Ghost Rider (1973) # 55

"Touch of Terror!"

Cover Date: April 1981
On Sale Date: January 1981

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Don Perlin
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Editor: Denny O'Neil
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

While riding through the Nevada desert, the Ghost Rider chances across a formula racing car. Desiring a challenge, the demon races the car, eventually running it off the road. When GR returns to Las Vegas, he relinquishes control back to the exhausted Johnny Blaze. Wanting nothing but sleep, Johnny decides to cut through a casino to reach his hotel room.

At that moment, the casino patrons are attacked by the villain known as Tatterdemalion, whose toxic powers can dissolve cloth and paper. Also in the crowd, however, is one Jack Russell - the Werewolf by Night - who quickly transforms and attacks the criminal. A moment later, Russell begins to scream unexpectedly and then goes into a berserk rampage. Johnny sees this, promptly transforming into the Ghost Rider. The two fight, but eventually both tire and return to their human personas.

Later, Russell tells Blaze that he's been having trouble controlling the werewolf side of his persona, and he can't explain the bouts of frenzy that he's been experiencing. That night, Blaze performs his cycle show with Russell in the crowd. Suddenly, he turns into his wolf form and goes on yet another rampage, which the Ghost Rider is barely able to stop. The next day, John asks Gina if she can lock Jack inside her garage for the night, so he won't hurt anybody. In return, Gina asks Johnny to drive her race car in that day's rest, as the driver injured his arm during the previous encounter with the Ghost Rider. Before the race, Tatterdemalion decides to steal the race car. The Ghost Rider pursues, running the car off the road and leaving the villain for dead. Unseen by the demon, the criminal crawls away from the wreckage. The next day, Jack tells Blaze that he's heading back to LA. Moments later, Gina arrives and tells Blaze that due to her fear of the Ghost Rider, she can't see him anymore.

Hobo powers activate!

THE ROADMAP
Jack Russell's search for the Tatterdemalion began in Marvel Team-Up # 93.

The Ghost Rider and the Werewolf met briefly in Marvel Premiere # 28.

Gina Langtree first appeared in Ghost Rider (1973) # 41-42, and made her reappearance in Ghost Rider (1973) # 54.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 55 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!


YAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

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