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On Sale Date: January 2009
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Tan Eng Huat
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Jose Villarubia
Assistant Editor: Sebastian Girner
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Cover Artist: Arthur Suydam
Several Days Ago: Former deputy Kowalski has become obsessed with the Ghost Rider since he was given the Penance Stare. He's lost his job, had his severed hand replaced with a hook, and has been collecting newspaper clippings about the Rider. At a liquor store, a servant of Zadkiel gives Kowalski the name and phone number of Michael Badilino as a way to get revenge on Blaze. Now: Kowalski has been transported via bus by another of Zadkiel's minions to the middle of the Arabian Desert, where he is told to sit and wait. Kowalski, now in possession of the hellfire shotgun, unfolds a chair and sits in the sun, waiting for his chance.
In Africa, along the Congo River, Blaze and his companions (Sister Sara, the new Character, and Molek and Bai Gu Jing, two Spirits of Vengeance) have arrived at the City of Skulls. Surrounded by white-garbed Phantom Riders, the group is welcomed by the final two remaining Ghost Riders, the Baron Skullfire and Marinette Bwa Chech. Blaze, still disillusioned by his encounter with his brother Danny Ketch, meets two young boys who ask for a ride on his motorcycle. He tells the kids "maybe some other time". Later, Sister Sara has a conversation with Molek, who explains to her that while the Spirits of Vengeance all come from Heaven, each Ghost Rider sees their own personal deities as the source of their power. While each of the Spirits of Vengeance prepare themselves for the coming battle, Danny and the Black Host arrive in the surrounding forest. Meanwhile, in Heaven, Zadkiel and his army continue their siege, waiting on the power of the Spirits of Vengeance.
Inside the City of Skulls, Blaze is approached in his room by the two young boys from before. He yells at them, telling them that he won't give them a ride on his bike, but the youths are instead there to tell him goodbye before they go off to fight in the battle. Outside, Baron Skullfire has gathered his Phantom Riders along with the other Spirits of Vengeance to make their final stand. Blaze, as the Ghost Rider, arrives on his motorcycle, having finally found the will to fight. They look out to see Ketch and the Black Host quickly approaching.
In Africa, along the Congo River, Blaze and his companions (Sister Sara, the new Character, and Molek and Bai Gu Jing, two Spirits of Vengeance) have arrived at the City of Skulls. Surrounded by white-garbed Phantom Riders, the group is welcomed by the final two remaining Ghost Riders, the Baron Skullfire and Marinette Bwa Chech. Blaze, still disillusioned by his encounter with his brother Danny Ketch, meets two young boys who ask for a ride on his motorcycle. He tells the kids "maybe some other time". Later, Sister Sara has a conversation with Molek, who explains to her that while the Spirits of Vengeance all come from Heaven, each Ghost Rider sees their own personal deities as the source of their power. While each of the Spirits of Vengeance prepare themselves for the coming battle, Danny and the Black Host arrive in the surrounding forest. Meanwhile, in Heaven, Zadkiel and his army continue their siege, waiting on the power of the Spirits of Vengeance.
Inside the City of Skulls, Blaze is approached in his room by the two young boys from before. He yells at them, telling them that he won't give them a ride on his bike, but the youths are instead there to tell him goodbye before they go off to fight in the battle. Outside, Baron Skullfire has gathered his Phantom Riders along with the other Spirits of Vengeance to make their final stand. Blaze, as the Ghost Rider, arrives on his motorcycle, having finally found the will to fight. They look out to see Ketch and the Black Host quickly approaching.
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| Jambo to you too, Baron Skullfire! |
THE ROADMAP
Blaze discovered that the Ghost Rider curse was given to him by the angel Zadkiel in Ghost Rider (2006) # 18. He has been searching for a way to get to Heaven since Ghost Rider (2006) # 20.
Danny Ketch made his reappearance as an angel of Zadkiel in Ghost Rider (2006) # 22. His reasons for joining with Zadkiel, along with the explanation of his whereabouts in recent years, are told in Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch (2008) # 1-5.
Kowalski first appeared in Ghost Rider (2006) # 21 and was given the Penance Stare by Blaze in Ghost Rider (2006) # 23. He acquired Blaze's hellfire shotgun from Michael Badilino in Ghost Rider (2006) # 30.
The newspaper clippings on Kowalski's wall are all related to the Ghost Rider's recent activities, which include:
Danny Ketch made his reappearance as an angel of Zadkiel in Ghost Rider (2006) # 22. His reasons for joining with Zadkiel, along with the explanation of his whereabouts in recent years, are told in Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch (2008) # 1-5.
Kowalski first appeared in Ghost Rider (2006) # 21 and was given the Penance Stare by Blaze in Ghost Rider (2006) # 23. He acquired Blaze's hellfire shotgun from Michael Badilino in Ghost Rider (2006) # 30.
The newspaper clippings on Kowalski's wall are all related to the Ghost Rider's recent activities, which include:
- "Petroleum Magnate Earl Gustav Dies in Bizarre Accident" (Ghost Rider (2005) # 6)
- "Arsonist Biker Suspected in Deaths at Iron Skillet Truck Stop" (Ghost Rider (2006) # 2)
- "Rash of Gruesome Beheadings Terrorize Sleepy Hollow, Illinois" (Ghost Rider (2006) # 8-11)
- "Crazed Motorcyclist Sought in Conjunction With Near Disaster at New York Airport" (Ghost Rider (2006) # 12)
- "Riot at Waxahachie Prison Blamed on Mysterious Intruder" (Ghost Rider (2006) # 24-25.
Molek and Baron Skullfire make mention of "the old Order of the Midnight Sons", of which they were apparently members. Blaze was a member of a brief modern incarnation of this group in Midnight Sons Unlimited (1993) # 4.
Sister Sara's vision of the numerous Ghost Riders include Caleb from Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears (2007) # 1-5, Shoba Mirza from Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch (2008) # 2, and Yokai-Raida from Ghost Rider (2006) # 30. All of the Spirits of Vengeance she sees in her vision will appear during the fight against Zadkiel in Heaven in Ghost Riders: Heaven's On Fire (2009) # 6.
CHAIN REACTION
- "Arsonist Biker Suspected in Deaths at Iron Skillet Truck Stop" (Ghost Rider (2006) # 2)
- "Rash of Gruesome Beheadings Terrorize Sleepy Hollow, Illinois" (Ghost Rider (2006) # 8-11)
- "Crazed Motorcyclist Sought in Conjunction With Near Disaster at New York Airport" (Ghost Rider (2006) # 12)
- "Riot at Waxahachie Prison Blamed on Mysterious Intruder" (Ghost Rider (2006) # 24-25.
Molek and Baron Skullfire make mention of "the old Order of the Midnight Sons", of which they were apparently members. Blaze was a member of a brief modern incarnation of this group in Midnight Sons Unlimited (1993) # 4.
Sister Sara's vision of the numerous Ghost Riders include Caleb from Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears (2007) # 1-5, Shoba Mirza from Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch (2008) # 2, and Yokai-Raida from Ghost Rider (2006) # 30. All of the Spirits of Vengeance she sees in her vision will appear during the fight against Zadkiel in Heaven in Ghost Riders: Heaven's On Fire (2009) # 6.
CHAIN REACTION
"Last Stand of the Spirits of Vengeance" is nearing its conclusion as we meet the final two surviving Ghost Riders and Blaze continues to pout like a little kid.
This is an issue full of really interesting concepts and ideas without much in the way of story advancement. Aaron has been very sly when it comes to dropping in ties to previous Ghost Rider continuity and the way it all connects back to his take on the origin story. Last issue brought back Michael "Vengeance" Badilino, and this issue sees a name-drop of the Midnight Sons. Most importantly, Aaron takes the time to explain away some of the possible inconsistencies of the whole "powered by Heaven" idea combined with the "International Club of Ghost Riders". It didn't make much sense for characters from non-Christian religions being powered by angels, and to be honest I could see it being a little insulting to readers of different faiths. It comes close to saying that Christianity is the "one, true" religion since it's the definite source of the Spirits of Vengeance. So the explanation that Molek gives to Sara makes sense; no one religion is really right, it's all viewed through the individual's interpretation of faith.
Johnny Blaze seems to have come through his "crisis of faith" (pun intended, sorry) with a lesson in humility delivered by two little boys dressed like white gorillas. Fuck, this comic is bizarre. Still, it was a nice bit that was used appropriately to shock Johnny out of his death wish funk. This arc doesn't show a very flattering side to Blaze, though he has always tended to be a bit of a brooder (though I don't recall him being quite as whiny as he is here).
Tan Eng Huat steps up his game considerably with this issue, particularly when it comes to the designs of the new Ghost Riders. I argued last issue that his designs for the new Riders weren't particularly inspired, though they had nice flourishes to them. Here, though, we get the Baron Skullfire, who has a great voodoo-inspired look to him; and then there's the splash page of Ghost Riders, where we finally get to see what some of these Spirits actually ride. You've got the Russian Cossack riding a ghost bear, the flaming elephant of Shoba Mirza, and most importantly: Shark Rider.
The last two issues have been appropriately slow with the build-up to the Ghost Riders' titular "last stand", but the characterization shown here makes the journey at least interesting.
This is an issue full of really interesting concepts and ideas without much in the way of story advancement. Aaron has been very sly when it comes to dropping in ties to previous Ghost Rider continuity and the way it all connects back to his take on the origin story. Last issue brought back Michael "Vengeance" Badilino, and this issue sees a name-drop of the Midnight Sons. Most importantly, Aaron takes the time to explain away some of the possible inconsistencies of the whole "powered by Heaven" idea combined with the "International Club of Ghost Riders". It didn't make much sense for characters from non-Christian religions being powered by angels, and to be honest I could see it being a little insulting to readers of different faiths. It comes close to saying that Christianity is the "one, true" religion since it's the definite source of the Spirits of Vengeance. So the explanation that Molek gives to Sara makes sense; no one religion is really right, it's all viewed through the individual's interpretation of faith.
Johnny Blaze seems to have come through his "crisis of faith" (pun intended, sorry) with a lesson in humility delivered by two little boys dressed like white gorillas. Fuck, this comic is bizarre. Still, it was a nice bit that was used appropriately to shock Johnny out of his death wish funk. This arc doesn't show a very flattering side to Blaze, though he has always tended to be a bit of a brooder (though I don't recall him being quite as whiny as he is here).
Tan Eng Huat steps up his game considerably with this issue, particularly when it comes to the designs of the new Ghost Riders. I argued last issue that his designs for the new Riders weren't particularly inspired, though they had nice flourishes to them. Here, though, we get the Baron Skullfire, who has a great voodoo-inspired look to him; and then there's the splash page of Ghost Riders, where we finally get to see what some of these Spirits actually ride. You've got the Russian Cossack riding a ghost bear, the flaming elephant of Shoba Mirza, and most importantly: Shark Rider.
The last two issues have been appropriately slow with the build-up to the Ghost Riders' titular "last stand", but the characterization shown here makes the journey at least interesting.
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| Now THAT is a wake-up call. |
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