Night Rider (1974) # 1

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Published: Oct. 1974
Original Price: $.25

 

Title: "The Origin of the Night Rider"
Writers: Gary Friedrich & Roy Thomas
Artist: Dick Ayers
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: John Verpoorten
Colorist: None Credited
Editor: Stan Lee

 

SYNOPSIS

Carter Slade, a school teacher on his way out west, sees a ranch being attacked by a group of indians. When he tries to intervene, the indians shoot him, but not before he realizes that the "indians" are actually white men in disguise. Left for dead by the marauders, a mortally wounded Slade is found by a young boy named Jamie Jacobs, the only survivor of the ranch attack. He manages to put Slade on his horse, and the two begin their march toward help. They stumble across a group of Sioux, who take the dying Slade to their medicine man, Flaming Star. Slade awakens, his wounds suddenly healed, and Flaming Star tells him of the prophecy delivered to him by his gods. He witnessed a falling meteor and was told to gather up the luminous dust left in the rock's wake and wait for the coming of a great champion, known as "He Who Rides the Night Winds". Flaming Star leads Slade and Jacobs to a white horse, whom Slade easily tames and gives the name Banshee. They leave the Sioux, and after making camp that night Slade offers to raise Jacobs himself. He then uses the glowing dust to fashion himself a costume and spooky identity as the Night Rider.

 

The next day, the faux indians have gathered at the ranch of their employer, Jason Bartholomew, who wants to chase off all of the settlers who have made their way to "his land". He orders his men, led by his foreman Blackie Clay, to burn down the schoolhouse in nearby Bison's Bend. When they do so, however, the townspeople easily see through their disguises, and in return Clay kidnaps a woman named Natalie, sister to settler Ben Brooks. Slade and Jacobs arrive in town and are told the news, prompting Carter to ride off to find Natalie.

 

That night, Bartholomew is chastising his men for bringing Natalie back to his ranch when the lights suddenly go out. The Night Rider appears before the men, seemingly impervious to their gunshots, and he makes quick work of the men that attempt to fight instead of flee in terror. Slade frightens Bartholomew into agreeing to turn himself into the marshals, then departs while Natalie herself escapes, unaware of what has really happened. The next day, Slade and Jacobs are invited to remain in Bison's Bend, and the two go off to start their new lives.

 

ANNOTATIONS 

This issue is a reprint of The Ghost Rider (1967) # 1.

To avoid confusion with the then-current Johnny Blaze character and series, when Carter Slade was reintroduced in the pages of Avengers his name was changed to Night Rider.  In this reprint series, all instances of the Ghost Rider's name were re-lettered to "Night Rider".  Marvel would change the name again to "Phantom Rider" in the 1980s when they realized the white-garbed Ku Klux Klan called their soldiers Night Riders, an unfortunate coincidence to say the least.

This issue also had back-up story, "The Walking Target", reprinted from Quick Trigger Western # 18.