Ghost Rider (1973) # 76

"Half a Demon...Half a Man!"

Cover Date: January 1983
On Sale Date: October 1982

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: Dave Simons
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

In the nether-regions of Hell, the demon Asmodeus travels to the realm of Mephisto and offers the demon-lord a "suggestion" concerning Johnny Blaze and the Ghost Rider. Mephisto comments that the Ghost Rider's true name is Zarathos, but allows Asmodeus to continue. The lesser demon offers to lift the burden of Blaze from Mephisto, to which the Hell ruler replies that Zarathos would be crucial to Asmodeus' attempt to rule Earth. Mephisto decides to turn the "suggestion" into a contest, where Zarathos shall run a gauntlet in Hell, with his freedom as the goal. If he fails, he will belong to Asmodeus.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Johnny confronts Ralph Quentin about the incident with Steel Wind. During the argument, Blaze suddenly feels faint, so he excuses himself to go get some air. Riding on his motorcycle into a secluded area, Johnny is jumped by a pack of demons, who knock him unconscious and carry him through a shimmering gate. Blaze wakes up and is surprised to see both Mephisto and Asmodeus standing before him, as he is chained to an upright altar of sorts. Mephisto brings forth the Sword of Demonicus, which he uses to cleave the true form of Zarathos out of Blaze's body. Mephisto tells Zarathos that both he and Johnny must race through Hell to a mystic portal back to Earth. If both of them reach the portal together, they will forever be separated and free from one another.

Blaze and Zarathos begin their race through Hell, but Asmodeus immediately sends his minions out to stop them from reaching their destination. The two riders reach a bridge, where they encounter a giant named Saturnyne, a demon with an immense hatred toward the Ghost Rider. Blaze rescues Zarathos from the giant, and the two then trick Saturnyne into impaling himself on a piece of the broken bridge. The two continue down the Road of Lost Souls, where Johnny encounters what he believes to be the ghosts of his parents. Zarathos loses his temper and blasts the two shades with hellfire, forcing them to reveal their true demonic forms.

The two continue farther, but their path is soon blocked by a twisted mass of flesh called Mount Avarice. Zarathos explains that the Mount is made of the souls of men that were concerned only with themselves, and must spend eternity entwined with each other. If the souls sense a kinship with them, then they will drag them down among them. Blaze soon experiences a feeling of self-doubt, and begins to sink into the mass of limbs. Zarathos reluctantly turns back and saves Johnny from his fate, pulling him through the entwinement of souls. The two continue their journey on foot through a narrow tunnel, only to see two of Asmodeus' demons cut the rope tying down a large boulder that takes up the entire space of the corridor. Zarathos uses his hellfire to stop the boulder's descent toward them, but finds that their path is now blocked. Blaze turns, only to find that the souls of Mount Avarice are coming up the tunnel after them. Zarathos turns to the boulder and uses all the hellfire at his command to shatter the blockade, though it knocks him unconscious in the process. Blaze drags the Ghost Rider through the tunnel, but is unable to get away from Mount Avarice. Zarathos then awakens and blasts the souls with his hellfire, forcing them to retreat. The two run the rest of the way, finally coming to the portal that will take them back to Hell. Both of them then decide, however, that only one must step through the portal, in order to ensure that they will never be bonded together again. The two struggle, and during their fight they fall through the portal together.

Johnny awakens on Earth, at the place where he was attacked and taken. Realizing that Zarathos is inside him once again, Johnny pounds on the rock furiously, and in the process transforms into the Ghost Rider, who swears vengeance on Mephisto. Back in Hell, Mephisto explains to Asmodeus that had Blaze and Zarathos simply walked through the portal together, they truly would have been freed from each other and the curse of the Ghost Rider would have been lifted. Mephisto then decides to take his prize for besting Asmodeus, destroying the demon with a bolt of hellfire. As the netherruler watches the Ghost Rider through a scrying glass, he states that as long as he rules, the Ghost Rider will never be free.

IN ALL HIS GLORY!

THE ROADMAP
Steel Wind attacked the Quentin Carnival in Ghost Rider (1973) # 75.

Asmodeus first appeared in Ghost Rider (1973) # 53, and again in Ghost Rider (1973) # 64.

Mephisto was revealed as the "Satan" responsible for Blaze's curse in Ghost Rider (1973) # 68.

This is the first mention of the Ghost Rider's true name, Zarathos, and several hints are offered at his origins. Zarathos' origin will be revealed to him by Nightmare in Ghost Rider (1973) # 77.

Believe it or not, the demon Saturnyne that appears in this issue makes a re-appearance decades later as the main villain of the X-Men: Pixie Strikes Back mini-series.  Talk about a deep cut!  Similarly, Asmodeus will re-appear alive and once again a ruler of Hell in the 2013 "Hell on Earth War" storyline in X-Factor.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 76 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!


Such a great transition!
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Ghost Rider (1973) # 75

“Beware the Steel Wind!”

Cover Date: December 1982
On Sale Date: September 1982

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Bob Budiansky
Inker: Dave Simons
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

A female stunt rider named Steel Wind appears at the Quentin Carnival, catching the attention of Johnny Blaze, Red Fowler, and carnival magician Vincenzo. Ralph Quentin tells them that Steel Wind is there at his request as a replacement for Blaze, who he fires from the carnival. Meanwhile, a mysterious young woman boards a bus with a picture of Johnny in her hand.

That night, the members of the carnival demand that Johnny be given a chance to prove himself against Steel Wind, and Ralph Quentin proposes a race between the two to decide who stays. The next morning, the two opponents ride through a hastily constructed obstacle course. Despite cheating by firing a laser into his gas tank, Steel Wind is about to lose to Johnny when his concentration is broken by a raging Ghost Rider, who demands to be set free to face the woman. Johnny loses and leaves in shame, taking reporter Cynthia Randolph with him after Quentin tells her she is no longer welcome.

Several nights later, Vincenzo goes to Steel Wind’s tent to try and talk with her and discovers her secret, that beneath her arm-length gloves are arms made of twisted flesh and cybernetic circuitry, a result of her being rebuilt after a boat explosion. She descends upon Vincenzo, who screams. Over the next few days, she begins a reign of terror at the carnival, telling them that if they don’t like her rules they can always leave, “as Vincenzo did”. One evening, Johnny and Cynthia reunite at the carnival, where the reporter explains what she’s dug up about Steel Wind, that her presence at a carnival inevitably leads to its financial ruin. They sneak in and join the rest of the carnival troupe in confronting Quentin and Steel Wind, who attacks Johnny on sight. After a motorcycle chase into the woods, the Ghost Rider manages to force the transformation and battles savagely with Steel Wind. When her motorcycle is destroyed and her ruined arms are exposed, she stops fighting and is fried by the Ghost Rider’s hellfire. A week later, the news of Steel Wind’s failure reaches her employer, the Freakmaster, who states that they will have to deal with Blaze before their plans for the Quentin Carnival can reach fruition.

Maybe she just wants a hug?

THE ROADMAP
Steel Wind's sister, Steel Vengeance, appears in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 2 as an agent of Centurious, seeking revenge on John Blaze for what happened to her sister. Steel Wind herself reappears in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 7 alongside her sister to destroy the Quentin Carnival.

The Freakmaster first appeared in shadow in Ghost Rider (1973) # 70, as did his aide Renaldo. Ralph Quentin's history with the Freakmaster is revealed in Ghost Rider (1973) # 79.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 75 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Ghost Rider (1973) # 74

“Remnants!”

Cover Date: November 1982
On Sale Date: August 1982

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Bob Budiansky
Inker: Dave Simons
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

A distracted Johnny Blaze wrecks his motorcycle and barely survives the crash. After losing consciousness he and his bike are dragged into the woods by a mysterious figure. At the Quentin Carnival, still reeling from its destruction at the hands of the Circus of Crime, Red Fowler is told that Johnny left and heads out to find him and bring him back. Hours later, Johnny wakes up at a campsite with a man named Old Adam, who brought Johnny to the camp to help him after his crash. After a few hours of friendship, Adam is terrified at the sight of a man entering the camp enveloped in a cloud of mist. When Johnny tries to keep the man from taking Adam he is swatted aside and almost loses consciousness again. 

After he recovers, Johnny follows a trail of dead plant life to a decaying plantation house. Inside he discovers a dinner party of sorts, hosted by Centurious, who has placed Adam as his servant. The rest of the dinner guests, including Centurious’ “wife” Tara, are nothing but soulless husks animated by Centurious’ power. When Centurious attempts to take Johnny’s soul he unwittingly frees the Ghost Rider, who attacks Centurious. When Red appears, having followed Johnny’s trail, Centurious orders his soulless thralls to tear the man apart, which the Ghost Rider agrees would be a fine sight to witness. Ghost Rider attempts to fry Centurious with hellfire but finds that the man has no soul of his own and is overcome by the spirits trapped within the villain’s Soul Crystal, changing the demon back into Johnny. Adam sees one of those spirits is Tara, his sister who Centurious took as his bride, and realizes that he will never be able to free her. He sets the plantation house on fire and Centurious is buried beneath a collapsed ceiling. Johnny and Red escape, while Adam remains behind to perish with his sister. After Johnny and Red depart to return to the carnival, a path of dead foliage coming from the ashes of the home show that Centurious survived.

What's a party without dancing zombies?

THE ROADMAP
Centurious returns in Ghost Rider (1973) # 80.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 74 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Ghost Rider (1973) # 73

"Tears of a Clown!"

Cover Date: October 1982
On Sale Date: July 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

Trapped in the void, the Ghost Rider rages about the events of the previous issue. Johnny, meanwhile, is tied up and unconscious in the trailer of the Circus of Crime. The Circus members (Live Wire, Fire-Eater, Strong Man, Cannonball, and the Gambonno Brothers) elect the newly returned Clown as their leader. The Clown leads the group back to the Quentin Carnival, where he has a private discussion with Ralph Quentin, Cynthia, and Red. Back in the trailer, the Ghost Rider's astral form forces Johnny back to consciousness. Blaze unties his ropes and heads out for the Carnival, refusing to let the demon out.

Quentin holds an assembly of the Carnival workers, with the Clown standing behind him. He tells them that the Circus of Crime has offered to help keep them going. Ralph then declares that he refuses to touch their dirty money, and the Clown continues by saying that the Circus are responsible for his dad, Corky, being in the hospital. He tells the carnies that he's brought the criminals to them, and for them to take them out. The carnies revolt, and one by one the Circus of Crime members are taken out. Eventually, the only one left standing is the Fire-Eater, who proceeds to burn down the Carnival as the Clown pursues him. From the hill overlooking the Carnival, Johnny sees the flames, prompting the Ghost Rider to demand his freedom. An explosion from below knocks Blaze to his feet, where he sees his cycle leathers lying in the glass, blown to him from the explosion.

The Clown catches up to the Fire-Eater, but before the two can fight, a wall of fire cuts off their only way of escape. The Ghost Rider flies through the wall on his bike, and upon stopping picks the vehicle up to throw at the Fire-Eater. The criminal attempts to fight back, but quickly realizes that his inferno discs do little against the demon. The Rider gives him a choice: face him, or jump through the wall of fire. The Fire-Eater chooses the latter, jumping through the flames and burning most of his body. The Ghost Rider then grabs the Clown and fries his soul with hellfire. As the demon revels in his victory, Red Fowler comes through one of the tents and says that the Clown led the Circus there so they could be captured. The Ghost Rider has punished an innocent man, and upon learning this, the demon is taken aback in guilt. Using this chance, Johnny fights his way back into control. He and Red talk about what's happened, unsure of what to do now that the Carnival has been destroyed.

Poor Johnny, he never stood a chance.

THE ROADMAP
Elliot Franklin, the Clown, arrived at the carnival in Ghost Rider (1973) # 70. The Circus of Crime soon followed, arriving in Ghost Rider (1973) # 72.

Red Fowler learned that Blaze housed the demon in Ghost Rider (1973) # 65, when he witnessed Johnny's transformation.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 73 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Ghost Rider (1973) # 72

“Temptations!”

Cover Date: September 1982
On Sale Date: June 1982

Writer: Roger Stern
Artist: Bob Budiansky
Inker: Dave Simons
Letterer: Rick Parker
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

Johnny Blaze is contacted through a dream by the Ghost Rider, who demands to be released to punish the guilty. Johnny wakes up, wondering if the Ghost Rider is becoming strong enough to eventually take him over. Meanwhile on the carnival grounds, Corky and his son Eliot have a conversation about being clowns when they hear the sound of an explosion. A man flies through one of the main show tents, snapping the poles and destroying equipment. Before he leaves, the mysterious figure leaves a note. When Ralph Quentin and the rest of the carnival members investigate the tent collapse, Eliot finds the note and crumples it up, realizing the message was for him. The next night, a strange cowboy uses an electrified whip to destroy the carnival’s transformer, forcing it to close for the night. Eliot finds another message written in the dirt and wipes it away. Another day brings another tragedy, as two acrobats beat up and rob the ticket cashier for the carnival, leaving yet another message for Eliot.

The next evening, Corky finds Eliot packing up to leave and realizes his son has something to do with the mysterious accidents. After Eliot leaves another mysterious figure lights Corky’s tent on fire, setting it ablaze. While Red Fowler holds Eliot back from going after his father, Johnny enters the burning tent and finds the unconscious Corky. Johnny transforms into the Ghost Rider, who throws Corky out of the burning tent in a fit of rage. Johnny fights to regain control of his body, forcing the Ghost Rider to jump through the fire, setting his clothing aflame. Red drapes the Ghost Rider with a sheet, protecting Johnny’s secret as he douses the flame while Blaze regains control. 

Later, at the emergency room, Eliot is told that his father’s treatment will cost several thousand dollars, which Eliot states he can provide. At the carnival, Johnny sees Eliot leaving and follows him into the forest. He sees Eliot stop to put on face paint and a costume before walking into a small camp of men who welcome Eliot back into their ranks. Johnny is discovered and knocked unconscious, brought before the reunited Circus of Crime, including Eliot as the villainous Clown.

Genuine night terrors!

THE ROADMAP
Eliot Franklin arrived at the Quentin Carnival in Ghost Rider (1973) # 70 after his father Corky mailed him a letter in Ghost Rider (1973) # 66.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 72 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Ghost Rider (1973) # 71

"The Tears of Adam Henderson"

Cover Date: August 1982
On Sale Date: May 1982

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: Danny Bulandi
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter\
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

In a two-story Illinois household, Adam and Maureen Henderson are having an argument. Adam, sick of his worthless life, has decided to quit his job as a music teacher, ignoring his wife's reasoning that they can't afford for him to quit. Upset, Adam walks out of the house, leaving Maureen in tears. Later, he finds himself on the outskirts of town at a large gorge. Still fuming at what he's allowed his life to become, he doesn't notice the large shadow looming over him until it's too late. He turns around, and all he can manage to think is "Oh, my good lord..."

Elsewhere in the town, the Quentin Carnival is in full swing, and all eyes are glued on the motorcycle stunt show performed by Red Fowler and Johnny Blaze. After the show, Johnny and Red are out on the carnival grounds, talking about how the innocence of small towns is all in people's heads, and that the same demons in our souls are always waiting to spring out. Their discussion is interrupted by Cynthia Randolph, who sarcastically states that she didn't know a macho cyclejock could think so deeply. In return, Johnny says that all he likes to do is dress up in leather and ride a big chopper in order to prove his manhood. While Cynthia stands aghast, Johnny excuses himself and his partner by saying that they're going somewhere to lift weights and compare the size of their muscles.

Meanwhile, Adam Henderson walks through a neighborhood, a strange blue flame crackling around his body. Coming to a house that's host to a loud party, he decides he doesn't like seeing other people happy. Pointing his hand and yelling "Out!", the house suddenly goes black and quiet. Adam moves on, and is interrupted by a barking dog that's fenced into a yard. Adam's power flares again, and the dog simply falls to the ground, dead. He continues walking, eventually coming to the carnival. Moving through the crowds, he bumps into Johnny and Red, nearly knocking them over. Red wants to go say something to him, but the cyclists are distracted by two young women seeking autographs. Moving on, Adam comes to the tent of Madame Olga, the carnival's psychic. Entering the tent, he chooses a psychic reading from her crystal ball. Olga is a fraud, pretending to be psychic, but she is shocked to see images actually begin to form in her fake crystal ball upon touching Adam's hand. Adam speaks, telling of a race of beings called the S'Raphh, who had evolved into a state of grace, angelic beings that had a goal...to find the reason of being, the Ultimate Truth. Unfortunately, they never found what they were looking for, and this drove them insane. As one, their entire race hurled themselves into an ocean of fire, committing racial suicide. From their death, however, the collective unconscious of the S'Raphh demanded revenge, and centuries later Null, the Living Darkness arose from the depths. Null came to the world seeking to destroy all life, but the creature was defeated by the Defenders. Realizing that he had much to learn about the world, Null wandered the earth, searching for the one bitter human heart with which he could merge. He found that heart in Adam Henderson, who at the end of his tail has broken down into black tears. Raising his hand to Olga, he tells her that Null now has a living weapon to destroy all life, not understanding why people won't see what he sees.

On the carnival grounds, Johnny and Red are playing games with the two girls they met. Suddenly, an explosion rocks the area from Olga's tent, causing the two bikers to race to her aid. Finding Olga alive, though in a deep state of shock, the carnival workers are confused as to what happened. Suddenly, Adam appears floating in the air, the shadow of Null coalesced around him. Pointing into the crowd, Adam focuses on an elderly man, a pastor named Oliver Matheson, and lifts him into the air with his power. Calling him a deceiver and a fraud, Adam flies the two of them away, accusing Matheson of "promising a non-existent Heaven to creatures already in Hell." Realizing that the monster needs to be stopped, Johnny runs off. When safely away from his friends, he calls forth his demonic second self, the Ghost Rider, who creates a hellfire cycle and rides off in the direction of Adam.

Back at the Henderson home, Maureen wakes up to find Adam standing in their bedroom. He tells her that he's brought a gift, revealing the pastor, shrunken down the size of a doll. Maureen screams, which Adam interprets to her not liking the gift. So, he throws the tiny man out the second story window, the Pastor growing to his normal size as he falls, losing consciousness when he hits the ground. The Ghost Rider sees this and ramps his bike off of a car, crashing into the Henderson's bedroom. Adam fires a blast of energy into the demon's chest, which the Rider angrily answers with a blast of hellfire. Both combatants still standing after their attacks, Adam/Null tackles the Rider and carries them both back outside. Maureen runs outside, but is stopped by the awakened Pastor Matheson, who tells her that they have no power against creatures such as these. Adam and the Ghost Rider battle furiously, with Adam/Null attempting to shrink the demon down. Immediately, the Rider regrows by the force of his will alone. Blasting him with hellfire, Adam screams, regaining control of his body for a moment. Null returns, however, causing Adam to telekinetically lift a car and throw it. The Rider dodges, chasing the man/monster into the town square, followed by Maureen and Matheson. In a last, desperate move, Adam/Null blasts a large stone statue and topples it over. The Ghost Rider easily jumps out of the way, but Maureen, who has run forward to stop Adam, finds herself directly beneath it. Seeing what he's done, Adam regains control of his body, though still finds himself unable to act. At the last moment, Pastor Matheson leaps forward, pushing Maureen and himself out of the way of the large statue. Taking advantage of his weakness, the Ghost Rider blasts Adam with his hellfire, using the man's soul to drive Null out of his body. When Null exits into his true form, the Ghost Rider continues blasting with his hellfire, eventually destroying the creature.

Afterward, Maureen races to Adam's side, comforting him after what he's went through. Similarly, Pastor Matheson is comforted by his wife, who expresses her love for her husband. Meanwhile, however, the Ghost Rider relinquishes control back to Blaze, who has no such person to comfort him in his time of need.

Not the dog!

THE ROADMAP
Null first appeared and was defeated in Defenders # 103, and it makes a re-appearance in Defenders # 113 following this issue.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 71 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Ghost Rider (1973) # 70

"Freaks!"

Cover Date: July 1982
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

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.

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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Ghost Rider (1973) # 69

"Personal Demons"

Cover Date: June 1982
On Sale Date: March 1982

Writer: Roger Stern
Artist: Bob Budiansky
Inker: Dave Simons
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

While on a nighttime ride through the countryside, the Ghost Rider is seen and pursued by a motorcycle policeman.  After causing the officer to crash, the Ghost Rider tells him that not everyone that has raced against him has walked away with their soul intact.  The Ghost Rider returns to the Quentin Carnival, stopping on a hilltop overlook that is filled with construction equipment.  The demon briefly entertains the idea of attacking the Carnival, but Johnny Blaze is able to wrest control of his body back.  He goes down to the Carnival and changes into his costume just in time for his set to start, fielding questions from Corky the clown about a telegram Johnny had agreed to mail to his "famous circus clown" son.  Red Fowler assists Johnny with his bike before Blaze goes out to perform, and Red thinks to himself about Johnny being the Ghost Rider, though Blaze is unaware that Red knows.  In the crowd watching Johnny's performance are three people: Harry Donovon, his girlfriend Shirley, and their mutual friend Burt.  After the show, Harry decides to hit up a local bar, while Shirley stays with Burt to get Blaze's autograph.  Burt and Shirley decide not to join Harry at the bar, deciding that they would rather spend time with one another at the Carnival.

The next morning, a drunk Harry drives his truck into the Carnival and attacks Blaze, who he thinks must have kidnapped Shirley.  Mr. Quentin is able to drive the drunkard away at gunpoint and Harry leaves in his truck.  Afterward, Corky is given a telegram that's from his son, saying he is coming to the Carnival.  That night, Johnny Blaze goes out for his cycle show, and Shirley and Burt are again in the stands watching as a couple.  Harry, still drunk, drives onto the hilltop overlooking the carnival with a rifle, intending to shoot Blaze.  When he pulls the trigger, however, he realizes that the gun has no bullets.  He sees the construction equipment on the hill and walks toward it, an idea coming to his drunken mind.

Down below, Blaze is performing when Harry busts through the carnival stands in a giant earthmover.  Blaze attempts to ride around the machine, keeping it from hurting any innocent people, but soon finds himself boxed in.  He attempts to jump the earthmover on his bike, but is unable to clear it and finds himself hanging for his life on the front of the machine.  Harry drives the earthmover out of the carnival and into the desert, followed by Shirley and Burt in their car, having recognized Harry as the driver.  To save himself, Blaze has no choice but to transform into the Ghost Rider, who attacks Harry in the cockpit of the machine.  In pursuit, Burt's car hits a rock, which causes Shirley to be thrown from the vehicle.  The Ghost Rider takes control of the earthmover and spins it around, this time with Harry hanging on the side, and they see Burt and an unconscious Shirley directly in their path.  While Burt runs away, leaving Shirley behind, Harry fights back against the Ghost Rider to save the girl's life.  Ghost Rider rips the steering wheel out of the machine while simultaneously slamming on the brake, stopping the earthmover right before it reaches Shirley.  Harry is thrown from the vehicle to the ground below, and he's immediately grabbed by the Ghost Rider, who fries him with hellfire.  His desire for vengeance sated, Ghost Rider returns control to Johnny Blaze, who is faced with the cowering Harry.  While Johnny is guilt-ridden over what has happened, he doesn't realize that the Ghost Rider's hellfire will have had a positive impact on Harry's life, causing him to think twice before drinking or losing his temper, in effect driving out his own personal demon.

Yikes!

THE ROADMAP
Corky's son, the "famous circus clown", will arrive at the Quentin Carnival in Ghost Rider (1973) # 70 and be revealed as the Clown from the Circus of Crime in Ghost Rider (1973) # 72.

Red Fowler learned that Johnny is the Ghost Rider in Ghost Rider (1973) # 65.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 69 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Ghost Rider (1973) # 68

"The Curse of Jonathan Blaze!"

Cover Date: May 1982
On Sale Date: February 1982

Writer: Roger Stern
Artist: Bob Budiansky
Inker: Josef Rubinstein
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

During a late night thunderstorm, a priest walks through his church with candle in hand. He hears the doors creak open, and when he turns he finds a lone man standing in the archway. The priest asks who is there, unable to see him with the power out due to the storm. Johnny Blaze walks in an apologizes for startling him, then says that he guesses he's looking for sanctuary. He was out on his bike when the storm took him by surprise. The priest, still shaken, invites Johnny inside and provides more light with some candles. Johnny notices that the ornaments in the church are all made from solid gold, but the priest dodges the statement by asking if Johnny needs any guidance. Johnny reluctantly acquiesces and says he'd like to make a confession. The priest agrees and leads Blaze into the confessional booth, the two men separated by a steel gate.

Johnny, unsure of how to begin, goes back to the beginning for his confession. He tells the priest about his father dying and him then being adopted by Crash and Mona Simpson. As he grew older, he began to practice for inclusion in his foster parents' cycle show...until one day, when a bike accident killed Mona. On her deathbed, Mona asks Johnny never to ride in the show, to which her agrees. Johnny then explains that after Mona's death he began to go in weird directions. Taking a heavy interest in the occult, he was disgusted by most of what he read and went back to simple mechanic work for the cycle show, keeping his promise. He told neither Crash nor Roxanne Simpson, their daughter and the woman that Blaze loved, making them think he was a coward. It hit Johnny that while he vowed never to ride in the show, that didn't mean he couldn't ride for the sheer thrill of it...so he began to practice at night until finally being discovered by Roxanne. While the cycle show grew in popularity, Crash was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Blaze tells the priest that there was nothing anyone could do...anyone except him.

Going back to the occult books, Blaze contacted Satan himself and offered the demon his soul in exchange for Crash's life being spared from the cancer. The next night, however, Crash died anyway - not from the disease but from a motorcycle accident. The next night, Satan came calling for Johnny's soul, but was interrupted by Roxanne, who chants a spell read from Blaze's books that drove Satan away. In the confessional, Johnny breaks down, saying that Roxanne saved his soul and he doesn't even know now if she's alive or dead.

The priest tries to calm Blaze by saying the devil was merely a delusion, to which Johnny snaps back that he wishes he was crazy. He tells the priest about the Ghost Rider, a demon taken from Hell and bonded to his soul, and about the hellfire at the demon's command. Johnny is locked in a constant struggle against the Ghost Rider, but he admits that there are times he wants to set the demon loose to give the guilty what they deserve. He then tells the priest that tonight he came across a man laying in a ditch. A man left for dead...a man that was a priest. Before the man died, he told Johnny that his murderer had stolen his clothing, which had puzzled him until he saw all of the gold in the church. As the "priest" removes a gun from his jacket, an intense light begins to glow through the grate separating the confessional booths...and suddenly a flaming skeletal hand comes ripping through the grate.

The murderer runs from the confessional, chased by the Ghost Rider. As he runs out the front door, the "priest" steals Blaze's motorcycle and rides off, only to see the Ghost Rider - on his hellfire cycle - right behind him. After a frantic chase across the countryside, the killer is eventually knocked off the road and falls onto train tracks, his arm painfully lodged between the steel rails. As a train bears down on him, the Ghost Rider appears and frees his arm. The demon says that "death is too good for you"...and then fries the man with hellfire.

The next morning, paramedics and police pull the man up to the road on a stretcher. He is paralyzed by fear, his mouth wide open but no sound coming out. Johnny Blaze talks with one of the police, who tells Johnny that while normally he'd hold him for questioning they just found out that the victim is wanted for a string of thefts and the murder of a priest. The cop asks what would possess a man to do such a thing, to which Johnny replies "a man can have a lot of demons locked up inside of him".

Sums it up pretty well, I think.

THE ROADMAP
This issue features a re-telling of the Ghost Rider's origin from Marvel Spotlight (1972) # 5. In fact, many of Budiansky's panels are a straight homage to Mike Ploog's original artwork.

The "Satan" that Blaze contacts is revealed in this issue to actually be Mephisto, lord of the underworld. This retcon was reversed nearly 20 years later in Ghost Rider (2006) # 1, once again making Lucifer the originator of Blaze's curse, until it was retconned back into being Mephisto in Ghost Rider (2011) # 1.

The "Ghost Writers!" letter column featured an article by new series writer Roger Stern titled "Confessions of a Ghost Writer".

This issue featured the first interior work on the series by Bob Budiansky, who had been the regular cover artist since Ghost Rider (1973) # 33.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 68 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Ghost Rider (1973) # 67

“Holding on to Sally”

Cover Date: April 1982
On Sale Date: January 1982

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Don Perlin
Inkers: Dave Simons & Tom Sutton
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

Riding his bike on a stormy night, Johnny Blaze runs across a young girl on the side of the road. She asks Johnny for a ride, which he gladly gives her. While on the road, Blaze tells her that she should be more careful who she accepts rides from, because for all she knows he could be a psycho. She replies that she can tell Johnny is a good soul, to which he says, "Don't bet on it." Further down the road, Johnny and the girl come across a stranded motorist, who claims that his car won't start. Johnny offers to take a look at the engine, but quickly realizes that he's walked into a trap. Three other men emerge from the darkness and beat him into near unconsciousness, stealing his bike as they leave. Unable to retain control over his second-self, Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider, who forms his flame-cycle and pursues the attackers. The two men on Blaze's bike wreck against a tree, but the two in the car manage to escape. The demon relinquishes control back to Johnny, who weakly reclaims his bike. Suddenly, the girl he gave a ride to mysteriously reappears, pointing the wounded stunt rider toward a house where he can get help. Blaze approaches the house, where an old woman sits on the porch, but collapses before he can ask for help.

Johnny wakes up in the old woman's house, where he tells her that he was attacked and badly beaten. The woman's name is Veronica Stanton, and she tells Johnny why he's been the first person to set foot in her house in years. After her son and husband died, the only person that kept her from going insane was her daughter, Sally. Unfortunately, one night on the way home from a college seminar, Sally was run off the road and killed by a drunk driver. The drunk was the nephew of the town mayor, which meant the whole incident was covered up and ignored. Veronica allows Johnny to take her truck into town, so he can pick up some spare parts to fix his bike. At the town's auto-shop, Blaze sees one of his attackers, who is an employee of the shop. With his memory affected by the beating, Johnny finds the man familiar, but does not recognize him. He sees Johnny leave in Veronica's truck and decides that he and his boys need to go to her house to make sure she's "okay".

Later that night, Johnny tells Veronica that the man at the auto shop looked familiar, to which she replies that his name is Jock Parker and is the drunk driver that killed her daughter. Outside the house, Jock tells his friends that his drunken accident cost him his family and his business, that he's been living in Hell ever since and he deserves vengeance. He throws a brick through one of the house's windows, prompting Johnny to run outside to see what's going on. The men attack Johnny and tie him to a tree, where they prepare to beat him to death. Inside, Veronica readies her rifle to protect herself, but is stopped by the young girl that Blaze had helped the night before. The girl is Sally, Veronica's daughter, who says she's come back from the dead for a reason.

Outside, Johnny finally gives in to his demonic self, letting the Ghost Rider out to stop the men from hurting him. The demon biker brutally attacks the four men, while Sally points out to her mother that Blaze is the embodiment of vengeance, the very thing she's wanted ever since Sally's death. The Ghost Rider prepares to kill Jock Parker, but is stopped by the frightened Veronica, who says that no matter what he's done, he doesn't deserve death. The demon slaps the old woman away but is then confronted by Sally. The Ghost Rider flies into an insane rage but finds that his fists pass right through the ghostly girl. Eventually exhausting himself, the Rider is unable to retain control over Blaze, and transforms against his will. Sally fades away, telling her mother that it's time to move on with her life. Veronica turns to Johnny, who weakly holds out his hand and asks for help. Veronica takes his hand, deciding to choose love over her desire for vengeance.

Slappin' the elderly since 1982!

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 67 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Ghost Rider (1973) # 66

“The Witch in the Whirlwind!”

Cover Date: March 1982
On Sale Date: December 1981

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Tom Sutton
Colorist: George Roussos
Letterer: Diana Albers
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Layton

While shopping at a small-town antique shop, the Quentin Carnival’s wheelchair-bound psychic, Madam Olga, purchases an ornate candle. After Johnny Blaze and Red Fowler drive her back to the carnival, she lights the candle during one of her seances, which releases a ghostly woman. After the crowd flees in fear, the ghost introduces herself as Clothilde, a witch who had been sentenced to death centuries ago and survived by sending her soul into a nearby candle. Clothilde offers to grant favors to Olga for freeing her from the candle and rushes out of the tent to find the old woman a meal. Johnny Blaze sees the wind spirit rushing past and pursues it on his motorcycle to a nearby steakhouse, where it blows inside and exits with a feast of food. Clothilde attacks Blaze, sensing his supernatural power, and he transforms into the Ghost Rider as she flings him through the air. Clothilde returns to Olga and retreats back into the candle, promising to return the next night. Johnny goes to Olga to ask about the wind witch, but she nervously denies knowing anything about it.

The next night, Olga lights the candle and Clothilde returns, using her wind power to make Olga walk again. Johnny goes to Olga’s tent and finds her inside a mystical circle, finishing a spell to free Clothilde from the candle. Clothilde reveals that she was put to death for practicing black magic and wishes only to subjugate and destroy the mortal realm. The Ghost Rider appears and creates his flame cycle as he is swept into the sky above the carnival in a fierce battle with Clothilde. Olga, paralyzed once again and realizing how she had been tricked, destroys the mystic circle, which weakens Clothilde enough to be destroyed by the Ghost Rider’s hellfire.

How fashion forward of you, GR!

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 66 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Ghost Rider (1973) # 65

“The Lair of the Loan Shark!”

Cover Date: February 1982
On Sale Date: November 1981

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Jack Sparling
Inker: Tom Sutton
Colorist: George Roussos
Letterer: Diana Albers
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

While performing a stunt together, Johnny Blaze saves the life of a very antagonistic Red Fowler, who resents being demoted in favor of Blaze. When he goes to his trailer Fowler is threatened by the Loan Shark and his torpedoes, to whom he owes ten thousand dollars in gambling debts. Loan Shark tells him to produce the money by the next night and uses a sword attached to his hand to cut through the wall of his trailer. That night, Johnny is unable to sleep and transforms into the Ghost Rider, who rides out into the night away from the carnival. Similarly, Red takes a ride to clear his thoughts and runs into the Ghost Rider, who chases him into a washed-out gulley. Shaken by the encounter, Red returns to the carnival and accidently sees the Ghost Rider transforming back into Johnny Blaze.

Red sleeps until the next evening and attempts to flee the carnival before the Loan Shark returns. He’s cut off and kidnapped by the Loan Shark and his men, but luckily Johnny sees what happens and follows the car to a boat on the Great Lakes Marina. Loan Shark takes Red out on the lake and prepares to kill him for welching on his debt, but Johnny interrupts and attempts to fight all of the men to save Fowler’s life. Red realizes he’s misjudged Blaze but is knocked unconscious before he can help. Johnny is forced to transform into the Ghost Rider, who fries the souls of the Loan Shark and his men, setting fire to the boat in the process. Red manages to get off the boat before it explodes and both he and Johnny wash up on the shore. Johnny takes an unconscious Red back to the carnival and when Red wakes he decides that he will keep Johnny’s secret and be his friend.

Not the last time Ghost Rider is used as an addiction metaphor.

THE ROADMAP
Red Fowler will keep hidden that he knows Johnny's identity as the Ghost Rider until Ghost Rider (1973) # 73.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 65 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Ghost Rider (1973) # 64

“The Kiss of Doom!”

Cover Date: January 1982
On Sale Date: October 1981

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Jack Sparling
Inker: Tom Sutton
Colorist: George Roussos
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Brent Anderson

In Hell, the demon Azmodeus again plots to seize control of the Ghost Rider, this time planning to use another demon named Rzh’arr to ensnare Johnny Blaze. At the Quentin Carnival, Johnny’s stunt practice is watched by reporter Cynthia Randolph, who later rebukes his advances toward her. When she goes to her trailer she is overcome by strange fumes and passes out. After she wakes up, she notes that she’s late for her date with Johnny, who is surprised by her turn around. He takes her on a ride out into the desert where he defends her from a trio of bikers. While this is happening on Earth, Cynthia wakes up in Hell a prisoner of Azmodeus, who reveals that Rzh’arr has taken her place.

“Cynthia” kisses Johnny, stealing part of his power and making him feel weak. She creates an image of the Ghost Rider, forcing Johnny to trigger his transformation. When the two Ghost Riders collide into one another, the real demon is knocked unconscious. “Cynthia” takes him to Hell and reveals her true demonic form while Azmodeus gloats over the captive Ghost Rider. Strapping him to the ground, Azmodeus triggers a giant pendulum scythe, which as it descends will cut away Johnny’s soul. The Ghost Rider frees himself and reclaims his power from Rzh’arr before running down Azmodeus, frying the demon with hellfire. Azmodeus uses the last of his power to send Ghost Rider and Cynthia back to Earth, where she has no memory of what happened to her. Still, she is suspicious of Johnny, and while on the ride back to the carnival she vows to herself that she won’t rest until she knows his secret.

"How do I get myself into these situations?"

THE ROADMAP
Azmodeus used the witch Tabicantra to try and claim the Ghost Rider's power in Ghost Rider (1973) # 53. He will appear again in Ghost Rider (1973) # 76.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 64 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

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Avengers (1963) # 214

"Three Angels Fallen!"

Cover Date: December 1981
On Sale Date: September 1981

Writer: Jim Shooter
Artist: Bob Hall
Inker: Dan Green
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Jim Salicrup
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Hall

In the basement of Avengers Mansion, Captain America undergoes a rigorous training session as he attempts to process the recent court-martial of his fellow Avenger, Yellowjacket. While the Captain punishes his body, Tigra and Jarvis, the Avengers' butler, discuss the events that led to Hank Pym's dishonorable discharge from the team, with Jarvis sticking up for Pym despite the mistakes the man has made. Elsewhere in New York, Thor and Iron Man meet in their civilian guises to discuss the mental state of Pym, each of them wanting to help their former teammate as much as they can. At that moment, Pym's wife and fellow Avenger, the Wasp, sits at her home and works on fashion designs, sunglasses covering up the swollen eye given to her by the mentally unbalanced Yellowjacket. Janet goes to the front room of her house to meet with the downtrodden Henry, who attempts to apologize to her for what he did. Janet tells Pym that she's filing for divorce, and Pym can only apologize again as he takes his leave.

Hours later in New Mexico, Johnny Blaze sits atop a rocky hillside overlooking a deserted stretch of road. The curse with which he lives has cost Blaze everything he's held dear, casting him out from society - and when a fancy sportscar zooms past him, all of his anger and frustration at life bubbles to the surface. As he rages against the unfairness of his situation while some rich playboy gets to have fun, Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider and demands vengeance, starting with the owner of the sports car. In the car, Warren Worthington III and Candy Southern are enjoying a late night cruise when they see the Ghost Rider approaching in the rearview mirror. Warren, who is also the winged mutant known as the Angel, tells Candy not to worry - he recognizes the Ghost Rider as a friend from their time together in the Champions a few years ago. But the Ghost Rider has changed since Worthington knew him, becoming more demonic and vengeful - as the couple discover when the Rider runs their car off the road and into a ditch. When the Ghost Rider returns to admire his handiwork, he challenges the Angel to a race across the desert, a challenge Worthington accepts to get Candy out of harms way. When they are far enough away, the Angel attacks the Ghost Rider, but this only causes the Rider to bathe Worthington in hellfire, causing him to fall screaming to the ground. Hours later, Southern sits in the hospital with the comatose Angel and speaks with Captain America on the phone. While she'd hoped to reach Worthington's old teammate, the Beast, Captain America tells her that while the Beast is no longer a member the Avengers will be there the next day to find the Ghost Rider.

The next day, Johnny Blaze has taken a job as a gas station attendant in Alkalai Flats, his guilt over what he did to Worthington causing him to stay in the town until his former friend wakes up from his coma. He's working when he hears the news: the Avengers have arrived in town. At the small airfield, the Avengers - Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and Tigra - arrive and talk with the town's mayor. While Tigra goes shopping for more appropriate (re: western) attire, Captain America acquires a motorcycle from a local mechanic. Meanwhile, while Blaze prepares to leave town before he's discovered, the mother of a young boy comes to him yelling for help: her son, who idolizes the Avengers, has climbed a water tower while playing superhero and is now about to fall to his death. Johnny decides to change into the Ghost Rider to save the boy, but the demon instead decides not to - for there is nothing to avenge if the child dies by his own hand. As the boy falls, he's caught by Iron Man.

A few miles away, the Ghost Rider is found by Captain America and Tigra, who chase after the demon on their own bike. After a harrowing chase into a canyon, Cap and Tigra turn a corner to find that it's a dead end - and while the Ghost Rider simply rides his flame cycle up the canyon wall, the Avengers collide hard with the rocks. As they try to recover their senses after the wreck, the Rider returns and fries both of them with hellfire. Following his teammates' screams, Iron Man encounters the Rider and tackles him off his bike, confident that his hellfire can't penetrate his armor. This is a mistake, he discovers, when the Rider blasts flame into the openings for his eyes and mouth, sending him crashing to the ground. Finally, Thor confronts the Ghost Rider and proves that the hellfire has no effect on the Asgardian. When Thor throws his hammer at the Rider, the demon jumps on his hellcycle and outraces Mjolnir, stopping only when the hammer's throw has spent and it moves to return to its owner's hand. Gripping the handle of the hammer, the Ghost Rider uses its momentum against Thor, knocking the Thunder God for a loop with his own weapon.

Soon, the visibly shaken Avengers regroup and try to come up with a plan to capture the Ghost Rider. Tigra is terrified of meeting the Rider again, the hellfire having scared her - but Captain America, himself even saying that he's never experienced anything so horrifying, convinces her to put aside her fear to help them. Eventually, the Avengers again attack the Rider, but this time they are more prepared for his power. While the heroes attempt to contain the demon, the battle is brought to a halt by a newcomer: the Angel, awakened from his coma but still injured. He tells Blaze that he has a theory about him: the more bitter and unhappy he is as Blaze, the more ruthless and violent the Ghost Rider becomes. Face to face with his innocent victim, Blaze manages to wrest control of his body from the Ghost Rider and collapses on the ground, asking everyone to just leave him alone. Now that the Ghost Rider is gone, Johnny Blaze has committed no crime...and the heroes walk away from him, hoping that Blaze will eventually accept their help.

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