caretaker attempt to explain to Punisher and Wolverine that the cop killed by Johnny Blaze was really a demon. When the Punisher pushes for answers, Danny stabs him in the chest with the Spirit of Corruption's sword, temporarily incapacitating him. Wolverine attempts to intervene, but the fight only stops when the Caretaker steps in and Danny transforms back into his human form.

Elsewhere, on a snowy mountaintop, Johnny and his captive Mephisto are confronted by Dr. Strange. Blaze is furious that Strange left him abandoned and alone to rule Hell; while Strange attempts to explain that he hadn't forgotten about Johnny, Mephisto continues to mentally manipulate Blaze. Realizing that they are actually inside one of the rooms of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Johnny demands to know where the door to leave is located. Dr. Strange attacks, starting a fight between the two, while Mephisto slips off during the confusion. Mephisto leads them to the door out while Strange again attempts to reason with Johnny.

Back in New York, the Caretaker has led Danny, Punisher, and Wolverine to the morgue containing the dead cop's body, where she uses a spell to prove that he was a demon. She explains that every time Johnny uses his Damnation Stare on a demon he becomes more evil and corrupt and they must stop him before he goes too far. Outside of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Dr. Strange goes flying onto the street, where a fully demonic Johnny tells him that he should have walked away when he had the chance.

THE ROADMAP

Johnny Blaze became the King of Hell to save Dr. Strange and Las Vegas in Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider (2018) # 1.

Johnny killed the detective possessed by the demon in Ghost Rider (2019) # 2.

CHAIN REACTION

Johnny faces off against Dr. Strange while the "Hearts of Darkness" trio continue their investigation.

I think it's an unspoken rule that every Ghost Rider series has to devote at least one issue to a fight with Dr. Strange. It makes sense, I suppose, as Strange is the most prominent supernatural character in the Marvel Universe, but it's almost becoming a cliché by this point. At least it makes narrative sense in this series, given the events of the "Damnation" crossover the year before where Dr. Strange was adjacently responsible for Johnny being trapped in Hell. Just like with Wong earlier in the series, it's cathartic to see Johnny finally get to confront Strange over what happened, flagging up the character's sense of betrayal and resentment that's honestly justified.

Now, however, the series is starting to drown in guest-stars, with Strange joining both Wolverine and the Punisher as prominent characters. The Blackheart plot may be simmering in the background, but so far this storyline does little to call back to its "Hearts of Darkness" predecessor other than the characters it chooses to involve. It's almost like nostalgia for nostalgia's sake, which is never a good excuse for a story. It also feels like the Danny part of the story is spinning its wheels with exposition and explaining things to the characters that the readers already know. The Blaze portion is ticking away nicely, but the Danny sections are becoming a little tedious.

Juan Frigeri continues to produce quality artwork for the series, yet again proving that he's just as capable of carrying the title as the absent Aaron Kuder. The evolution of Blaze's demonic appearance is handled very well, with the last page reveal of his final form being appropriately compelling, and all of the bits with Danny and the Spirit of Corruption look great. There's something satisfying about seeing the Punisher get stabbed through with a giant sword.

This arc has absolutely nothing to do with "Hearts of Darkness", but it's still another example of a solid series with a quality creative team.

Ghost Rider (2019) # 5

"Hearts of Darkness II, Part 1"

Cover Date: February 2020; On Sale Date: December 2019

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Juan Frigeri; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Jason Keith; Editor: Chris Robinson; Senior Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder

At the docked cruise ship in Manhattan, where Johnny Blaze killed a host of demons including one possessing a cop, the Punisher and Wolverine examine the crime scene. Realizing that Danny Ketch had been there they assume he was responsible for the deaths of who they believe were innocent people and go about tracking him down. Meanwhile, at a motel in Utah, Johnny Blaze interrogates the captive Mephisto about the escaped demons. Mephisto tells him that all of this has been orchestrated by Lilith, who is furious at both of them for Johnny's place on Hell's throne.

In Cypress Hills Cemetery, Danny Ketch drinks at his mother's grave and talks to her about the Spirit of Corruption inside of him. His drinking is interrupted by the Caretaker, who tells him to sober up and help her stop Johnny from going mad with power. While they talk, Danny's bar is invaded by Blackheart, who asks the bartender Emma about Danny's whereabouts. When Danny and the Caretaker leave the cemetery they're stopped by Punisher and Wolverine. Danny transforms into the Spirit of Corruption and fights the two vigilantes, neither of whom are able to hurt him. Caretaker stops the fight and Punisher states that a Ghost Rider killed the people on the cruise ship, and with Johnny in Hell that just leaves Danny, who replies that Johnny's not in Hell anymore.

Elsewhere, at a bar in Kentucky, Lilith and her Lilin torture the Orb, using his all-seeing eye to track the whereabouts of Blaze and Mephisto. Johnny, as the Ghost Rider, drags Mephisto behind his motorcycle as they race down the highway, but of both them unexpectedly enter a magic portal that sends them to a snowy mountain. There they are confronted by Dr. Strange, who wants to know why Johnny has taken Mephisto.

THE ROADMAP

Johnny Blaze took over the throne of Hell to save Dr. Strange and Las Vegas in Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider (2018) # 1.

Johnny killed a police officer possessed by a demon in Ghost Rider (2019) # 2 at the cruise ship crime scene investigated by the Punisher and Wolverine.

Danny Ketch teamed up with Punisher and Wolverine to defeat Blackheart in Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: Hearts of Darkness and again in Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: The Dark Design.

CHAIN REACTION

Wolverine and the Punisher guest-star in a really tenuous sequel to 1991's "Hearts of Darkness" story.

Considering how much mileage Marvel gets out of reuniting the "New Fantastic Four" from the early 90s, which also included Wolverine and Ghost Rider, I'm surprised that "Hearts of Darkness" and its trio of vigilantes doesn't get more in way of homages. I suppose it's an appropriate enough topic for this series, given Danny Ketch's first real shot at relevance again in decades, but something just feels lacking form this.

Perhaps its because Danny has been altered so much with this new Spirit of Corruption identity that it robs the reunion of these three heroes of what made their original team-up so memorable. Had Danny been Ghost Rider still I could imagine this working so much better, though it also would have skewed the narrative that Ed Brisson is weaving. Punisher and Wolverine are after a Ghost Rider and find that Danny isn't one anymore, leaving only Johnny as their likely suspect. It continues the journey that Brisson has set Danny on while continuing to acknowledge the character's past and his relationship with others, it all works really well. I'm just missing Danny as Ghost Rider still, which is what I had hoped this series would be about in the first place.

Juan Frigeri steps up as the second half of the artist team, giving Aaron Kuder more of an extended break, and his work fits the storyline perfectly. Kuder may have more of a distinct style, but Frigeri really seems to get these characters on a fundamental basis, from Danny in his new role to Johnny as the King of Hell. He sells the action scenes with dramatic flair while keeping things strictly in the Marvel house style, which is appreciated despite it not being particularly flashy.

Brisson continues to move things along, digging deep into Ghost Rider history more and more with each new issue, and I'm still on board as to where all of this is heading. Next issue's confrontation between Johnny and Dr. Strange is promising, I have high hopes that it will pick up the momentum after the last few issues of simmering subplots.

Blaze (1994) # 12

"A Blaze of Glory"

Cover Date: July 1995; On Sale Date: May 1995

Writer: Larry Hama; Artist: Gary Erskine; Letterer: Bill Oakley/NJQ; Colorist: John Kalisz; Editor: Marie Javins; Editor in Chief: Bobbie Chase; Cover Artist: Gary Erskine

John Blaze, Clara, and the Punisher arrive at the cemetery base of the Undead M.C., finding the vampires wrestling with a chained coffin. Thinking it to the be a source of their power, Blaze blows open the coffin with his hellfire shotgun, releasing the entity Uri-El, who immediately attacks. Blaze uses his shotgun against Uri-El, nearly destroying him, and the vampires rejoice. Blaze realizes that Uri-El was actually keeping the vampires in check and now that he's been defeated there is no one that can stand in their way.

The Wendigo arrives with Blaze's children, Craig and Emma, who use the magic nailfile against Charnel, the vampire leader. Carnel disarms Blaze and Punisher, allowing the vampires to nearly overwhelm them. Blaze reaches out and grabs Uri-El's flaming sword and uses it to kill the vampires, finally stabbing Charnel through the chest and ending the threat.

Blaze is reunited with his children, along with their orphaned companion Jesse Pinto, and returns the flaming sword to the recovered Uri-El. The rest of the Quentin Carnival arrive, having encountered and defeated a now shrunken down and imprisoned Shelob. Clara gives Blaze the jar containing the Eyes of the Kristall Starrer, stating she doesn't want to pay the price of using them anymore. Finally, the Punisher departs, telling Blaze to enjoy his happy ending because not everyone gets one of those.

THE ROADMAP

This is the final issue of the series. John Blaze appears next in Ghost Riders: Crossroads (1995) # 1.

John Blaze encountered the spider demon Shelob in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 11.

Blaze's children, Craig and Emma, are finally reuniting with their father for the first time since their disappearance in Ghost Rider (1990) # 50.

It is unknown if the angelic entity Uri-El in this issue is the same as the angel Uriel that appears in Ghost Rider (1990) # 92, but it's certainly possible despite their differences in appearance.

CHAIN REACTION

The comic rushes to a conclusion as it ties up the vampire storyline while paying the briefest of lip service to the many, many subplots that had been building throughout the series' run.

Blaze was a series that started off so incredibly strong and maintained its quality for so long that it really pains me to see it end with such a whimper in this issue. It all comes down to those damn vampires and whether or not Larry Hama had advance notice of the series coming to an end prior to starting this arc. The vampire arc, if it had been taken on its own, would have just gone down as a misfired storyline, it happens in comics all the time where an idea just doesn't work. As it stands, though, this was the series finale and by the time the vampire plot is wrapped up Hama has only a couple of pages to give resolution to everything else. Blaze gets reunited with his children, yes, but there's no end to the Baal storyline that dominated the first half of the series. Clara gives up her mystical eyes, Shelob gets defeated off panel, and the Wendigo disappears halfway through the comic. I understand and appreciate that Hama was able to at least provide what little payoffs that he could, but it still makes the comic suffer.

Speaking of suffering, the vampires are insufferable, especially their leader Charnel. I get their plan, that they want to use Blaze's hellfire to destroy Uri-El, who can in turn destroy them, but it begs the question of how it all fits into standard Marvel Universe vampire lore. I guess it doesn't really matter in the long run, I'm just glad none of these characters are able to make return appearances. Charnel starts speaking like a ye olde English pirate halfway through for seemingly no reason. The vampires are awful on every level.

What's not awful is the artwork by Gary Erskine, who finally seems to find his groove on this series just in time for it to end. His John Blaze continues to be impressive and his work on the Punisher is top notch. He just can't seem to handle anatomy and dynamic posing very well, the characters all flail around the page like marionettes. I do love the design for Uri-El, and the ending pages with the cherry trees blooming and dropping leaves everything really makes for a satisfying artistic conclusion. It's like the series wakes up out of a dark stupor just in time to say farewell to the readers, it's a really nice touch.

I loved this series when it began and I would kill to know where Hama would have taken the Quentin Carnival if sales hadn't killed things. Unfortunately, Blaze rides off into the sunset with this issue, a forgotten curio of the 1990s.

Blaze (1994) # 11

"A Pale Fire Gleaming"

Cover Date: June 1995; On Sale Date: April 1995

Writer: Larry Hama; Artist: Gary Erskine; Letterer: Bill Oakley/NJQ; Colorist: John Kalisz; Editor: Marie Javins; Editor in Chief: Bobbie Chase; Cover Artist: Gary Erskine

John Blaze is fighting the vampires of the Undead Motorcycle Club when the Punisher arrives, wanting to kill the lead vampire Charnel for dealing heroin. Despite being shot full of bullets and hellfire, the vampires escape and retreat. Outside, the members of the Quentin Carnival have fought off more of the vampires. Clara utilizes the eyes of the Kristall-Starrer to show where the vampires have escaped to and joins Blaze on the back of his motorcycle. John, Clara, and the Punisher ride off to find the vampires, leaving the other carnival members behind to follow later.
Meanwhile, in another dimension, Craig and Emma Blaze beg Jesse Pinto not to kill Baal and instead go with them and the Wendigo to save their dad. Jesse uses the magic nail file to brand the number 7 on Baal's forehead as a promise that he will return for revenge.

At their underpass base of operations, the Undead MC accidentally releases the vampire-killing angel Uriel from his sarcophagus. Uriel manages to kill one of the vampires before he is stopped by Shelob, who seals him back inside the sarcophagus. Blaze, Clara, and the Punisher arrive and resume their battle with the vampires while the Wendigo and the children make their way back to Earth.

THE ROADMAP

John Blaze encountered the spider demon Shelob in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 11.

Blaze's children, Craig and Emma, joined Jesse Pinto and the Wendigo to track down and kill Baal in Blaze (1994) # 6.

CHAIN REACTION

The weirdness of this series takes a goofy turn with slapstick vampires and a straight-man figure in the guest-starring Punisher.

I seriously don’t get where Larry Hama was coming from with this arc. Did he know at this point that the series was going to be cancelled with issue # 12? If so, what made him decide to take such a bizarre tangent as this when the series had so many other (and arguably a lot more interesting) avenues he could have explored? Hama has stated that he isn’t much of a plotter and tends to write things on the fly as they come to him, and that’s definitely apparent here. Let’s dig in a little.

I don’t quite understand the rationale behind the Punisher’s guest-appearance in this issue. He clashes with the tone of the series while also being as one-dimensional as possible. He shows up, shoots the vampires with a machinegun, and doesn’t bat an eyelid at the fact that his bullets aren’t effective. It’s almost like he’s there to try and out macho John Blaze, who in this series is the manliest man in the room, and winds up looking like a parody of his character. That Hama carries him over into the next issue as well kind of boggles my mind.

Then there’s the Uriel reveal halfway through the comic, which goes back to Hama’s plotting dilemma. The mystery of what was inside the sarcophagus and why the vampires were so afraid of it was one of the few interesting hooks in the last issue, so blowing that reveal here was a mistake. Uriel appears only to be shoved back inside his coffin; keeping the character’s reveal for the next issue would have served the story much better than the page filler sequence we get here.

Gary Erskine steps up his game a little after his less than stellar debut in the last issue, possibly because he’s more comfortable drawing the Punisher than the rest of the characters. His design for Uriel, whose body is composed completely of chains and a giant lock with one human arm, is a blessing because it looks so weird and cool that it again deserved a bigger reveal moment than it gets here. Erskine still struggles with the Quentin Carnival members, but they get such little screen time that it doesn’t really matter.

I don’t like that this storyline sidelines the members of the Quentin Carnival, I don’t like the vampires and their storyline, and I don’t like that the series’ search for Blaze’s children gets shoehorned in as a side story. The Punisher brings some unintentional comedy but it’s still not enough to save this comic. Hard pass.

Blaze (1994) # 10

"Interview with a Biker"

Cover Date: May 1995; On Sale Date: March 1995

Writer: Larry Hama; Artist: Gary Erskine; Letterer: Bill Oakley/NJQ; Colorist: John Kalisz; Editor: Marie Javins; Editor in Chief: Bobbie Chase; Cover Artist: Gary Erskine

A vampire motorcycle gang, the Undead M.C., see a vision of John Blaze, who they plan to use to destroy a being they have chained inside a coffin. Leaving the coffin in the hands of the spider-woman, Shelob, the vampires head out to find Blaze. Meanwhile, while on the road with the Quentin Carnival, Clara uses the eyes of the Kristall-Starrer to show John a vision of his children traveling with the Wendigo in their hunt for Baal.

While they head toward Blaze, the leader of the vampire gang, Charnel, is run over by a passing motorist. He kills the motorist and leaves their body as a sign pointing toward Stark’s Pavilion. The carnival members stop when they see the body, with Blaze going inside the Pavilion alone. While he confronts Charnel inside the Pavilion, the carnival members are attacked by the other vampires. Meanwhile, the Punisher learns from a tortured informant that Charnel is a drug supplier and can be found at the Pavilion.

In another dimension, Wendigo and Blaze’s children prepare to kill Baal but stop when he tells them that their father is in danger. Back in New Jersey, Blaze blasts Charnel with hellfire and thinks he has defeated them, only for them to rise back up and attack him.

THE ROADMAP

John Blaze encountered the spider demon Shelob in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 11.

Blaze's children, Craig and Emma, joined Jesse Pinto and the Wendigo to track down and kill Baal in Blaze (1994) # 6.

CHAIN REACTION

The series gains new artist Gary Erskine as it enters what will ultimately be the final story-arc.

I’ll be up front, I’m not a fan of this 3-part story. I feel like everything Hama and company had been working toward gets jettisoned in favor of vampires and angels, pushing to the background all that had been successful about the series to this point. I think a lot of that distaste comes from the vampires themselves, who come across as less than threatening and more like stooges. Charnel comes off as a solid villain, sure, but his crew of lackeys are more irritating than entertaining.

There’s also the fact that it’s a diversion from the book’s primary story engine, the search for Blaze’s children. I get that not every storyline can or should be centered around the kids, but this is too far a departure. Hama may have hung the series on weirdness and strange happenings, but without that narrative connecting tissue it just comes off as odd for odd’s sake.

The artwork unfortunately doesn’t help, as Gary Erskine struggles to adapt his style to the book’s tone. Judging by the art, Erskine thinks he’s retelling a version of the punk vampire film Near Dark, but Hama’s slapstick with the vampires plays at the opposite sense of style. Erskine doesn’t have much of a handle on the characters, established or otherwise, outside of Blaze himself. He seems to do well with the technical bits (the motorcycles, the shotgun, etc.), but his Quentin Carnival members are decidedly off-model.

For a series as compelling as this one has been over the last year, this issue can’t be held up as anything but a disappointing diversion. It’s too bad that this is what the series has to go out on in two issues’ time.

Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider (2023) # 3

"Fear the Dark"

Cover Date: September 2023; On Sale Date: July 2023

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Daniel Picciotto; Letterer: VC's Travis Lanham; Colorist: Guru-eFX; Editor: Darren Shan; Editor in Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Ben Harvey

Inside Cypress Hills Cemetery, the Ghost Rider threatens to kill a trio of ninjas that once worked with Blackout, demanding to know the villain's location. The Caretaker steps in and allows the ninjas to escape while Ghost Rider turns back into Dan Ketch, who is hysterical over the kidnapping of Stacy Dolan. Dan gets a phone call from John Blaze, who tells him that his wife and children have also been kidnapped. Assuming that Blackout is involved, Danny rides off to upstate New York with the Caretaker saying he will meet him there.

Elsewhere, the Broker meets with his master and informs him that their captives are safely hidden away. In a basement cell, Stacy Dolan and Roxanne Simpson, along with her sleeping children, talk about their abductions and attempt to find a way to escape. In Rhinebeck, New York, Blackout and the Scarecrow envelop the town in darkness and fear, terrorizing the citizens. Dan Ketch arrives at the town's border and finds a wall of pure darkness. The Caretaker appears and the two enter the darkness of the town, eventually coming across John Blaze. While Caretaker returns to the cemetery, Ketch and Blaze continue on until they find some of Blackout's victims, which triggers Dan's transformation into Ghost Rider

At a nearby comic book store, the Scarecrow terrorizes the inhabitants hiding inside. Ghost Rider and Blaze stop him but the two are attacked by Blackout, who Blaze shoots in the face with his hellfire shotgun, scarring him once again. Scarecrow is able to use his fear powers to tap into Dan Ketch inside Ghost Rider, causing both the collapse in terror. Caretaker arrives and Blaze saves Ghost Rider from Scarecrow. While they talk about whatever is happening to the connection between Ghost Rider and Dan, Scarecrow sneaks behind them and stabs the Caretaker with his pitchfork before escaping, seemingly killing him.

THE ROADMAP

This mini-series takes place during the 1990s Ghost Rider series, but where exactly it fits in continuity is unclear due to contradictory elements.

Due to the Quentin Carnival being active and John Blaze's wife and children still being with him this story likely takes place shortly after the "Rise of the Midnight Sons" crossover and before Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 4.

Blackout would have last appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 31 where he was killed in the Arctic along with the rest of the Lilin; he will be resurrected in Ghost Rider (1990) # 41. He received his facial scarring in Ghost Rider (1990) # 3 and learned that Dan and Ghost Rider were one and the same prior to Ghost Rider (1990) # 7.

Blackout worked with Deathwatch and his ninja assassins, three of whom appear here, in Ghost Rider (1990) # 3.

Scarecrow would have last appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 38 where he escaped from the Firm's hospital prison. He was given the ability to induce overwhelming fear in his victims via pheromones in Ghost Rider/Captain America; Fear.

CHAIN REACTION

Ghost Rider teams up with John Blaze for a Spirits of Vengeance reunion against Blackout and the Scarecrow as the mini-series continues to soldier on.

There's just something immediately engaging whenever Howard Mackie chooses to pair up Ghost Rider and Blaze, his versions of those two characters play off one another so well. That inherent charisma shines in this issue, as does almost all of the other characterization choices that Mackie makes. Danny Ketch and Ghost Rider also play off one another exceptionally well, a tricky thing to pull off considering the two can't necessarily occupy the same panels at the same time. The idea of their personalities bleeding into one another is something Mackie played with on and off during the original series, and it continues to be an intriguing concept to push the forward progress of their characterizations. Hell, even the Caretaker gets a good showing in this issue. He was always a character with a good presence on the page but too often was used as "mysterious information dumper" in the original series. Here he comes off as the reluctant mentor figure, a role he's much better suited for.

The villains also get a grand showing in this issue, particularly the Scarecrow. Mackie and Picciotto really sell the horrific nature of Blackout and Scarecrow, with the darkness manipulation and body contortions. The duo make for a very credible threat against Ghost Rider and Blaze, and it's good to see the classic villains getting such solid treatment after being used as canon fodder or jokes in other recent stories (looking at you, Heaven's On Fire).

Daniel Picciotto continues to really shine on this series and I really hope he gets another Ghost Rider gig at Marvel soon. His action scenes do seem a little stiff and posed at times, but I think he's an artist that is going to keep improving with each new project he works on. The panel of Scarecrow twisting his way into the comic book store is terrifying, and he really captures the dark edge that defined the 1990s series at its best.

This mini-series continues to hit all the right buttons for me and anyone who was a fan of the original Mackie run needs to pick this up.

Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider (2023) # 2

"A Darkening Heart"

Cover Date: August 2023; On Sale Date: June 2023

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Daniel Picciotto; Letterer: VC's Travis Lanham; Colorist: Guru-eFX; Editor: Darren Shan; Editor in Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Ben Harvey

Inside Cypress Hills Cemetery, the Broker finds Blackout and bestows upon him enhanced powers over darkness. Elsewhere in the cemetery, Ghost Rider punishes some criminals and is approached by the Caretaker. Ghost Rider transforms back into Dan Ketch and has a conversation with the Caretaker about the Ghost Rider's mental state and the feeling of something evil in the city. Meanwhile, at the Ravencroft Institute, the Broker frees the Scarecrow and gives him enhanced power as well. The Broker later meets with his master, who has ordered Blackout and Scarecrow to fetch individuals and return them to the master alive.

In Times Square, Dan meets Stacy Dolan for dinner and the two discuss their relationship. Suddenly all of the lights go out, plunging the area in total darkness, and screams are heard. Blackout attacks Dan but is stopped by Stacy's gunfire. Dan transforms into Ghost Rider and saves Stacy, engaging in a furious battle with Blackout, who uses his enhanced power to trap the Ghost Rider in a swirl of dark energy. When Ghost Rider frees himself the darkness in the area goes away, revealing all of Blackout's victims on the street. Ghost Rider transforms back to Dan, who realizes that Stacy has been kidnapped by Blackout.

Elsewhere, at the Quentin Carnival, John Blaze finishes up his stunt show while his wife, Roxanne, and their two children walk to their trailer. They start to experience an overwhelming sense of fear before Roxanne and the kids are attacked by the Scarecrow.

THE ROADMAP

This mini-series takes place during the 1990s Ghost Rider series, but where exactly it fits in continuity is unclear due to contradictory elements.

Due to the Quentin Carnival being active and John Blaze's wife and children still being with him this story likely takes place shortly after the "Rise of the Midnight Sons" crossover and before Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 4.

Stacy Dolan will learn that Dan and Ghost Rider are one and the same during the "Siege of Darkness" crossover, specifically in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 18.

Blackout would have last appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 31 where he was killed in the Arctic along with the rest of the Lilin; he will be resurrected in Ghost Rider (1990) # 41. He received his facial scarring in Ghost Rider (1990) # 3 and learned that Dan and Ghost Rider were one and the same prior to Ghost Rider (1990) # 7.

Scarecrow would have last appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 38 where he escaped from the Firm's hospital prison.

CHAIN REACTION

The Danny Ketch mini-series brings back two of the most successful villains from the 1990s series, Blackout and the Scarecrow, while the mystery of the Broker and his master continues to simmer in the background.

I'm not going to lie, this series works for me on just about every level. The characters are instantly recognizable as the ones I read about in the original series from decades ago, letting me settle in comfortably with familiarity. Given everything that came after for these characters its so refreshing to see Danny, Stacy, and even John Blaze in this relatively simpler time and place. The relationship between Dan and Stacy, which was the anchor for the series when it was arguably at its best, creates that instant connection for long-time readers. This comic is like a big welcoming hug of nostalgia and I'm embracing that hug with all my heart.

The other relationship in this issue is the one between Dan/Ghost Rider and Blackout, who always had such an interesting dynamic in the original series. Blackout comes off as appropriately terrifying here, though the violence is considerably toned down in comparison to modern comics and even contemporary stories from the time this series is set. The more horrific parts of the story are more implied than explicit, such as the "master" and his tendency to remove the limbs from his servants, which is particularly chilling.

The artwork by Daniel Picciotto continues to shine, though it's rough around the edges. His Ghost Rider looks great and he handles the action sequences well. The colors are also a highlight, which is a plus considering how much the story hinges around the idea of "darkness" enveloping the panels.

Overall, this continues to be a worthwhile series for longtime fans. Mackie's dialogue might be a little dated and stilted, but he's got a really engaging story going that hits all the right characterization notes. Still recommended.