Ghost Rider (1990) # 61

"Betrayals, Part 4: The Fall"

Cover Date: May 1995; On Sale Date: March 1995

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Salvador Larroca; Inker: Sergio Melia; Letterer: Janice Chiang; Colorist: Kevin Somers; Editor in Chief: Bobbie Chase; Cover Artist: Salvador Larroca

Ghost Rider, wracked with remorse over the accidental death of police officer Sean Tully, is being hunted by the rest of the Team, including an enraged Stacy Dolan. Ghost Rider arrives at a church and transforms back into Dan, who is found by a priest who has a history with the Ketch family and recognizes Dan. Meanwhile, Hellgate sends his two aides, Dread and Rak, to apprehend the Ghost Rider. While Stacy blames herself for not leading the Team to Dan in the first place, Dan’s girlfriend Paula arrives at Mrs. Ketch’s house to spend time with her while they worry about Dan’s whereabouts. Others, such as Shriker, Caretaker, the Abomination, and Wolverine can only watch as the city is locked down by the manhunt. The Punisher and Daredevil both decide to find Ghost Rider, determined to either kill him or help him, respectively.

Rak and Dread track down Ghost Rider to the church and a fight breaks out, soon interrupted by the military who cordon off the area. Punisher and Daredevil arrive to help fight off Dread and Rak; Punisher offers to help Dan escape while Daredevil wants to take him into custody himself to keep the police from killing him. Dan turns them both down and goes outside, transforming back into Ghost Rider for his confrontation with the Team. The Team, including Stacy, all blast Ghost Rider with their weapons, causing him intense pain that he accepts as his penance for Tully’s death. The Team takes the disabled Ghost Rider into custody, but are intercepted by Nick Fury and SHIELD, who have their orders to take Ghost Rider with them. The Team are left feeling used while Stacy breaks down in remorse over what she’s done.

THE ROADMAP

Stacy Dolan learned that Dan and Ghost Rider are the same person in Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 18. She was offered a position in the Ghost Rider Task Force (called "The Team" starting in this issue) in Ghost Rider (1990) # 56 and she accepted in Ghost Rider (1990) # 57.

The Ghost Rider Task Force first appeared under the leadership of Michael Badilino in Ghost Rider (1990) # 21. Badilino quit the police force in Ghost Rider (1990) # 49 and passed the Team over to his second in command, Jim "Ski" Sokolowski.

Ghost Rider last encountered Daredevil in Ghost Rider (1990) # 36 and the Punisher in Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: The Dark Design. Ghost Rider will meet up with the Punisher again soon in Ghost Rider (1990) # 65.

Dread and Rak last appeared in Ghost Rider (1990) # 48 and appear again as prisoners of the Black Hole in Ghost Rider (1990) # 64.

CHAIN REACTION

“Betrayals” comes to a heartbreaking conclusion that sets up a fascinating change of events for all the characters involved.

If anything, the creative team of Mackie, Larroca, and Melia weren’t afraid to turn the status quo on its head with this arc, and it’s a shake-up that was desperately needed. This wasn’t the false drama of Ghost Rider’s “death” during the last big crossover, this was the result of story beats that had been hitting consistently for the last year. This comic is a masterpiece with very little stumbles, even with it being a double-sized issue and thus a potential victim of padding out events to make an inflated page count. For the most part, “The Fall” delivers on its promise of Ghost Rider being hunted by someone his human host loves.

As with previous issues, Stacy Dolan and Dan Ketch are the stars with top-notch characterization and such pathos contained in their tragic story. Stacy wears her guilt on her sleeve, blaming herself as much as the Ghost Rider for her teammate’s death in the last chapter; and Danny, man, that kid is a mess. This arc brought out exactly what had been missing from the shared relationship between Dan and the Ghost Rider, the struggle for control that made the previous Blaze/Zarathos dynamic so enthralling. There’s no malicious intent on the Ghost Rider’s part, but both are desperately trying to assert control for their own individual survival. Ghost Rider can’t exist without Dan, and Dan is frantically trying to salvage his own life. It’s a fascinating stage for this issue’s conclusion.

Mackie doesn’t completely nail the landing though, as the inclusion of the Punisher and Daredevil as sounding boards for vigilante justice is completely unnecessary. Those two just aren’t necessary and only muddle up what has been a very concise and focused story. Still, it’s a minor misstep, because Mackie succeeds with so many of the dramatic beats. The third person narration when Ghost Rider is being attacked by the Team is emotionally poignant yet also terribly sad, especially when coupled with the screaming heard throughout Cypress Hills. 

The artwork by Salvador Larroca and Sergio Melia perfectly compliments Mackie’s story, providing clear and exciting visuals. The artists aren’t afraid to go big, such as the splash page with Ghost Rider being shot by the Team and the impressive double-page splash of the SHIELD Hellicarrier. They also nail the little moments, such as Ghost Rider reaching for Stacy to try and apologize only to get blasted again and again. The artists sell the pain that Ghost Rider is going through emotionally, such as on the opening page where he’s struggling with the innocent death he caused, and physically during the final assault by the Team.

Much like Larroca and Melia being an overlooked artistic team in Ghost Rider history, “Betrayals” is an unrecognized gem in a series that many readers had given up on. It is, in fact, one of the best storylines in the title’s history.