Ghost Rider (1973) # 43

"Night of the Crimson Mage!"

Cover Date: April 1980

On Sale Date: January 1980

Writer: Michael Fleischer

Penciler: Carmine Infantino

Inker: Ricardo Villamonte

Colorist: Bob Share

Letterer: Jon Costanza

Editor: Dennis O'Neil

Editor-In-Chief: Jim Shooter

Ghost Rider foils a robbery and gives chase after the thieves. The men manage to escape and stumble across the shack home of Azaziah, the Crimson Mage. Azaziah recruits the thieves in his plot against the Ghost Rider, and the next night they Rob an art gallery. The Ghost Rider quickly finds them and begins his pursuit, unaware that he's being led into a trap. Just as the Ghost Rider passes over a painted pentagram on the road Azaziah steps forward and casts a spell. A moment later, Johnny Blaze finds himself separated from and standing before the demonic Ghost Rider. The Ghost Rider tells Blaze that he is a true demon and is now finally free from being trapped inside Blaze's body.  The Ghost Rider departs, leaving Johnny to relish his newfound freedom inside a local bar.  Soon, workers from a nearby refinery enter the bar, telling of a demon that set fire to the fuel-storage depot.  Realizing that the Ghost Rider must be responsible, Johnny steals a car and heads to the depot.

At the depot, Blaze confronts the Ghost Rider, but notices that the demon seems weaker.  The Ghost Rider blasts Johnny with hellfire, and when he awakens he finds himself in the hospital surrounded by police, who believe him to be the arsonist responsible for the depot fire.  Realizing that both he and the Ghost Rider are growing increasingly weaker, Blaze escapes from the hospital and steals a policeman's motorcycle, determined to be reunited with the demon.  Johnny finds the Ghost Rider at a stockyard that he's set ablaze and tries to get the demon to rejoin with him.  The Ghost Rider flies into a rage, knocking Johnny to the ground and preparing to impale him with a broken fence post.  

There it is, the confirmation that GR is a demon from Hell.

THE ROADMAP

This issue confirms that the Ghost Rider is a demon from Hell trapped within Johnny Blaze's body.  The demon's true name, Zarathos, is revealed in Ghost Rider (1973) # 77.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 42 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Terrorizing cattle, the height of villainy?