On Sale Date: January 1983
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Bob Budiansky
Inker: Kevin Dzubin
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky
The next night, Vincenzo has a nightmare about what's going on in the Freakmaster's new freak tent in the center of the Carnival. Blaze sneaks inside, only to find a large room with schematics detailing how the Freakmaster plans to turn all the Carnival workers into man-made freaks. The villain enters the room, saying that he's glad he has the chance to get rid of Blaze so soon after his arrival. Four motorcycles roar into the room, half-man/half-machines like Renaldo wanted to turn Blaze into. When they attack, the Ghost Rider manages to force himself into control of Blaze's body. After a brief battle, Zarathos defeats the cycle-men, and then turns his attention to the Freakmaster. Ralph Quentin enters, telling the demon to take him instead. He was the owner of the Carnival where the Freakmaster's parents died, and that he deserves to suffer for what he did. The Ghost Rider pauses, unsure of which men deserves punishment more. In this moment of doubt, Blaze manages to wrest control from the demon. Johnny tells the Freakmaster to take his people and leave immediately, before Zarathos again regains control. The Freakmaster agrees to leave, happy that he's finally broke Ralph Quentin into never knowing peace.
The next day, as the freaks depart, Johnny attempts to talk to Quentin, but is ignored by the man. Before Blaze can follow, a voice from the past interrupts him. He turns to find Roxanne Simpson, his former love, standing behind him.
The Freakmaster first appeared in shadow in Ghost Rider (1973) # 70, the same issue in which Renaldo "rescued" Jeremy from the Carnival.
Though her identity has been kept secret, Roxanne has been searching for Johnny since Ghost Rider (1973) # 74.
Johnny returns to the Quentin Carnival with the rambling Vincenzo in tow. Immediately, the two go to Ralph Quentin's trailer to warn him of what Renaldo told them, that his boss was coming to the Carnival. When he enters, Ralph is already in the presence of Renaldo's master, a small little man named the Freakmaster. Blaze confronts the man, demanding to know why he had Renaldo experiment on Vincenzo. The Freakmaster expresses deep regret and concern for what's happened, saying that Renaldo was working on his own without consent. He tells Blaze his story, about how he was born from two freakish parents who were mistreated by the Carnival owner they worked for, eventually perishing from the abuse. Deciding nobody should go through the same treatment, he has set up an island retreat for the freakish, so they can experience love amongst their own kind. After sending Renaldo to "rescue" Jeremy, he learned of the Carnival's money problems. The agent he sent to help Quentin, Steel Wind, was discovered to be just as imbalanced as Renaldo. Blaze leaves, though still suspicious of the man.
The next night, Vincenzo has a nightmare about what's going on in the Freakmaster's new freak tent in the center of the Carnival. Blaze sneaks inside, only to find a large room with schematics detailing how the Freakmaster plans to turn all the Carnival workers into man-made freaks. The villain enters the room, saying that he's glad he has the chance to get rid of Blaze so soon after his arrival. Four motorcycles roar into the room, half-man/half-machines like Renaldo wanted to turn Blaze into. When they attack, the Ghost Rider manages to force himself into control of Blaze's body. After a brief battle, Zarathos defeats the cycle-men, and then turns his attention to the Freakmaster. Ralph Quentin enters, telling the demon to take him instead. He was the owner of the Carnival where the Freakmaster's parents died, and that he deserves to suffer for what he did. The Ghost Rider pauses, unsure of which men deserves punishment more. In this moment of doubt, Blaze manages to wrest control from the demon. Johnny tells the Freakmaster to take his people and leave immediately, before Zarathos again regains control. The Freakmaster agrees to leave, happy that he's finally broke Ralph Quentin into never knowing peace.
The next day, as the freaks depart, Johnny attempts to talk to Quentin, but is ignored by the man. Before Blaze can follow, a voice from the past interrupts him. He turns to find Roxanne Simpson, his former love, standing behind him.
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| Freakmaster offers a generous severance package. |
THE ROADMAP
Vincenzo was kidnapped, and presumed murdered, by Steel Wind in Ghost Rider (1973) # 75. He was discovered alive by Johnny in Ghost Rider (1973) # 77.
The Freakmaster first appeared in shadow in Ghost Rider (1973) # 70, the same issue in which Renaldo "rescued" Jeremy from the Carnival.
Though her identity has been kept secret, Roxanne has been searching for Johnny since Ghost Rider (1973) # 74.
CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 79 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!
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