The Original Ghost Rider Rides Again (1991) # 3

"Temptations!"/"Tears of a Clown!"

Cover Date: September 1991

On Sale Date: July 1991

Writer: Roger Stern
Artist: Bob Budiansky
Inker: Dave Simons
Letterer: Rick Parker/Diana Albers
Colorist: Bob Sharen/George Roussos
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.

I think Johnny just wet the bed.

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.

THE ROADMAP

This issue reprints Ghost Rider (1973) # 72 and Ghost Rider (1973) # 73.  

Playing mind games.