Ghost Rider (1990) # 24

"Death Duel"

Cover Date: April 1992; On Dale Date: February 1992

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Mark Texeira w/ Andy Kubert; Letterer: Janice Chiang; Colorist: Gregory Wright; Editor: Bobbie Chase; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Mark Texeira

Snowblind is kidnapped from the hospital by Deathwatch, Hag, and Troll, while Ghost Rider is busy interrupting a hostage situation in another part of the city. Later, at Cypress Hills Cemetery, Ghost Rider transforms into Danny Ketch. At his home, Danny calls John Blaze, who is with his carnival in New Orleans, and tells him about his plan to take down Deathwatch. When Dan refuses to listen to reason regarding the confrontation with Deathwatch, Blaze becomes worried that Zarathos could be taking over Dan after all. Meanwhile, Snowblind wakes up alongside a host of captive innocent people in Deathwatch’s penthouse, all of them being used as a power source for Deathwatch and bait to lure the Ghost Rider to them.

That night, Danny goes around to his mother, his best friend Jack, and his ex-girlfriend Stacy, but is unable to explain to any of them what has been happening. Sensing Deathwatch, Dan transforms into Ghost Rider and heads toward the penthouse, where Deathwatch has killed all the captives save for Snowblind. When Ghost Rider arrives, he is attacked by Hag and Troll while Deathwatch absorbs Snowblind’s life essence, killing him. Ghost Rider defeats Hag and Troll, and prepares to kill Deathwatch, knowing now that the villain is not a human being. Deathwatch overpowers Ghost Rider, beating him with one of his own rib bones, gloating that Ghost Rider cannot take a life. Proving that his stance against taking a life only extends to humans, Ghost Rider stabs Deathwatch with his chain, causing the villain to explode, taking out the top of the penthouse with him. Ghost Rider emerges from the destruction and wonders what remains for him now that all his enemies are dead.

"One day I am so going to hunt you down and send you to prison"

THE ROADMAP

Deathwatch first appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 1 and had his last encounter with Ghost Rider in Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 71.  However, he has been behind the scenes in several issues, having employed Blackout, H.E.A.R.T., and Snowblind; he set up the latter to be taken down by Ghost Rider in Ghost Rider (1990) # 21.

Snowblind is later resurrected by Anton Hellgate and makes his next appearance in Ghost Rider (1990) # 71.

Hag and Troll survive and make their next appearance in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 4, along with Deathwatch's comatose body. Their attempt to revive Deathwatch is told in the "Spirits of Venom" crossover between Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance and Web of Spider-Man. Deathwatch does make his eventual return to life in Ghost Rider (1990) # 42.

CHAIN REACTION

Mark Texeira illustrates his final issue while the Deathwatch arc wraps up in a very “season finale” style of storytelling.

This issue really does feel like the end of something significant, as most of the threads that Mackie had been weaving together over the last two years get resolved with a spike to the villain’s gut. Mackie must have had some clear ideas about the title’s upcoming change in direction, otherwise why the deck clearing exercise of the last six issues? Every single villain created for the series had been killed off by the end of this issue (though, yes, most of them would be back in the future), with no less than four villains meeting their end here. Blackout was the only outlier, even though his story had effectively been wrapped up in issue # 15 and was due for the anniversary issue # 25, but Deathwatch had been such a consistent background presence that his death really does come across as shocking. It’s a shame that when he does return, he never really achieves the standard that he holds here as one of the title’s main villains. I do find it curious that, while he’s revealed to be something other than human in this issue and thus able to be killed by the Ghost Rider, it’s never said what exactly he’s supposed to be. He’s eventually revealed to be a “Translord”, which is first revealed not in the comics but in the Ghost Rider trading card set that came out around the time of “Rise of the Midnight Sons”.

Other than the confrontation with the book’s “big bad”, the characterization and actions of Danny Ketch really give the comic its sense of being a finale of sorts. There are the brief check-ins with each of the supporting cast members and Danny’s attempts to say goodbye to them, fearing that he’s going off to his death and still unable to tell them the truth. It’s appropriately sad and poignant at the same time, even the phone conversation with Blaze. Danny had been through a roller coaster of emotions over the last year and it all kind of builds to its crescendo in this issue; next issue he’s attempting to pick up the pieces and move forward.

As if this comic didn’t feel “final” enough, it’s also the last for artist Mark Texeira. It’s appropriate that this era of the series closes out the way it does as Texeira makes his way out the door, since his artwork (along with collaborator Javier Saltares during the book’s first year) was so indicative of the time period. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that Ghost Rider never really recovers from Texeira’s departure. It’s not that Mackie’s writing wasn’t a huge factor in the book’s success, of course it was, but Texeira’s work on this series was so important to its success. Texeira goes on to draw Wolverine after this, the first example of the X-Men office enticing a Ghost Rider artist to jump ship (it happens with Andy Kubert, Adam Kubert, AND Salvador Larroca!).

Viewed as a “season finale” style of comic, this issue works great. It genuinely leaves you with the hanging question of what could possibly come next, promising bigger and better things as the title moves on to a new era.

His favorite film is Big Trouble In Little China.