Ghost Rider (1973) # 29

"Deadly Pawn!"

Cover Date: April 1978
On Sale Date:  January 1978

Writer: Roger McKenzie
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: "N.Y. Tribe" (Owen McCarron, Tony DeZuniga, & Alfredo Alcala)
Letterer: Gaspar Saldino, Peter Iro, & Jean Simek
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Archie Goodwin

Desperate to prove himself as the world's greatest stunt rider, and to forget that he has lost Roxanne Simpson for good, Johnny Blaze attempts to jump over a massive gorge in front of a large audience as the Ghost Rider.  When he makes the jump, however, he disappears and finds himself blacking out as he is transformed back into his human form.  When he awakens, he's being held captive by Dr. Strange, who swears to kill Blaze.  Johnny transforms into the Ghost Rider to fight back against Strange, unaware that the battle is being observed by Strange's enemy Dormammu.  After a brief period lost in darkness, Ghost Rider busts his way out of Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, only to find a twisted and transformed New York City.  On the street, Dr. Strange commands his demonic servants to ready the screaming Roxanne for death by burning her at the stake.  The Ghost Rider flies into a rage and destroys the demons, freeing Roxanne as he speeds away.  Roxanne herself then transforms into a demon, which allows Dr. Strange to get the upper hand.  Meanwhile, a shadowy bounty hunter on horseback guns down his target in an alley, then produces a new wanted poster with Johnny Blaze's face that states "Wanted Dead or Alive".

Back in the twisted New York, Ghost Rider and Dr. Strange continue their battle, with Strange acting very out of character.  Dormammu continues to observe, pontificating about how this "Dr. Strange" is actually just a magical construct created by him to drive the Ghost Rider into a demonic rage.  When the battle causes the construct Strange to flee, Blaze gives chase on his hellfire cycle.  Dormammu comments that the Ghost Rider's demonic side is now fully in control and he teleports him back to the real New York City right in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum.  The Ghost Rider busts through the wall of the Sanctum, ready to kill a very surprised Dr. Strange, who has no idea why this demon has come to destroy him.

Wreaking the vengeance of Hell, you say?

THE ROADMAP
The Bounty Hunter will locate Blaze in Ghost Rider (1973) # 31 and his origin will be revealed in Ghost Rider (1973) # 32.

Johnny believes Roxanne to be back in Los Angeles, where he left her with her new boyfriend Roger Cross in Ghost Rider (1973) # 26.  He is unaware that Roxanne followed him when he left L.A. and was hypnotized into an amnesiac state by the Orb in Ghost Rider (1973) # 28.  Johnny and Roxanne will not see one another again until Ghost Rider (1973) # 79.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 29 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!


Damn you, Strange! DAMN YOU!

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