Cover Date: April 1995; On Sale Date: February 1995
Writer: Len Kaminski; Artist: Kyle Hotz; Letterer: Richard Starkings w/ John Gaushell Colorist: Christie Scheele w/ Heroic Age; Editor: Evan Skolnick; Editor in Chief: Bobbie Chase; Cover Artist: Heroic Age
In the heart of Neo-Chicago, the Ghost Rider rides into the Citiplex Delta building that houses the wealthy elitists responsible for the murder of downrampers in Transverse City. The security cameras record the Ghost Rider as he easily takes out the building's guards before he heads toward the elevator. Sitting outside the building in his specialized vehicle is the assassin Coda, who has been tasked by the police to destroy the Rider. Behind him, reporter Willis Adams gets out of his van with a flying camera unit, ready to record the Ghost Rider in the act. Coda remains in his vehicle, now watching through Willis' camera unit.
The Ghost Rider makes his way upstairs and comes to a door marked "Pioneer Society", the name of the group that had been using designer robotic predators to kill the poor for sport. Entering the Society's headquarters, Zero comes to the "Game Room" and slowly pushes open the door...only to find all of the Society members dead, ripped to pieces while still jacked into their predators. In the corner of the room is Diana Matlin, who has lost her mind after the destruction of her predator damaged her brain - it was she who killed the Pioneers in a feral state, and like a wild, growling beast she leaps at Zero. The Ghost Rider catches her by the throat and gets ready to execute her for her crimes but pauses while considering the morality of his actions. He's interrupted by Willis Adams, who tells Cochrane that no one appointed him judge, jury, and executioner - that Matlin needs to stand trial for what she's done. The Ghost Rider releases Matlin to attack Adams, telling the reporter to "make a citizen’s arrest". While Adams fights for his life, Zero calmly walks out of the room, shooting down the man's pleas for help by saying "Stuff like that's not up to me, remember? Guess I'll go call a cop..." In desperation, Willis grabs the flying camera unit and uses it as a weapon, beating Matlin until she's dead.
Outside, the Ghost Rider gets on his bike and starts to ride away but is rammed off the street by Coda's vehicle. Coda hits the street and immediately attacks Zero, landing several hard blows in a matter of moments. Cochrane attempts to fight back, but Coda easily dodges his attacks and replying with weapons that materialize seemingly out of thin air. Coda throws several energy blades at the Rider which explode on impact, damaging the warbot severely. Coda produces one last weapon, a large gun, and prepares to finish the job. Meanwhile, in Cyberspace, a mysterious stranger speaks a programming spell that allows him an audience with the Ghostworks, who are impressed that a human both deduced their existence and devised a means of acquiring their attention. This human is Doom, who tells them that he wishes to speak regarding significant matters of mutual interest.
Back in Neo-Chicago, the badly damaged Ghost Rider tries to stand one last time but is hit with a shot from Coda's energy rifle. The weapon obliterates the Ghost Rider's body, leaving nothing but scattered machine parts and a crater in the concrete. Coda walks up to the Rider's severed skull and kicks it with his boot, quipping that the job was nothing personal - and that "life's a glitch, but at least you only had to go through it once”.
Doctor Doom will take control of the United States during the "One Nation Under Doom" crossover. His plans for Zero Cochrane will be revealed in Ghost Rider 2099 (1994) # 14.
CHAIN REACTION
The first year of Ghost Rider 2099 ends in fireworks - literally - and the set-up for the "One Nation Under Doom" storyline is established. One thing's for sure: after this issue, this title is going to be very, very different.
If anything can be said about this series, it's that writer Len Kaminski isn't afraid to tackle subjects beyond "villain wants to rule the world" stereotypes and clichés. This issue, which concludes the urban predator storyline of the last few issues, includes an excellent discussion about vigilantism between the Ghost Rider and reporter Willis Adams. While Adams makes some valid points about the nature of the law and justice in America (even in the future), Zero dismantles Adams' entire argument by releasing the feral woman and walking away, proudly saying "not my job, remember?". Zero's right, the rich don't get punished for stepping on the little people - or murdering them for sport, in this case - and his vigilante justice is probably the only comeuppance the Pioneer Society would receive due to their prestige and large bank accounts. Adams' has a valid point as well, that no one should be allowed to act as judge, jury, and executioner just because they feel like it, but it's hard to argue with Zero when the chips are down, and Adams is forced to kill Matlin for his own survival. It's a great sequence that really hammers home the anarchist leanings of this series and the lead character.
Of course, the second half of the issue is little more than an extended fight sequence between Ghost Rider and Coda, a generic "techno-ninja" character with big guns. What makes this fight unique is that throughout the series so far, Zero hasn't come across any foes that really gave him much of a challenge. He's ripped through police like a scythe, and no one had been able to step up and prove his match. Coda, on the other hand, does the seemingly unthinkable to our unstoppable protagonist - he destroys him, leaving nothing but a skull and a crater. Coda comments that Zero has power but no skill, and that's his downfall now that he's finally facing an opponent that's smarter and tougher than him. I admit, upon my first reading of this issue it was a real shock to see the Ghost Rider get his ass handed to him so easily and thoroughly. But it's also smart on Kaminski's part to finally show that Zero isn't unstoppable at all.
This issue is also the last for artist Kyle Hotz, who took over when Chris Bachalo abandoned the title earlier than expected. Though his style is much different than that of Bachalo, who set up the tone and design for the series - Hotz's work really grew on me over the last few issues, and I find myself missing his work on the series. Considering the rather uneven and sporadic artwork by the book's next regular artist, Ashley Wood, Hotz's work tends to get overlooked, and that's a damn shame.
In the next issue, the series takes a dramatic turn when the "One Nation Under Doom" storyline hits - thus, this issue is indeed a "coda" to the book's status quo for its first year. As expected, it ended on a high note.
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