Daredevil (1964) # 295

"Through the Eyes of the Enemy"

Cover Date: July 1991

On Sale Date: May 1991

Writer: D. G. Chichester
Artist: Lee Weeks
Inker: Al Williamson
Letterer: Pat Moretti
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor-In-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Cover Artist: Lee Weeks

A nighttime fight in a playground between Daredevil and ninjas of the Hand is interrupted by Ghost Rider, who is seeking vengeance for deaths caused by the ninjas. The leader of the Hand and his chief enforcer, Izanami, escape and leave their men to face off against the two vigilantes. Daredevil and Ghost Rider easily defeat the ninjas, who disappear as clouds of mist when they die. Ghost Rider attempts to give the last ninja the Penance Stare, which Daredevil interrupts, causing all of them to witness a vision of the Hand coming under the control of Hydra's Baron Strucker. Ghost Rider, shaken by the vision, almost gives the Penance Stare to Daredevil before becoming too weak. He transforms back into Danny Ketch, who collapses in Daredevil's arms. 

Later, Matt Murdock takes Danny to the church where his mother is a nun, and leaves him in the care of the sisters. Danny, weakened by the feedback of the Ghost Rider's Penance Stare, tells Daredevil that the Rider knows that Daredevil will take care of things without him. Murdock whispers "Spirit of Vengeance for a day," before going off to confront the Hand.

Give the ninja points for creativity, at least!

THE ROADMAP

Ghost Rider last appeared in Quasar (1988) # 22-24 and appears next in Ghost Rider (1990) # 13.

Daredevil once encountered the Johnny Blaze incarnation of Ghost Rider in Daredevil (1964) # 137. He will meet the Danny Ketch incarnation of Ghost Rider next in Ghost Rider (1990) # 36.

CHAIN REACTION

The Ghost Rider guest appearance soul train rolls on to its next stop in the pages of Daredevil, which proves just how effectively the character can be used by a great creative team.

I often feel like the Chichester/Weeks run on Daredevil gets overlooked during examinations of the character, as he took the series in a fairly unique direction while still keeping the tone of his predecessors, Ann Nocenti and Frank Miller. There was more of an emphasis on international intrigue, such as the story here with the Hand and Hydra, and a willingness to explore the supernatural elements of each. The Hand's plot in this storyline, which is a bit too convoluted to understand with just this issue, does at least provide a logical entry point for a Ghost Rider appearance.

What an appearance that is, to boot! Taking out all of the subplot pages takes this down to just one epic fight scene, the choreography which by Chichester and especially Weeks is just superb. Whenever Ghost Rider makes an appearance in another title I always look for that one scene that makes it worthwhile, that justifies the appearance, and this issue delivers that with the ninja stabbing Ghost Rider in the eye sockets with his sais, that is such an awesome visual. Weeks gets another stab at Ghost Rider in the Fear bookshelf edition in 1992, and his work here is a great indicator of how well he adapts to the character.

I don't really have much more to say about this one, which is usual for 1990s guest appearances. It's a good comic and part of a solid run by a great creative team.

Not the last time this will happen.