Cover Date: May 1980
On Sale Date: February 1980
Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Tom Sutton
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Denny O'Neil
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky
Meanwhile, Johnny escapes from the police and steals a bike. Despite being very weak, he rides to the old farmhouse owned by Azaziah, determined to confront the sorcerer. He manages to surprise the old man, and while he dodges mystic energy bolts Blaze shatters the magical orb with a rock. He watches as Azaziah withers away, his life force ended with the destruction of the crystal. Desperate, Johnny looks through the mage's book of spells and finds the one he needs to reunite himself with the Ghost Rider. After tracking down the demon, he leads him on a chase back to the pentagram Azaziah had painted on the ground the night before. Blaze turns around to ride toward the demon, and when the two meet in the center of the pentagram they are once again bound to one another. Johnny is unable to keep control, and changes into the demon yet again to ride off into the desert night.
What If...? (1977) # 28 presented an alternate reality diverging from this issue, where Azaziah takes control of the Ghost Rider and attempts to assassinate the Catholic Pope.
Following the separation of the two in the previous issue, the Ghost Rider prepares to kill Johnny with a large wooden spike. Blaze tries to tell the demon that if one dies, the other shall as well, due to the mystic link they still share. The longer they're apart, the weaker they will become. The police interrupt the two, and while they arrest Johnny the Ghost Rider escapes. Elsewhere, Azaziah (the sorcerer responsible for splitting Blaze and the Rider) peers into his mystic orb in order to watch the demon rider's acts of chaos. He is dying, the fading crystal orb the only thing keeping the mage alive. He plans to use the Ghost Rider as his new source of energy, by allowing himself to become its new host and use the power to establish his tyranny over the world.
Meanwhile, Johnny escapes from the police and steals a bike. Despite being very weak, he rides to the old farmhouse owned by Azaziah, determined to confront the sorcerer. He manages to surprise the old man, and while he dodges mystic energy bolts Blaze shatters the magical orb with a rock. He watches as Azaziah withers away, his life force ended with the destruction of the crystal. Desperate, Johnny looks through the mage's book of spells and finds the one he needs to reunite himself with the Ghost Rider. After tracking down the demon, he leads him on a chase back to the pentagram Azaziah had painted on the ground the night before. Blaze turns around to ride toward the demon, and when the two meet in the center of the pentagram they are once again bound to one another. Johnny is unable to keep control, and changes into the demon yet again to ride off into the desert night.
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| That is one crusty old wizard. |
THE ROADMAP
Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze will be separated again in Ghost Rider (1973) # 81, which again results in them wasting away until being re-merged.
What If...? (1977) # 28 presented an alternate reality diverging from this issue, where Azaziah takes control of the Ghost Rider and attempts to assassinate the Catholic Pope.
CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 44 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 44 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!
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| Very specific wording in that spell, huh? |
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