Ghost Rider (1973) # 56

“The Menace of Moondark”

Cover Date: May 1981
On Sale Date: February 1981

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Don Perlin
Inkers: Mike Esposito & Crew
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Letterer: Diana Albers
Editor: Dennis O’Neil
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

Gina Langtree walks away from Johnny Blaze, driven away by his dual existence as the Ghost Rider. Johnny then discovers that he’s being fired from the Diamond Cowgirl Casino due to Flagg Fargo having booked shows at a competing casino. Outside the casino Johnny runs into Fargo and challenges him to a rematch for the championship title, which they schedule for two months from then. Johnny rides out into the desert and is attacked by glowing green vultures and has to transform into the Ghost Rider to survive. The Ghost Rider destroys one of the vultures and follows the rest to an underground cave.

Meanwhile, an archaeologist named Hamilton Slade has unearthed a mysterious burial urn in a nearby cave. Hamilton is the great-grandson of Lincoln Slade, who along with his brother Carter rode as the Night Rider in the old west. The urn begins to glow, and the Night Rider’s costume emerges, followed by a flash of light. Hamilton finds himself transformed into the Night Rider and summons his ghost horse, Banshee, to take him to find the Ghost Rider, who has fallen into a trap set by his enemy, Moondark. The sorcerer has lost his soul to the demon he worships and can only regain it by offering Blaze’s soul in its stead. Moondark senses an intruder outside the cave and creates several magical beasts to stop them. The Night Rider dispatches the creatures and enters the cave, distracting Moondark long enough for Johnny to transform back into the Ghost Rider. Moondark flees to another dimension, swearing to return, and Ghost Rider finds himself alone in the cave. Hamilton wakes up back at his ancestors’ burial site with no memory of becoming the Night Rider. That morning, Blaze retrieves his motorcycle and ponders how the Night Rider could have returned from the grave to rescue him.

Make a wish!

THE ROADMAP
Johnny Blaze traveled back in time to meet Carter Slade, the first Night Rider, in Ghost Rider (1973) # 50 and during the course of that issue saved Slade's life.

Hamilton Slade appears next as the Night Rider in Incredible Hulk (1968) # 265.

Ghost Rider first fought Moondark the Magician in Marvel Team-Up (1972) # 93. Moondark appears next in Ghost Rider (1973) # 59.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 56 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

Legacies upon legacies...