The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 7

"Season of the Witch-Woman!"

Cover Date: January 1993; Publication Date: November 1992

Writer: Gary Friedrich; Artist: Tom Sutton; Inker: Syd Shores; Letterer: John Costanza; Colorist: Glynis Wein; Editor: Roy Thomas; Cover Artist: Jeff Johnson

In the abandoned cave ruins, Linda Littletrees, now going by the moniker of Witch Woman, holds the Ghost Rider captive. Binding him to the wall with flaming shackles, the Apache girl tells Johnny that she has been sent by Satan to collect his soul. Using her satanic powers, Linda projects her thoughts onto the cave wall, showing Blaze how she became Satan's thrall.

Less than a year before, she left her family's reservation to attend college in New York City. When she arrived, she met her roommate, a blonde girl named Jennifer Glatzer, who was a practicing devil-worshiper. Linda immediately became friends with the other girl, who eventually convinced the Indian to read some of her occult books. After about six months, Linda fell asleep on her bed while studying. While she slept, Jennifer entered the room, her satanic candle lit. She opens the window and calls for her master, offering Linda as a bride. When she receives no sign of Satan's arrival, Jennifer assumes that he has rejected her gift. When she looks at Linda, however, she sees the pentagram emblazoned on her forehead, a sign of acceptance. Johnny interrupts Linda's story, arguing with her that she was unwillingly duped into satanic servitude. Denying his accusations, the Witch Woman conjures a gag of hellfire around Blaze's mouth, so she can continue her story without further interjections.

The night after Jennifer's secret offering, Linda decides that she will join her roommate for one of her group's rituals. The two dress in exotic outfits and then cover up in large robes, so as not to draw attention to themselves on the way to the sabbat. Jennifer assures Linda that it's all pretend, easing her nervousness. They arrive at a large house and descend into the crypt-like basement, where Linda is shocked to see dozens of women with flaming torches surrounding a large altar. Jennifer and the other women surround the frightened girl and drag her to the altar, tying her down as they chant. Jennifer calls out for her master to appear, pulling out a large knife in the process. As the girls continued to chant louder and louder, Jennifer plunged the knife into Linda's stomach, but the girl felt nothing but the essence of Satan pouring into her.

Linda becomes wrapped up telling her story, breaking the concentration needed to maintain the Ghost Rider's bonds. Realizing he has his chance to escape, Johnny runs from the cave and hops on his motorcycle, his escape finally snapping his enemy back to reality. She fires several bolts of hellfire at the Rider as he navigates his way down the narrow trails of the pueblo. As he makes his escape, Satan appears before Linda, claiming that she has failed in her task. Linda pleads for a second chance, which the demon begrudgingly gives her. Having made his way to the bottom of the caves, Johnny turns back to see the Witch Woman standing at the top of the pueblo. She tells him that because she has failed in her mission, she must now pay the price. Turning her blasts of hellfire back on herself, Linda lights herself afire and falls to the canyon floor. Johnny turns away, unable to watch the girl's death. He rides away just as the sun comes up, transforming him back to his normal self.

"The Hangin' of Angus O'Donnel!, Part 2"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dick Ayers; Colorist: Mike Worley; Editor: Evan Skolnick 

Floyd and Red free Angus from his execution, but as they escape Phantom Rider follows and terrifies them. Sheriff Brown, his deputy Hollis, Jamie Jacobs, and William leave to follow Angus but are surprised to find Phantom Rider has hung Angus. Sheriff Brown vows to bring Phantom Rider to justice.

THE ROADMAP

This issue is a reprint of Marvel Spotlight on Ghost Rider # 11.

This issue also included an all-new back-up story featuring the old western Ghost Rider, Carter Slade, now re-named the Phantom Rider as of West Coast Avengers # 19.

The synopsis for the Phantom Rider story comes from Ghost Rider: The Official Index to the Marvel Universe.

CHAIN REACTION

The Phantom Rider serial takes a grim turn as Angus O'Donnel gets his hangin' one way or another.

This issue really brings home what "frontier vigilante justice" would really entail as the Phantom Rider takes matters into his own hands and executes a criminal. I mean, the Rider has a point that O'Donnel had already been convicted and sentenced to be hung, but to have it carried out in such a way does blur the line between "justice" and "the law". Slott toes that line nicely, not selling the Phantom Rider as the outright hero of the piece and definitely leaving some room for doubt.

Dick Ayers also contributes to the questionable proceedings with some carefully subtle artwork.  You see the lasso being thrown around O'Donnel, then you see him jerked off the horse, but it's not made clear what's happened until the great money shot of the silhouetted criminal hanging from the post with the lightning storm behind him. It's a great set of visuals that Ayers illustrates masterfully. 

The Phantom Rider series continues to capture my interest, even if its placement in this series is questionable.