Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 126

"The Walking Wounded, Part 4: Jerk the Bait"

Cover Date: April 1993; Publication Date: February 1993

Writer: Ann Nocenti; Artist: Steve Lightle; Letterer: Ken Lopez; Colorist: Steve Lightle; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Steve Lightle

While the women trapped inside the locked shopping mall arm themselves for war, Mary Walker denies having killed two of the three security guards who assaulted her. Realizing that one of the guards got away, Mary transforms into Typhoid and runs away from the group, seeking revenge on the guard and on Ghost Rider. Meanwhile, Dan Ketch and Father Louis are realizing that the mall is slipping into another realm where physics are in flux. Typhoid finds them and attacks Danny, blaming him for innocent Mary receiving the Penance Stare. Dan transforms into Ghost Rider, triggered by Typhoid's presence. The security guard chooses that moment to attack and fire his gun at Typhoid, who responds by setting the guard on fire, killing him. In response, Ghost Rider grabs her by the throat with his chain, telling her that she will never kill again.

THE ROADMAP

This issue of Marvel Comics Presents also contained stories featuring Wolverine, She-Hulk, and Iron Fist.

CHAIN REACTION

Typhoid seeks revenge as the battle of the sexes amps up in this trippy team-up story.

Typhoid Mary has always been one of the characters that have intrigued me as a reader, going all the way back to her debut in the pages of Daredevil. The juxtaposition of her split personality, from virginal Mary Walker to seductress Typhoid, is fascinating when you've got a writer like Ann Nocenti who isn't afraid to explore the nuances. Putting her up against Ghost Rider, who is described here by Father Louis as the personification of Old Testament wrath, flags up the contradictions that Typhoid so perfectly embodies. She's an innocent victim and a stone cold killer at the same time, which throws Ghost Rider into a conundrum. Ghost Rider is very black and white in his thinking, guilty versus innocent, and he can't handle Typhoid straddling that grey area.

Steve Lightle is back on form this chapter, as he's once again handling the full art chores (including the colors!). His work is so fluid and mesmerizing, perfectly capturing the otherworldly atmosphere of the shopping mall as it merges with the realm of insanity brought on by Dusk. He captures both the manic energy of Typhoid and the brutality of Ghost Rider in such lush imagery, such as when Dan's skin slowly melts away to reveal the flaming skull as Typhoid rails against him. This serial is only enhanced by Lightle's work, especially now that he's back in full control of the art.

"The Walking Wounded" is turning to be so much more than just a team-up slugfest between characters, it's a story that makes you think and rewards you for repeated readings.