On Sale Date: October 1997
Writer: Ivan Velez Jr.
Artist: Javier Saltares
Inker: Andrew Pepoy
Letterers: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief: Bob Harras
Cover Artist: Javier Saltares
Meanwhile, in the Void, Danny Ketch waits to regain his body after the Ghost Rider is finished on Earth, unaware of what has happened. He's visited by the ghost woman, who tells him that Blackheart has set things in motion that will affect both Dan and the Ghost Rider. Danny becomes angry, stating that he wishes he were free of the Ghost Rider. The woman sighs and tells him that his wish is about to come true.
Back in Hell, a weakened Ghost Rider is forced to watch as Blackheart condemns the soul of a woman to the pits, the woman that caused Doghead's mortal death. Blackheart explains that he is going to renegotiate all of the treaties with other realms that had been forged by his father, Mephisto, including the one regarding the Ghost Rider and his bloodline. He introduces the new Spirits of Vengeance and says that he wants the Ghost Rider to lead them; and to sweeten the pot, he will offer up Pao Fu to become the Rider's wife. Meanwhile, back on Earth, Stacy Dolan takes her frustration out on an illegal gun runner. She talks with Ski, who she still has feelings for even though she truly loves Danny. Ski surprises her by asking her to marry him.
In Hell, Pao Fu reveals herself as the woman that Ghost Rider attempted to save but failed, and that his was the only kind face she ever knew. She is in love with him, but he refuses her, telling the four Spirits that Blackheart is using them. They all disagree, praising Blackheart for giving each of them what they truly desired. Blackheart then sweetens the deal even more by offering to break the bloodline curse, freeing Noble Kale's descendants from hosting the Spirits of Vengeance. While this is happening, the Void begins to break apart around Danny, and the ghost woman disappears after calling Dan her "baby boy". Blackheart reveals that he has recovered Noble Kale's mortal body, and offers it to the Ghost Rider as a gift for accepting the deal. Even though he knows that Blackheart has ulterior motives, Ghost Rider accepts the deal with one condition, that he be given Black Rose as a wife along with Pao Fu. Blackheart laughs and accepts, tossing Ghost Rider's heart back to him. The Rider approaches his human body and places the heart inside. In the void, Danny feels himself dying as the dimension is destroyed around him, but he suddenly finds himself waking up in his own bed. Finally, in Hell, Blackheart and the Spirits of Vengeance gather around Noble Kale, now in his own body again with the Brand of Vengeance blazing on his chest.
Doghead's death was caused by the woman condemned to Hell in this issue during Ghost Rider (1990) # 89.
The identity of the ghost woman is revealed in Ghost Rider (1990) # 93.
Vengeance destroyed himself to kill Anton Hellgate in Ghost Rider (1990) # 76. He appears next, still in Hell as Blackheart's prisoner, in Ghost Rider (1990) # 93.
Ivan Velez's run always had a good balance of action and introspection, plenty of character-building quiet moments in between the fight scenes. This issue, though, is a real change of pace for the series, because it deals completely with conversations. This was the issue, honestly, that really sold me on this arc as a whole, given that the first chapter wasn't bad so much as it was just setting up the conflicts we see played out here. Blackheart really gets a chance to shine as more than just a Mephisto stand-in, the new Spirits of Vengeance all get some excellent definition to their characters, and the mystery of the ghost woman starts to become clearer. The faux Spirits of Vengeance, in particular, get a fantastic summation in one panel for each Spirit when they reveal what Blackheart has truly given to them. Pao Fu: "Redemption. Vengeance." Doghead: "Relevance. Vengeance." Verminous Rex: "Respect. Vengeance." Wallow: "Righteousness. Vengeance." These villains are getting fleshed out properly and becoming more than just bad guys for Ghost Rider to beat up, their nuances are coming to the fore.
I'm hard pressed to remember a time when this Ghost Rider was as defeated and weakened as he is in this issue, and that along with his acceptance of Blackheart's "deal" really serves to humanize a character that had long been defined by his inhuman characteristics. That's actually another hallmark of Velez's time as the title's writer, he was able to humanize Ghost Rider in some really unexpected ways, such as the cruelty he started to display after he learned his origin story. The Ghost Rider that he'd been developing over the last twenty issues is one who could accept Blackheart's deal without it breaking the character, because the Ghost Rider of Howard Mackie's tenure would never have accepted. That's not to say that Velez's version isn't valid, because he put in the time and the effort to get to this point and have it all flow naturally. Ghost Rider's attitude and Danny's rejection of the Ghost Rider, both of which lead to the dissolution of their connection, are things that Velez had been building to for nearly two years, and it starts the conclusion of some really interesting character evolution for them both.
Of course, all of this is benefited greatly by the presence of Javier Saltares on art. This title finally feels like its hitting the high notes again after months of sub-par artwork from some wildly inappropriate artists. While next issue reunites the Saltares/Texeira team, this issue has Andrew Pepoy on finishes for Saltares, and while its not quite the same as when Tex is involved its still some high quality work. Saltares definitely sells how far Ghost Rider has fallen through his depiction of the hands clawing at his body, the hellfire gone from his skull and gaping hole in his chest. I am one of many readers who appreciated editor Tom Brevoort's attempts to right this ship by getting Saltares back on board, and I can't help but think if it had just been six months earlier maybe this series would have made it to issue # 100. Just look at that cover, it's magnificent, and it jumped off the shelves when I first saw it.
"The Last Temptation" winds up being Velez's swan song on the series, and it's definitely proving to be a wild and unexpected ride. It's an arc I highly recommend, this issue being the particular stand-out.
The Ghost Rider, near death after having his heart ripped out by Pao Fu, has been left to lay alone in Hell, visited by the ghostly woman that had visited him previously in the Void. Elsewhere in Hell, Blackheart approaches Michael Badilino and offers to send him back to Earth as Vengeance, but Badilino refuses the offer and his torture resumes. The mysterious woman tells Ghost Rider, addressing him by his real name Noble, to think before he makes his next choice. The Rider's body is pulled by demonic hands and delivered to Blackheart's throne room, where the Hell-Lord orders his consort Black Rose to share some of her power with the Rider so they can talk. She does so, which awakens Ghost Rider just in time to see Blackheart's four ersatz Spirits of Vengeance arrive: Doghead, Wallow, Verminous Rex, and Pao Fu, who holds Ghost Rider's heart. She delivers it to Blackheart, who explains to the Rider that as long as he holds his heart the Ghost Rider is his to command.
Meanwhile, in the Void, Danny Ketch waits to regain his body after the Ghost Rider is finished on Earth, unaware of what has happened. He's visited by the ghost woman, who tells him that Blackheart has set things in motion that will affect both Dan and the Ghost Rider. Danny becomes angry, stating that he wishes he were free of the Ghost Rider. The woman sighs and tells him that his wish is about to come true.
Back in Hell, a weakened Ghost Rider is forced to watch as Blackheart condemns the soul of a woman to the pits, the woman that caused Doghead's mortal death. Blackheart explains that he is going to renegotiate all of the treaties with other realms that had been forged by his father, Mephisto, including the one regarding the Ghost Rider and his bloodline. He introduces the new Spirits of Vengeance and says that he wants the Ghost Rider to lead them; and to sweeten the pot, he will offer up Pao Fu to become the Rider's wife. Meanwhile, back on Earth, Stacy Dolan takes her frustration out on an illegal gun runner. She talks with Ski, who she still has feelings for even though she truly loves Danny. Ski surprises her by asking her to marry him.
In Hell, Pao Fu reveals herself as the woman that Ghost Rider attempted to save but failed, and that his was the only kind face she ever knew. She is in love with him, but he refuses her, telling the four Spirits that Blackheart is using them. They all disagree, praising Blackheart for giving each of them what they truly desired. Blackheart then sweetens the deal even more by offering to break the bloodline curse, freeing Noble Kale's descendants from hosting the Spirits of Vengeance. While this is happening, the Void begins to break apart around Danny, and the ghost woman disappears after calling Dan her "baby boy". Blackheart reveals that he has recovered Noble Kale's mortal body, and offers it to the Ghost Rider as a gift for accepting the deal. Even though he knows that Blackheart has ulterior motives, Ghost Rider accepts the deal with one condition, that he be given Black Rose as a wife along with Pao Fu. Blackheart laughs and accepts, tossing Ghost Rider's heart back to him. The Rider approaches his human body and places the heart inside. In the void, Danny feels himself dying as the dimension is destroyed around him, but he suddenly finds himself waking up in his own bed. Finally, in Hell, Blackheart and the Spirits of Vengeance gather around Noble Kale, now in his own body again with the Brand of Vengeance blazing on his chest.
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| Low blow, Blackheart, try to keep the gloves up! |
THE ROADMAP
Lian, the girl who became Pao Fu, died in Ghost Rider's arms in Ghost Rider (1990) # 88.
Doghead's death was caused by the woman condemned to Hell in this issue during Ghost Rider (1990) # 89.
The identity of the ghost woman is revealed in Ghost Rider (1990) # 93.
Vengeance destroyed himself to kill Anton Hellgate in Ghost Rider (1990) # 76. He appears next, still in Hell as Blackheart's prisoner, in Ghost Rider (1990) # 93.
CHAIN REACTION
"The Last Temptation" is living up to its promise to completely upend the book's status quo with an issue that has little action but a whole load of very interesting developments.
Ivan Velez's run always had a good balance of action and introspection, plenty of character-building quiet moments in between the fight scenes. This issue, though, is a real change of pace for the series, because it deals completely with conversations. This was the issue, honestly, that really sold me on this arc as a whole, given that the first chapter wasn't bad so much as it was just setting up the conflicts we see played out here. Blackheart really gets a chance to shine as more than just a Mephisto stand-in, the new Spirits of Vengeance all get some excellent definition to their characters, and the mystery of the ghost woman starts to become clearer. The faux Spirits of Vengeance, in particular, get a fantastic summation in one panel for each Spirit when they reveal what Blackheart has truly given to them. Pao Fu: "Redemption. Vengeance." Doghead: "Relevance. Vengeance." Verminous Rex: "Respect. Vengeance." Wallow: "Righteousness. Vengeance." These villains are getting fleshed out properly and becoming more than just bad guys for Ghost Rider to beat up, their nuances are coming to the fore.
Of course, all of this is benefited greatly by the presence of Javier Saltares on art. This title finally feels like its hitting the high notes again after months of sub-par artwork from some wildly inappropriate artists. While next issue reunites the Saltares/Texeira team, this issue has Andrew Pepoy on finishes for Saltares, and while its not quite the same as when Tex is involved its still some high quality work. Saltares definitely sells how far Ghost Rider has fallen through his depiction of the hands clawing at his body, the hellfire gone from his skull and gaping hole in his chest. I am one of many readers who appreciated editor Tom Brevoort's attempts to right this ship by getting Saltares back on board, and I can't help but think if it had just been six months earlier maybe this series would have made it to issue # 100. Just look at that cover, it's magnificent, and it jumped off the shelves when I first saw it.
"The Last Temptation" winds up being Velez's swan song on the series, and it's definitely proving to be a wild and unexpected ride. It's an arc I highly recommend, this issue being the particular stand-out.
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| Unexpected loopholes in a deal with the Devil? Never! |
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