Cover Date: April 1977
On Sale Date: January 1977
Writers: Gerry Conway & Jim Shooter
Artist: Don Heck
Inker: Don Newton
Letterer: Irv Watanabe
Colorist: Don Warfield
Editor: Archie Goodwin
Cover Artist: Jack Kirby
At his apartment, Blaze is confronted by Roxanne Simpson and the Stuntmaster, who are concerned about the odd behavior of their director Coot Collier. Blaze dismisses their concerns, leaving Stuntmaster to storm off and Roxanne to openly ask if Johnny still has feelings for her. At his hideout, the Water Wizard counts his stolen money with his helper, Mole, and recounts his origin story. He was a Vietnam veteran who had to undergo an emergency laser operation on a boat during a lightning storm, and when lighting struck the ship it gave him the ability to control water. The Enforcer addresses the two men and offers the Water Wizard one million dollars to kill the Ghost Rider, which the Wizard happily agrees to do.
During a taping of the Stuntmaster television show, Blaze is attacked by hands of water while performing a motorcycle stunt through a waterfall. He is able to transform into the Ghost Rider to free himself, and sees the Water Wizard on a nearby scaffold, but the villain disappears. Suspecting the involvement of the Enforcer, Blaze acts on his suspicions of studio owner Charles Delazny being involved and goes to the man's home in Hollywood. He finds the Water Wizard waiting for him, who attacks with the water from a fountain and a pool. Blaze manages to blast the Water Wizard with hellfire, then loses consciousness himself. Delazny appears and stands over the unconscious Blaze, saying that coming there would cost him his life.
This issue has the first instance of Ghost Rider's hellfire being able to burn someone's soul without scalding their flesh, which will become the character's main power for the remainder of the series.
The Ghost Rider departs the company of his teammates in the Champions, but as he rides away the other heroes talk amongst themselves about how unsettled they are by him. After a brief ride through Los Angeles, Ghost Rider stops in an alley and transforms back into Johnny Blaze, who is near exhaustion from the effort. As he makes his way home, a nearby bank is attacked by a giant water monster, which is under the control of a rookie super-criminal called the Water Wizard. The villain robs the bank and makes a safe getaway from the police, who watch the water monster melt into a puddle.
At his apartment, Blaze is confronted by Roxanne Simpson and the Stuntmaster, who are concerned about the odd behavior of their director Coot Collier. Blaze dismisses their concerns, leaving Stuntmaster to storm off and Roxanne to openly ask if Johnny still has feelings for her. At his hideout, the Water Wizard counts his stolen money with his helper, Mole, and recounts his origin story. He was a Vietnam veteran who had to undergo an emergency laser operation on a boat during a lightning storm, and when lighting struck the ship it gave him the ability to control water. The Enforcer addresses the two men and offers the Water Wizard one million dollars to kill the Ghost Rider, which the Wizard happily agrees to do.
During a taping of the Stuntmaster television show, Blaze is attacked by hands of water while performing a motorcycle stunt through a waterfall. He is able to transform into the Ghost Rider to free himself, and sees the Water Wizard on a nearby scaffold, but the villain disappears. Suspecting the involvement of the Enforcer, Blaze acts on his suspicions of studio owner Charles Delazny being involved and goes to the man's home in Hollywood. He finds the Water Wizard waiting for him, who attacks with the water from a fountain and a pool. Blaze manages to blast the Water Wizard with hellfire, then loses consciousness himself. Delazny appears and stands over the unconscious Blaze, saying that coming there would cost him his life.
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| That show has killer special effects! |
THE ROADMAP
Ghost Rider last appeared in The Champions (1975) # 15.
This issue has the first instance of Ghost Rider's hellfire being able to burn someone's soul without scalding their flesh, which will become the character's main power for the remainder of the series.
CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 23 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!
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| Attacked by a swimming pool? |
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