On Sale Date: April 1982
Writer: Roger Stern
Artist: Bob Budiansky
Inker: Dave Simons
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky
Corky's son, the "famous circus clown", will be revealed as the Clown from the Circus of Crime in Ghost Rider (1973) # 72.
Renaldo's boss, the Freakmaster, will send a second agent to the Quentin Carnival, Steel Wind, in Ghost Rider (1973) # 75. Renaldo returns in Ghost Rider (1973) # 77 and the Freakmaster himself arrives at the Carnival in Ghost Rider (1973) # 79.
At the Quentin Carnival, a misshapen man named Jeremy who works as the carnival's "monster man" works on a drawing of reporter Cynthia Randolph. She is less than flattered by the artwork, mistaking his gesture as infatuation when its not. She and Johnny Blaze are then introduced to Eliot, the son of carnival clown Corky, and Cynthia is again taken off guard when Eliot shuts down her advances after learning that she's a reporter. The carnival troupe finish packing their trucks and move along to the next town, while during the drive Corky asks Eliot if he's going to actually go straight this time. Meanwhile, at a mysterious island, an agent named Renaldo is given orders to retrieve Jeremy and bring him to the island by a man with a particular interest in "freaks".
Several days later, Renaldo attempts to strongarm carnival owner Ralph Quentin into "selling" Jeremy to him. He's interrupted by Johnny Blaze, who forcefully throws Renaldo off the carnival lot. Renaldo returns that night after the carnival has closed down and unleashes an army of his own freaks to exact his revenge. While Johnny stuffs his familiar leathers into a bag with the intention of disposing of them, hoping to distance himself from the Ghost Rider, his friends' card game is interrupted by the attacking group of freaks. Johnny is also attacked and knocked unconscious, and the freaks take both him and the captive Jeremy. Blaze wakes up in a hotel room, tied and gagged before Renaldo and the freaks. Realizing that Renaldo plans to beat him to death, Johnny transforms into the Ghost Rider and fights through the freaks, though Renaldo is able to escape. He follows Renaldo and the remaining freaks, including the captive Jeremy, to the local airport where he halts their escape by melting the tires of their van before they can reach their plane. He then pulls Renaldo out and fries his soul with hellfire, leaving him a quivering mess, before transforming back into Blaze. The freaks are too frightened to do anything, and Jeremy tells Johnny that he's going to go to the island to be with his brothers, intending to stand up to Renaldo and his boss. Johnny watches their plane fly off into the distance, wishing his friend good luck.
Several days later, Renaldo attempts to strongarm carnival owner Ralph Quentin into "selling" Jeremy to him. He's interrupted by Johnny Blaze, who forcefully throws Renaldo off the carnival lot. Renaldo returns that night after the carnival has closed down and unleashes an army of his own freaks to exact his revenge. While Johnny stuffs his familiar leathers into a bag with the intention of disposing of them, hoping to distance himself from the Ghost Rider, his friends' card game is interrupted by the attacking group of freaks. Johnny is also attacked and knocked unconscious, and the freaks take both him and the captive Jeremy. Blaze wakes up in a hotel room, tied and gagged before Renaldo and the freaks. Realizing that Renaldo plans to beat him to death, Johnny transforms into the Ghost Rider and fights through the freaks, though Renaldo is able to escape. He follows Renaldo and the remaining freaks, including the captive Jeremy, to the local airport where he halts their escape by melting the tires of their van before they can reach their plane. He then pulls Renaldo out and fries his soul with hellfire, leaving him a quivering mess, before transforming back into Blaze. The freaks are too frightened to do anything, and Jeremy tells Johnny that he's going to go to the island to be with his brothers, intending to stand up to Renaldo and his boss. Johnny watches their plane fly off into the distance, wishing his friend good luck.
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| Legitimately creepy. |
THE ROADMAP
Johnny Blaze and Cynthia Randolph both joined the Quentin Carnival in Ghost Rider (1973) # 63.
Corky's son, the "famous circus clown", will be revealed as the Clown from the Circus of Crime in Ghost Rider (1973) # 72.
Renaldo's boss, the Freakmaster, will send a second agent to the Quentin Carnival, Steel Wind, in Ghost Rider (1973) # 75. Renaldo returns in Ghost Rider (1973) # 77 and the Freakmaster himself arrives at the Carnival in Ghost Rider (1973) # 79.
CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 70 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!
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| The scariest this book has ever been, I think. |
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