The Original Ghost Rider Rides Again (1991) # 5

"Half a Demon...Half a Man!"/"Ghost Rider...Unleashed?"

Cover Date: November 1991
On Sale Date: September 1991

Title: "Half A Demon...Half A Man!"
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Don Perlin/Bob Budiansky
Inker: Dave Simons
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter/Tom DeFalco

Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

In the nether-regions of Hell, the demon Asmodeus travels to the realm of Mephisto and offers the demon-lord a "suggestion" concerning Johnny Blaze and the Ghost Rider. Mephisto comments that the Ghost Rider's true name is Zarathos, but allows Asmodeus to continue. The lesser demon offers to lift the burden of Blaze from Mephisto, to which the Hell ruler replies that Zarathos would be crucial to Asmodeus' attempt to rule Earth. Mephisto decides to turn the "suggestion" into a contest, where Zarathos shall run a gauntlet in Hell, with his freedom as the goal. If he fails, he will belong to Asmodeus.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Johnny confronts Ralph Quentin about the incident with Steel Wind. During the argument, Blaze suddenly feels faint, so he excuses himself to go get some air. Riding on his motorcycle into a secluded area, Johnny is jumped by a pack of demons, who knock him unconscious and carry him through a shimmering gate. Blaze wakes up and is surprised to see both Mephisto and Asmodeus standing before him, as he is chained to an upright altar of sorts. Mephisto brings forth the Sword of Demonicus, which he uses to cleave the true form of Zarathos out of Blaze's body. Mephisto tells Zarathos that both he and Johnny must race through Hell to a mystic portal back to Earth. If both of them reach the portal together, they will forever be separated and free from one another.

Blaze and Zarathos begin their race through Hell, but Asmodeus immediately sends his minions out to stop them from reaching their destination. The two riders reach a bridge, where they encounter a giant named Saturnyne, a demon with an immense hatred toward the Ghost Rider. Blaze rescues Zarathos from the giant, and the two then trick Saturnyne into impaling himself on a piece of the broken bridge. The two continue down the Road of Lost Souls, where Johnny encounters what he believes to be the ghosts of his parents. Zarathos loses his temper and blasts the two shades with hellfire, forcing them to reveal their true demonic forms.

The two continue farther, but their path is soon blocked by a twisted mass of flesh called Mount Avarice. Zarathos explains that the Mount is made of the souls of men that were concerned only with themselves, and must spend eternity entwined with each other. If the souls sense a kinship with them, then they will drag them down among them. Blaze soon experiences a feeling of self-doubt, and begins to sink into the mass of limbs. Zarathos reluctantly turns back and saves Johnny from his fate, pulling him through the entwinement of souls. The two continue their journey on foot through a narrow tunnel, only to see two of Asmodeus' demons cut the rope tying down a large boulder that takes up the entire space of the corridor. Zarathos uses his hellfire to stop the boulder's descent toward them, but finds that their path is now blocked. Blaze turns, only to find that the souls of Mount Avarice are coming up the tunnel after them. Zarathos turns to the boulder and uses all the hellfire at his command to shatter the blockade, though it knocks him unconscious in the process. Blaze drags the Ghost Rider through the tunnel, but is unable to get away from Mount Avarice. Zarathos then awakens and blasts the souls with his hellfire, forcing them to retreat. The two run the rest of the way, finally coming to the portal that will take them back to Hell. Both of them then decide, however, that only one must step through the portal, in order to ensure that they will never be bonded together again. The two struggle, and during their fight they fall through the portal together.

Johnny awakens on Earth, at the place where he was attacked and taken. Realizing that Zarathos is inside him once again, Johnny pounds on the rock furiously, and in the process transforms into the Ghost Rider, who swears vengeance on Mephisto. Back in Hell, Mephisto explains to Asmodeus that had Blaze and Zarathos simply walked through the portal together, they truly would have been freed from each other and the curse of the Ghost Rider would have been lifted. Mephisto then decides to take his prize for besting Asmodeus, destroying the demon with a bolt of hellfire. As the netherruler watches the Ghost Rider through a scrying glass, he states that as long as he rules, the Ghost Rider will never be free.

The Original Ghost Rider Rides Again (1991) # 2

"Freaks!"/"The Tears of Adam Henderson"

Cover Date: August 1991
On Sale Date: June 1991

Writer: Roger Stern/J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Bob Budiansky/Don Perlin
Inker: Dave Simons/Danny Bulandi
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Bob Sharen/George Roussos
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter

Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

At the Quentin Carnival, a misshapen man named Jeremy who works as the carnival's "monster man" works on a drawing of reporter Cynthia Randolph.  She is less than flattered by the artwork, mistaking his gesture as infatuation when its not.  She and Johnny Blaze are then introduced to Eliot, the son of carnival clown Corky, and Cynthia is again taken off guard when Eliot shuts down her advances after learning that she's a reporter.  The carnival troupe finish packing their trucks and move along to the next town, while during the drive Corky asks Eliot if he's going to actually go straight this time.  Meanwhile, at a mysterious island, an agent named Renaldo is given orders to retrieve Jeremy and bring him to the island by a man with a particular interest in "freaks".

Several days later, Renaldo attempts to strongarm carnival owner Ralph Quentin into "selling" Jeremy to him.  He's interrupted by Johnny Blaze, who forcefully throws Renaldo off the carnival lot.  Renaldo returns that night after the carnival has closed down and unleashes an army of his own freaks to exact his revenge.  While Johnny stuffs his familiar leathers into a bag with the intention of disposing of them, hoping to distance himself from the Ghost Rider, his friends' card game is interrupted by the attacking group of freaks.  Johnny is also attacked and knocked unconscious, and the freaks take both him and the captive Jeremy.  Blaze wakes up in a hotel room, tied and gagged before Renaldo and the freaks.  Realizing that Renaldo plans to beat him to death, Johnny transforms into the Ghost Rider and fights through the freaks, though Renaldo is able to escape.  He follows Renaldo and the remaining freaks, including the captive Jeremy, to the local airport where he halts their escape by melting the tires of their van before they can reach their plane.  He then pulls Renaldo out and fries his soul with hellfire, leaving him a quivering mess, before transforming back into Blaze.  The freaks are too frightened to do anything, and Jeremy tells Johnny that he's going to go to the island to be with his brothers, intending to stand up to Renaldo and his boss.  Johnny watches their plane fly off into the distance, wishing his friend good luck.

The New Defenders (1972) # 145-146

"Five Women" & "Fun!"

Cover Date: July & August 1985
On Sale Date: May & June 1985

Title: "Five Women"
Writer: Peter B. Gillis
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: Art Nichols
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Michelle Wrightson
Editor: Carl Potts
Editor-In-Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Mark Badger

A man and woman on a motorcycle drive through the New Mexico desert, diverting briefly from the highway to carve the word "Defenders" in the dirt with their bike.  They come across a military roadblock on the highway, but instead of stopping it they simply jump the bike over the barricade and continue on their way. 

At their hillside headquarters, the Defenders are reeling following a tragic battle with their former teammate, Moondragon.  The Angel has been blinded and Cloud severely injured, leaving only Iceman, the Beast, and the Gargoyle to assist the army with cleaning up the mess from the battle.  The military have been altered about the biker, claiming that whoever it is isn't human due to the way he was handling the motorcycle.  Later, while the Beast is attempting to provide medical treatment to Angel and Cloud, the holographic intruder alert system alerts him to the biker's approach.  While the couple on the motorcycle drive up the stone stairway to the Defenders' home, the military are attempting to make them stop by firing on them.  The holographic projections of various heroes with assault rifles causes the biker to drive straight through them, but a bullet hits the bike's tire, spilling the couple onto the stairway.  The Defenders come out ready to fight, but Iceman tells them to stop because he recognizes the biker: it's Johnny Blaze, the former Ghost Rider, with his girlfriend Roxanne.  Blaze tells him that since being freed from Zarathos he and Roxanne had just been driving across the country, but when she had a vision regarding his former teammates in the Champions being in danger they made their way to New Mexico. 

Days later, the Angel talks to Johnny and Roxanne while he convalesces, offering them both a job with the Defenders as a mechanic.  Johnny declines, saying that going back to the superhero lifestyle won't make him happy, but that the Defenders should continue on despite the tragedy of their last battle.  Roxanne mentions that they are in need of money, and Angels happily agrees to loan them money.  Not long after, Johnny and Roxanne decide to leave, with Iceman giving Blaze a t-shirt that reads "The New Defenders Weirdos Auxiliary".

Ghost Rider (1973) # 76

"Half a Demon...Half a Man!"

Cover Date: January 1983
On Sale Date: October 1982

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: Dave Simons
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter

Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

In the nether-regions of Hell, the demon Asmodeus travels to the realm of Mephisto and offers the demon-lord a "suggestion" concerning Johnny Blaze and the Ghost Rider. Mephisto comments that the Ghost Rider's true name is Zarathos, but allows Asmodeus to continue. The lesser demon offers to lift the burden of Blaze from Mephisto, to which the Hell ruler replies that Zarathos would be crucial to Asmodeus' attempt to rule Earth. Mephisto decides to turn the "suggestion" into a contest, where Zarathos shall run a gauntlet in Hell, with his freedom as the goal. If he fails, he will belong to Asmodeus.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Johnny confronts Ralph Quentin about the incident with Steel Wind. During the argument, Blaze suddenly feels faint, so he excuses himself to go get some air. Riding on his motorcycle into a secluded area, Johnny is jumped by a pack of demons, who knock him unconscious and carry him through a shimmering gate. Blaze wakes up and is surprised to see both Mephisto and Asmodeus standing before him, as he is chained to an upright altar of sorts. Mephisto brings forth the Sword of Demonicus, which he uses to cleave the true form of Zarathos out of Blaze's body. Mephisto tells Zarathos that both he and Johnny must race through Hell to a mystic portal back to Earth. If both of them reach the portal together, they will forever be separated and free from one another.

Blaze and Zarathos begin their race through Hell, but Asmodeus immediately sends his minions out to stop them from reaching their destination. The two riders reach a bridge, where they encounter a giant named Saturnyne, a demon with an immense hatred toward the Ghost Rider. Blaze rescues Zarathos from the giant, and the two then trick Saturnyne into impaling himself on a piece of the broken bridge. The two continue down the Road of Lost Souls, where Johnny encounters what he believes to be the ghosts of his parents. Zarathos loses his temper and blasts the two shades with hellfire, forcing them to reveal their true demonic forms.

The two continue farther, but their path is soon blocked by a twisted mass of flesh called Mount Avarice. Zarathos explains that the Mount is made of the souls of men that were concerned only with themselves, and must spend eternity entwined with each other. If the souls sense a kinship with them, then they will drag them down among them. Blaze soon experiences a feeling of self-doubt, and begins to sink into the mass of limbs. Zarathos reluctantly turns back and saves Johnny from his fate, pulling him through the entwinement of souls. The two continue their journey on foot through a narrow tunnel, only to see two of Asmodeus' demons cut the rope tying down a large boulder that takes up the entire space of the corridor. Zarathos uses his hellfire to stop the boulder's descent toward them, but finds that their path is now blocked. Blaze turns, only to find that the souls of Mount Avarice are coming up the tunnel after them. Zarathos turns to the boulder and uses all the hellfire at his command to shatter the blockade, though it knocks him unconscious in the process. Blaze drags the Ghost Rider through the tunnel, but is unable to get away from Mount Avarice. Zarathos then awakens and blasts the souls with his hellfire, forcing them to retreat. The two run the rest of the way, finally coming to the portal that will take them back to Hell. Both of them then decide, however, that only one must step through the portal, in order to ensure that they will never be bonded together again. The two struggle, and during their fight they fall through the portal together.

Johnny awakens on Earth, at the place where he was attacked and taken. Realizing that Zarathos is inside him once again, Johnny pounds on the rock furiously, and in the process transforms into the Ghost Rider, who swears vengeance on Mephisto. Back in Hell, Mephisto explains to Asmodeus that had Blaze and Zarathos simply walked through the portal together, they truly would have been freed from each other and the curse of the Ghost Rider would have been lifted. Mephisto then decides to take his prize for besting Asmodeus, destroying the demon with a bolt of hellfire. As the netherruler watches the Ghost Rider through a scrying glass, he states that as long as he rules, the Ghost Rider will never be free.

IN ALL HIS GLORY!

THE ROADMAP

Steel Wind attacked the Quentin Carnival in Ghost Rider (1973) # 75.

Asmodeus first appeared in Ghost Rider (1973) # 53, and again in Ghost Rider (1973) # 64.

Mephisto was revealed as the "Satan" responsible for Blaze's curse in Ghost Rider (1973) # 68.

This is the first mention of the Ghost Rider's true name, Zarathos, and several hints are offered at his origins. Zarathos' origin will be revealed to him by Nightmare in Ghost Rider (1973) # 77.

Believe it or not, the demon Saturnyne that appears in this issue makes a re-appearance decades later as the main villain of the X-Men: Pixie Strikes Back mini-series.  Talk about a deep cut!  Similarly, Asmodeus will re-appear alive and once again a ruler of Hell in the 2013 "Hell on Earth War" storyline in X-Factor.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 76 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Such a great transition!

Ghost Rider (1973) # 71

"The Tears of Adam Henderson"

Cover Date: August 1982
On Sale Date: May 1982

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: Danny Bulandi
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter\

Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

In a two-story Illinois household, Adam and Maureen Henderson are having an argument. Adam, sick of his worthless life, has decided to quit his job as a music teacher, ignoring his wife's reasoning that they can't afford for him to quit. Upset, Adam walks out of the house, leaving Maureen in tears. Later, he finds himself on the outskirts of town at a large gorge. Still fuming at what he's allowed his life to become, he doesn't notice the large shadow looming over him until it's too late. He turns around, and all he can manage to think is "Oh, my good lord..."

Elsewhere in the town, the Quentin Carnival is in full swing, and all eyes are glued on the motorcycle stunt show performed by Red Fowler and Johnny Blaze. After the show, Johnny and Red are out on the carnival grounds, talking about how the innocence of small towns is all in people's heads, and that the same demons in our souls are always waiting to spring out. Their discussion is interrupted by Cynthia Randolph, who sarcastically states that she didn't know a macho cyclejock could think so deeply. In return, Johnny says that all he likes to do is dress up in leather and ride a big chopper in order to prove his manhood. While Cynthia stands aghast, Johnny excuses himself and his partner by saying that they're going somewhere to lift weights and compare the size of their muscles.

Meanwhile, Adam Henderson walks through a neighborhood, a strange blue flame crackling around his body. Coming to a house that's host to a loud party, he decides he doesn't like seeing other people happy. Pointing his hand and yelling "Out!", the house suddenly goes black and quiet. Adam moves on, and is interrupted by a barking dog that's fenced into a yard. Adam's power flares again, and the dog simply falls to the ground, dead. He continues walking, eventually coming to the carnival. Moving through the crowds, he bumps into Johnny and Red, nearly knocking them over. Red wants to go say something to him, but the cyclists are distracted by two young women seeking autographs. Moving on, Adam comes to the tent of Madame Olga, the carnival's psychic. Entering the tent, he chooses a psychic reading from her crystal ball. Olga is a fraud, pretending to be psychic, but she is shocked to see images actually begin to form in her fake crystal ball upon touching Adam's hand. Adam speaks, telling of a race of beings called the S'Raphh, who had evolved into a state of grace, angelic beings that had a goal...to find the reason of being, the Ultimate Truth. Unfortunately, they never found what they were looking for, and this drove them insane. As one, their entire race hurled themselves into an ocean of fire, committing racial suicide. From their death, however, the collective unconscious of the S'Raphh demanded revenge, and centuries later Null, the Living Darkness arose from the depths. Null came to the world seeking to destroy all life, but the creature was defeated by the Defenders. Realizing that he had much to learn about the world, Null wandered the earth, searching for the one bitter human heart with which he could merge. He found that heart in Adam Henderson, who at the end of his tail has broken down into black tears. Raising his hand to Olga, he tells her that Null now has a living weapon to destroy all life, not understanding why people won't see what he sees.

On the carnival grounds, Johnny and Red are playing games with the two girls they met. Suddenly, an explosion rocks the area from Olga's tent, causing the two bikers to race to her aid. Finding Olga alive, though in a deep state of shock, the carnival workers are confused as to what happened. Suddenly, Adam appears floating in the air, the shadow of Null coalesced around him. Pointing into the crowd, Adam focuses on an elderly man, a pastor named Oliver Matheson, and lifts him into the air with his power. Calling him a deceiver and a fraud, Adam flies the two of them away, accusing Matheson of "promising a non-existent Heaven to creatures already in Hell." Realizing that the monster needs to be stopped, Johnny runs off. When safely away from his friends, he calls forth his demonic second self, the Ghost Rider, who creates a hellfire cycle and rides off in the direction of Adam.

Back at the Henderson home, Maureen wakes up to find Adam standing in their bedroom. He tells her that he's brought a gift, revealing the pastor, shrunken down the size of a doll. Maureen screams, which Adam interprets to her not liking the gift. So, he throws the tiny man out the second story window, the Pastor growing to his normal size as he falls, losing consciousness when he hits the ground. The Ghost Rider sees this and ramps his bike off of a car, crashing into the Henderson's bedroom. Adam fires a blast of energy into the demon's chest, which the Rider angrily answers with a blast of hellfire. Both combatants still standing after their attacks, Adam/Null tackles the Rider and carries them both back outside. Maureen runs outside, but is stopped by the awakened Pastor Matheson, who tells her that they have no power against creatures such as these. Adam and the Ghost Rider battle furiously, with Adam/Null attempting to shrink the demon down. Immediately, the Rider regrows by the force of his will alone. Blasting him with hellfire, Adam screams, regaining control of his body for a moment. Null returns, however, causing Adam to telekinetically lift a car and throw it. The Rider dodges, chasing the man/monster into the town square, followed by Maureen and Matheson. In a last, desperate move, Adam/Null blasts a large stone statue and topples it over. The Ghost Rider easily jumps out of the way, but Maureen, who has run forward to stop Adam, finds herself directly beneath it. Seeing what he's done, Adam regains control of his body, though still finds himself unable to act. At the last moment, Pastor Matheson leaps forward, pushing Maureen and himself out of the way of the large statue. Taking advantage of his weakness, the Ghost Rider blasts Adam with his hellfire, using the man's soul to drive Null out of his body. When Null exits into his true form, the Ghost Rider continues blasting with his hellfire, eventually destroying the creature.

Afterward, Maureen races to Adam's side, comforting him after what he's went through. Similarly, Pastor Matheson is comforted by his wife, who expresses her love for her husband. Meanwhile, however, the Ghost Rider relinquishes control back to Blaze, who has no such person to comfort him in his time of need.

Not the dog!

THE ROADMAP

Null first appeared and was defeated in Defenders # 103, and it makes a re-appearance in Defenders # 113 following this issue.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 71 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Ghost Rider has an ouchie.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 67

“Holding on to Sally”

Cover Date: April 1982
On Sale Date: January 1982

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Don Perlin
Inkers: Dave Simons & Tom Sutton
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

Riding his bike on a stormy night, Johnny Blaze runs across a young girl on the side of the road. She asks Johnny for a ride, which he gladly gives her. While on the road, Blaze tells her that she should be more careful who she accepts rides from, because for all she knows he could be a psycho. She replies that she can tell Johnny is a good soul, to which he says, "Don't bet on it." Further down the road, Johnny and the girl come across a stranded motorist, who claims that his car won't start. Johnny offers to take a look at the engine, but quickly realizes that he's walked into a trap. Three other men emerge from the darkness and beat him into near unconsciousness, stealing his bike as they leave. Unable to retain control over his second-self, Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider, who forms his flame-cycle and pursues the attackers. The two men on Blaze's bike wreck against a tree, but the two in the car manage to escape. The demon relinquishes control back to Johnny, who weakly reclaims his bike. Suddenly, the girl he gave a ride to mysteriously reappears, pointing the wounded stunt rider toward a house where he can get help. Blaze approaches the house, where an old woman sits on the porch, but collapses before he can ask for help.

Johnny wakes up in the old woman's house, where he tells her that he was attacked and badly beaten. The woman's name is Veronica Stanton, and she tells Johnny why he's been the first person to set foot in her house in years. After her son and husband died, the only person that kept her from going insane was her daughter, Sally. Unfortunately, one night on the way home from a college seminar, Sally was run off the road and killed by a drunk driver. The drunk was the nephew of the town mayor, which meant the whole incident was covered up and ignored. Veronica allows Johnny to take her truck into town, so he can pick up some spare parts to fix his bike. At the town's auto-shop, Blaze sees one of his attackers, who is an employee of the shop. With his memory affected by the beating, Johnny finds the man familiar, but does not recognize him. He sees Johnny leave in Veronica's truck and decides that he and his boys need to go to her house to make sure she's "okay".

Later that night, Johnny tells Veronica that the man at the auto shop looked familiar, to which she replies that his name is Jock Parker and is the drunk driver that killed her daughter. Outside the house, Jock tells his friends that his drunken accident cost him his family and his business, that he's been living in Hell ever since and he deserves vengeance. He throws a brick through one of the house's windows, prompting Johnny to run outside to see what's going on. The men attack Johnny and tie him to a tree, where they prepare to beat him to death. Inside, Veronica readies her rifle to protect herself, but is stopped by the young girl that Blaze had helped the night before. The girl is Sally, Veronica's daughter, who says she's come back from the dead for a reason.

Outside, Johnny finally gives in to his demonic self, letting the Ghost Rider out to stop the men from hurting him. The demon biker brutally attacks the four men, while Sally points out to her mother that Blaze is the embodiment of vengeance, the very thing she's wanted ever since Sally's death. The Ghost Rider prepares to kill Jock Parker, but is stopped by the frightened Veronica, who says that no matter what he's done, he doesn't deserve death. The demon slaps the old woman away but is then confronted by Sally. The Ghost Rider flies into an insane rage but finds that his fists pass right through the ghostly girl. Eventually exhausting himself, the Rider is unable to retain control over Blaze, and transforms against his will. Sally fades away, telling her mother that it's time to move on with her life. Veronica turns to Johnny, who weakly holds out his hand and asks for help. Veronica takes his hand, deciding to choose love over her desire for vengeance.

Slappin' the elderly since 1982!

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 67 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Ghost Rider (1973) # 58

“Evil is the Enforcer!”

Cover Date: July 1981
On Sale Date: April 1981

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: Mike Esposito
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Letterer: Diana Albers
Editor: David Kraft
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bill Sienkiewicz

After an encounter with a plane full of thieves in the desert, the Ghost Rider transforms back into Johnny Blaze, who is preparing for his rematch against cyclist Flagg Fargo for the world championship title. At the arena Blaze spies Fargo meeting with the Enforcer, a villain that the Ghost Rider has encountered before. Fargo sees Blaze after the Enforcer departs and takes his rival outside to meet his girlfriend. Gunshots are fired from a passing car, narrowly missing Fargo and his girlfriend, and Johnny gives chase on his motorcycle. The Enforcer reveals himself as the assassin and shoots Johnny with tranquilizer rounds, knocking him unconscious well into the next day.

Johnny wakes up thinking that Fargo must have hired the Enforcer to drug him so he would forfeit the contest. He makes it to the arena in time for the contest and performs magnificently, leading his score over Fargo’s. When Blaze has all but won, Fargo is shot by the Enforcer during a stunt, and Blaze has to drag his rival out of a fire, saving his life. Fargo’s girlfriend tells Johnny that the Enforcer is working for gamblers that had bet on Blaze and had threatened to kill Flagg if he didn’t lose the contest on purpose. Johnny gives chase after the Enforcer as the Ghost Rider and catches up to him on a mountain road, causing the villain to drive his car off the road and into a lake. The Ghost Rider departs, not seeing the Enforcer’s hand rise from the water. The next day, Blaze visits Fargo in the hospital and learns that it will be several months before they can compete against one another again. Fargo then extends his hand toward Johnny and thanks him for saving his life.

Flagg Fargo's an asshole to the bitter end.

THE ROADMAP
Johnny Blaze lost his title as World Champion of Stunt-Cycling to Flagg Fargo in Ghost Rider (1973) # 45-46 and challenged him to a rematch in Ghost Rider (1973) # 56. Flagg Fargo will appear again in Ghost Rider (1973) # 62 but Johnny will never get another chance at a rematch against him.

Ghost Rider fought the Enforcer in Ghost Rider (1973) # 22-24.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 58 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

"Trank you"?  Really, Enforcer?

The Defenders (1972) # 96

"The Rock and Roll Conspiracy!"

Cover Date: June 1981

On Sale Date: April 1981

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: Joe Sinnot
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Al Milgrom
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter

Cover Artist: Michael Golden

At a Detroit music arena, controversial singer Asmodeus Jones - the so-called "King of Devil-Rock" - is performing his song "Send In the Demons" to a crowd of 16,000 fans. During the song, Jones summons forth the demon Fashima, who appears as an image above the stage to temporarily mesmerize the crowd. Standing on the edge of the stage, recently-hired stage hand Johnny Blaze recognizes the forces as being demonic in nature.

In New York, Dr. Strange is searching for any evidence of the Six-Fingered Hand via his Cauldron of the Cosmos. He is provided only a seemingly random assortment of images - a Detroit welcome sign, a guitar, a demon's face, and a flaming skull. Strange reaches out with his magic and teleports the other Defenders, who had been out taking care of other business, to his home. When Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, sees the images in the Cauldron he immediately recognizes the Ghost Rider. Deciding that Detroit is where they must go, Strange teleports himself, Hellstrom, Valkyrie, Hellcat, and the Gargoyle across the country.

Meanwhile, in Detroit, Johnny Blaze rides through the city on his way to Jones' mansion to find out what was up with the demon manifestation at the concert. He suddenly crashes his bike into an invisible wall, causing him to wreck but remain unhurt. Blaze looks up to see the Son of Satan and the other Defenders, who say they needed his attention to ask him some questions. Johnny immediately transforms into the Ghost Rider, who recognizes Hellstrom from their first meeting. The demon explains that he has changed since they last met, he is Johnny Blaze no longer. He creates his motorcycle out of hellfire and rides up the building to attack the heroes. Through teamwork, however, the Defenders easily subdue the raging Ghost Rider and Hellstrom is able to force the demon to submerge and allow Blaze control over his body once again. Dr. Strange explains to Johnny what they're looking for, which Blaze recognizes as what he saw at Asmodeus Jones' concert.

At his Detroit mansion, Jones and his manager Felix Palmer finish a sexual ceremony to worship Fashima. Palmer is concerned that things may go wrong at the next concert, when Jones and Fashima are going to merge into one being in order to turn 16,000 music fans into slaves of the Six-Fingered Hand. Jones strikes out at Palmer, which causes the manager to threaten the singer - it was he that made the deal with Fashima, and he can break that deal just easily. Unnoticed by the two men, Dr. Strange has heard all via his astral form.

That night, the Defenders are in attendance at the concert behind an invisibility shield. Jones begins his act, which slowly turns the crowd into zombies who are chanting Fashima's name over and over. Suddenly, the Ghost Rider roars onto the stage and attacks Jones, who interrupts Fashima's materialization in order to fight back. At that moment, the Defenders attack en masse, causing Jones to absorb too much power - power that forces Fashima to retreat back to her own dimension. Once the chaos is over, Palmer cradles a powerless Jones in his arms while Hellstrom explains what happened to Fashima. Felix tells the group that he made the deal with the Hand and it's he who must pay the price for failure - and like that, he's gone, disappeared. Asmodeus breaks down and admits that Felix Palmer was his brother, which brings out shocked reactions from the Defenders...all but Hellcat, who simply laughs maniacally due to her being influenced by the Hand.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 57

“Where Walks…the Apparition!”

Cover Date: June 1981
On Sale Date: March 1981

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Layouts: Jim Shooter
Artist: Don Perlin
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Letterer: Diana Albers
Editor: Dave Kraft
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

In preparation for his upcoming rematch with Flagg Fargo, Johnny Blaze has joined the Sonny Tremont Auto Show. He goes out for a dinner meal with Sonny, Nora, and Pete, who all work for the auto show, and Pete reminds them that it’s the night “Shocks” Marley is due to be executed. At the nearby prison, “Shocks” is escorted to the electric chair while wearing his stunt racing costume, which he claims was made for him by a voodoo priestess and will bring him back from death. Right before the executioner’s switch is thrown, he swears to come back as an apparition to exact revenge. When the electric chair comes to life, Marley becomes a ghostly entity and escapes from the prison. 

Back at the diner, Johnny asks to borrow Pete’s car to go check on some engine parts. While en route, Johnny is attacked by the Apparition, who believes that Pete is driving the car. With blasts of mystical energy Marley destroys the car, and only a quick transformation into the Ghost Rider saves Johnny’s life. As Marley departs, believing he’s killed Pete, he claims that “now two must die”. Johnny returns to the Tremont property and tells his three new friends what happened, shocking them all with the knowledge of Marley’s return. Pete flees in terror and Sonny fills Johnny in on their story. “Shocks” Marley was a stunt racer for the auto show and had an unrequited crush on Nora, who was dating another racer. “Shocks” sabotaged the other man’s brakes, causing him to die in an auto crash, and the testimony provided to the courts by Sonny and Pete gave Marley a death sentence. The Apparition appears above them and blasts at Sonny and Nora, with only the quick intervention of the Ghost Rider saving them. Weakened by the Ghost Rider’s hellfire, the Apparition departs, leaving Blaze behind to explain himself. Nora doesn’t care about the Ghost Rider and kisses Johnny passionately while Sonny leaves.

The next day at the Auto Show, Nora announces a stock car stunt being performed by Sonny. However, the car is instead being driven by Johnny in an attempt to flush out the Apparition. Marley indeed appears at the top of the ramp and blasts the car, thinking he’s killed Sonny. Johnny and Nora believe that Marley is no longer a threat now that his two victims are thought dead, and the two go to their trailers to get ready for a date. Blaze realizes that he overheard Marley say “two must die” after Pete was believed to be dead, and that Nora must be on Marley’s revenge list as well. He arrives too late at Nora’s trailer, finding her dead at the Apparition’s hands, and transforms into the Ghost Rider to exact vengeance. Using his hellfire to weaken the ghostly killer, the Ghost Rider finally disperses Marley’s spirit by running through him with his hellcycle. That leaves Johnny Blaze alone with Nora’s body to mourn yet another lost love.

Uncharacteristically self-sacrificing.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 57 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Ghost Rider (1973) # 56

“The Menace of Moondark”

Cover Date: May 1981
On Sale Date: February 1981

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Don Perlin
Inkers: Mike Esposito & Crew
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Letterer: Diana Albers
Editor: Dennis O’Neil
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

Gina Langtree walks away from Johnny Blaze, driven away by his dual existence as the Ghost Rider. Johnny then discovers that he’s being fired from the Diamond Cowgirl Casino due to Flagg Fargo having booked shows at a competing casino. Outside the casino Johnny runs into Fargo and challenges him to a rematch for the championship title, which they schedule for two months from then. Johnny rides out into the desert and is attacked by glowing green vultures and has to transform into the Ghost Rider to survive. The Ghost Rider destroys one of the vultures and follows the rest to an underground cave.

Meanwhile, an archaeologist named Hamilton Slade has unearthed a mysterious burial urn in a nearby cave. Hamilton is the great-grandson of Lincoln Slade, who along with his brother Carter rode as the Night Rider in the old west. The urn begins to glow, and the Night Rider’s costume emerges, followed by a flash of light. Hamilton finds himself transformed into the Night Rider and summons his ghost horse, Banshee, to take him to find the Ghost Rider, who has fallen into a trap set by his enemy, Moondark. The sorcerer has lost his soul to the demon he worships and can only regain it by offering Blaze’s soul in its stead. Moondark senses an intruder outside the cave and creates several magical beasts to stop them. The Night Rider dispatches the creatures and enters the cave, distracting Moondark long enough for Johnny to transform back into the Ghost Rider. Moondark flees to another dimension, swearing to return, and Ghost Rider finds himself alone in the cave. Hamilton wakes up back at his ancestors’ burial site with no memory of becoming the Night Rider. That morning, Blaze retrieves his motorcycle and ponders how the Night Rider could have returned from the grave to rescue him.

Make a wish!

THE ROADMAP
Johnny Blaze traveled back in time to meet Carter Slade, the first Night Rider, in Ghost Rider (1973) # 50 and during the course of that issue saved Slade's life.

Hamilton Slade appears next as the Night Rider in Incredible Hulk (1968) # 265.

Ghost Rider first fought Moondark the Magician in Marvel Team-Up (1972) # 93. Moondark appears next in Ghost Rider (1973) # 59.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 56 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Legacies upon legacies...

Ghost Rider (1973) # 55

"Touch of Terror!"

Cover Date: April 1981
On Sale Date: January 1981

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Don Perlin
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Editor: Denny O'Neil
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter

Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

While riding through the Nevada desert, the Ghost Rider chances across a formula racing car. Desiring a challenge, the demon races the car, eventually running it off the road. When GR returns to Las Vegas, he relinquishes control back to the exhausted Johnny Blaze. Wanting nothing but sleep, Johnny decides to cut through a casino to reach his hotel room.

At that moment, the casino patrons are attacked by the villain known as Tatterdemalion, whose toxic powers can dissolve cloth and paper. Also in the crowd, however, is one Jack Russell - the Werewolf by Night - who quickly transforms and attacks the criminal. A moment later, Russell begins to scream unexpectedly and then goes into a berserk rampage. Johnny sees this, promptly transforming into the Ghost Rider. The two fight, but eventually both tire and return to their human personas.

Later, Russell tells Blaze that he's been having trouble controlling the werewolf side of his persona, and he can't explain the bouts of frenzy that he's been experiencing. That night, Blaze performs his cycle show with Russell in the crowd. Suddenly, he turns into his wolf form and goes on yet another rampage, which the Ghost Rider is barely able to stop. The next day, John asks Gina if she can lock Jack inside her garage for the night, so he won't hurt anybody. In return, Gina asks Johnny to drive her race car in that day's rest, as the driver injured his arm during the previous encounter with the Ghost Rider. Before the race, Tatterdemalion decides to steal the race car. The Ghost Rider pursues, running the car off the road and leaving the villain for dead. Unseen by the demon, the criminal crawls away from the wreckage. The next day, Jack tells Blaze that he's heading back to LA. Moments later, Gina arrives and tells Blaze that due to her fear of the Ghost Rider, she can't see him anymore.

Hobo powers activate!

THE ROADMAP

Jack Russell's search for the Tatterdemalion began in Marvel Team-Up # 93.

The Ghost Rider and the Werewolf met briefly in Marvel Premiere # 28.

Gina Langtree first appeared in Ghost Rider (1973) # 41-42, and made her reappearance in Ghost Rider (1973) # 54.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 55 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

YAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Ghost Rider (1973) # 54

“Orb of Evil…Eye of Doom!”

Cover Date: March 1981
On Sale Date: December 1980

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Don Perlin
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Letterer: Diana Albers
Editor: Dennis O’Neil
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

Johnny Blaze rides toward Las Vegas, where he has been offered a job stunt-riding at the Diamond Cowgirl Casino for seven nights. He’s ambushed by two gunmen firing at him from an overpass, forcing him to transform into the Ghost Rider to survive. In a fit of anger, the demon picks up Blaze’s motorcycle and hurls it at the men above, then races into the nearby town on his hellcycle to set fire to a street full of abandoned buildings. After the Ghost Rider departs, the Orb emerges from the overpass, having missed his opportunity to attack with his improved laser helmet. In the desert, the Ghost Rider relinquishes control back to Blaze, who is terrified by how out of control the demon has become. No longer having a motorcycle, he chances upon a bus heading into the city.

When he arrives in Las Vegas he goes to the casino and meets the owner, Mr. King, who gives him the money to purchase a new motorcycle. He spends the next day preparing for the week of stunt shows and that evening gives his first spectacular performance. After the show he’s approached by Gina Langtree, who calls him the name “Frank Ryder” and is surprised to see him alive. He realizes that he met Gina when he had amnesia and had completely forgotten about her after his memory returned. The two enjoy their reunion and Gina says that she’s in town with her father’s racing company for an upcoming race. They are watched from a nearby alley by the Orb, who crafts a plan to kill Blaze by using Gina as bait.

The next evening, Gina’s father asks her to take the Formula One racecar into the desert for a test drive, but when she reaches Humbolt’s Canyon the car runs out of fuel due to sabotage. The Orb kidnaps Gina while, back in Las Vegas, Johnny receives a note from Gina asking him to meet her at Humbolt’s Canyon. When he arrives at the canyon, he finds Gina tied up and a landmine in the ground ahead of him. He manages to transform into the Ghost Rider when the mine explodes, destroying his motorcycle. The Orb attacks with his helmet laser but is unable to defeat the Ghost Rider, who grabs him and burns him with hellfire. The demon is stopped from killing him by Gina, who begs him to let the villain go. Ghost Rider pauses and transforms back into Johnny Blaze, who notices the Orb’s unscarred face. The Orb reveals that he had a plastic surgeon repair the damage to his face but as his face melts into disfigurement realizes that the Ghost Rider’s hellfire has scarred him once again. The Orb tells Blaze that the Ghost Rider has won but he will return to destroy them both in time.

No throwing your toys, GR!

THE ROADMAP
The Orb last appeared in Ghost Rider (1973) # 28 and makes his next appearance in Ghost Rider (1973) # 63.

Johnny Blaze spent time in the amnesiac "Frank Ryder" and romanced Gina Langtree in Ghost Rider (1973) # 41-42.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 54 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

The latest in a string of bad decisions by the Orb.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 53

“The She-Witch of Doom!”

Cover Date: February 1981
On Sale Date: November 1980

Writer: Michael Fleisher

Artist: Don Perlin

Letterer: Diana Albers

Colorist: Rob Carosella

Editor: Denny O'Neil

Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter

Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

In Hell, the demon lord Azmodeus shows one of his demons, a lovely female named Tabicantra, a flame-image of Johnny Blaze and the Ghost Rider. Azmodeus wants the Ghost Rider to be his emissary on Earth but realizes that he must first sever the connection between him and Blaze. He sends Tabicantra to Earth so the link between man and demon can be destroyed, but it must be done within a certain frame of time, before the souls in his hourglass run out.

Later, Blaze rides on a stretch of highway, and passes a beautiful woman in a sports car. Unknown to him, the woman is Tabicantra, who comments to herself that Johnny is an extremely handsome man. Using her demonic powers, Tabicantra collapses a bridge just as Johnny crosses over. The stunt rider transforms into his demonic persona, saving himself from the crash. In Hell, Azmodeus watches the Ghost Rider survive the fall. He tells his demon hordes that Tabicantra's power weakens Blaze's control over the Ghost Rider. The more he transforms, the weaker the human persona will become, until finally the Ghost Rider will belong to Azmodeus.

Back on Earth, Blaze collects his motorcycle from the construction site it landed in after the bridge collapse. He rides to a diner, where he runs into Tabicantra. Again, the she-demon thinks about how attractive Blaze is but pushes those thoughts away as she gets back to her mission. Sometime later, Johnny has once again taken to the road, but is blocked by two semi-trucks. Suddenly, both trucks burst into flames, and Blaze doesn't have enough time to stop. He transforms into the Ghost Rider, who rides his mystical hell-cycle between the fiery trucks. On the other side, the Ghost Rider reluctantly gives control back to Blaze, who immediately sees Tabicantra trapped in a burning car. He manages to rescue her, but she faints during the ordeal. She awakens, and Johnny offers to give her a ride back to town on the back of his cycle. The two travel to the next town, stopping at a restaurant for dinner. He drops Tabicantra at the doors, leaving her to go park his bike. Though she hates to do it, the she-witch continues her mission, summoning a demonic creature to attack Blaze in the parking lot. The Ghost Rider quickly emerges and destroys the monster but refuses to relinquish control back to Blaze. Only by force of will does Johnny regain control. He returns to the restaurant, where Tabicantra ponders the situation. She knows that if Blaze becomes the Ghost Rider one more time before the hourglass runs out, he will be trapped as slave of Azmodeus forever. She decides to tell him everything, despite the fact that her master will be enraged beyond all imagining.

Azmodeus, furious that his slave would betray him, commands several demons to finish Tabicantra's job. The creatures attack Johnny, but before he can transform into the Ghost Rider, Tabicantra strikes him from behind and protects him in a force field. Realizing that only a few moments remain before the hourglass runs out, Tabicantra uses her own life-force to destroy Azmodeus' demons, resulting in her own death. Johnny awakens seconds later, confused, and unaware of what has transpired.

A frightening glimpse of things to come...

THE ROADMAP

Azmodeus returns in Ghost Rider (1973) # 64 and again in Ghost Rider (1973) # 76.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 53 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Come on Marvel, where's our Tabicantra spin-off series?

Ghost Rider (1973) # 52

“The Sirens of Kronos!”

Cover Date: January 1981
On Sale Date: October 1980

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Don Perlin
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Editor: Denny O'Neil
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

On a mountainside road in New Mexico, an armored military convoy transporting the new Kronos missile finds itself in a perverse game of "chicken" with the Ghost Rider. With nowhere to swerve to but open air or a rocky cliff, the demon biker instead jumps the entire hundred-yard length of the convoy, clearing it completely and leaving the startled army men behind. Moments later, the Ghost Rider relinquishes his body back to Johnny Blaze, who returns to his abandoned motorcycle and heads toward the hundred-mile-enduro-race in nearby Shelbyville. While his bike isn't customized for off-road racing, Blaze hopes the race will at least give him the chance to practice for a comeback against Flagg Fargo.

Meanwhile, on a cliff side road outside of town, a demolitions crew blow up a large boulder that had rolled down onto the road. Having used too much dynamite, the two workers fail to realize that they've disturbed a hidden tomb, and the blast has uncovered one of three sarcophaguses. A beautiful young woman emerges from the crypt, thankful that she's finally free from the prison of stone that she and her sisters had been sealed in by Lord Kronos for their evil transgressions. Unable to free her sisters, Leucosia the siren steps onto the road and begins to sing - while the departing workers hear her song and become enchanted, wrecking their truck, and leaving it behind to follow the music.

In Shelbyville, the 100-mile Enduro-Classic kicks off, and Blaze arrives a mere sixty seconds after the race starts, forcing him to ride even faster to catch up to the riders ahead of him. The rest of the pack, now a mile and a half outside the town, approach the cavern of the Sirens, and Leucosia hears the engines. Needing more help to free her two sisters, the Siren sings again, causing the bikers to stop (and some to wreck) in order to follow the music. Moments later, Blaze rounds a corner and discovers a pile of abandoned bikes, causing him to go into a skid to stop from hitting them. Hitting an oil spill, Johnny and his bike fly off the steep cliff - and though he successfully rights the bike to land it, he hits his head on a rock, knocking him unconscious. Back in the cavern, Leucosia uses the mesmerized bikers to free her sisters from their tombs.

Later, Johnny finally wakes up, surprised to find both himself and his bike in decent shape. He rides back up the mountain to find out what happened to the other bikers and is spotted by the three Sirens, Leucosia now joined by Ligea and the younger Parthenope. The Sirens sing once again, intending to seduce Johnny, but before he succumbs to the spell, he triggers the transformation into the Ghost Rider, who is immune to the song. As the demon creates his flame cycle to ride toward them, the Sirens decide that he is a demon sent by Lord Kronos to destroy them, causing them to transform into bird-like harpies and flee. As he watches the women fly away, the Ghost Rider is attacked by the mesmerized bikers, who are easily evaded by the demon's supernatural bike.

A short while later, the Sirens come across the military convoy carrying the Kronos missile, and - believing the missile to be a weapon of Lord Kronos - bring the convoy to a stop with their song. The soldiers tell them that the missile is capable of destroying a target radius of 250 miles, so the Sirens decide to use it to destroy a city with Kronos' own weapon as a fitting act of vengeance for imprisoning them. Later, Johnny finds one of the jeeps attached to the convoy and questions the two men left inside, who tell him that the last thing they remember are three women signing before everything went blank. Blaze gets a bad feeling and heads off toward the San Jethro missile range. When he gets there, he finds all of the soldiers hypnotized while the Sirens launch the Kronos missile - its destination: Albuquerque. Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider and rides after the Sirens, who again turn into their harpy forms. While the mesmerized soldiers attempt to stop the demon, the Ghost Rider simply ignores them and rides up the side of the launching tower. When he reaches the top, he leaps off his bike into the air, blasting the three Sirens with his hellfire, causing them to fall to the ground. As the Rider falls, he creates his flame cycle beneath him and lands safely. Inside the missile control station, the men awaken and realize that the missile's been fired. In order to save the city, they push the "abort" button, which causes it to explode in the air.

Later, back in the cavern crypt, the Ghost Rider reseals the Sirens within their tomb sarcophaguses. He then places another large sheet of rock in front of the entrance before riding off, vowing that the Sirens will never again be free to use their song against mankind.

How I look when I hear trap rap.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 52 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Ghost Rider (1973) # 51

“The Diesel of Doom!”

Cover Date: December 1980
On Sale Date: September 1980

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Don Perlin
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Editor: Denny O'Neil
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

"Graveyard of the Plundered Dead!"

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Mike Esposito
Letterer: Harry Blumfield
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Editor: Denny O'Neil
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter

On a deserted stretch of mountain highway late at night, Johnny Blaze suddenly finds himself in the path of a diesel truck barreling down on him. When Johnny tries to move over to allow the truck to pass, the large vehicle hits him and knocks him over the guardrail and down the side of the cliff. With only moments to save his life, Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider, who manages to grab onto a random ledge of rock. The demon then creates his flame cycle and rides back up the mountain, only to find the truck has vanished without a trace. Frustrated and angry, the Ghost Rider allows Blaze to regain control, who then sees a message painted on the side of the cliff in front of him that reads "To all bikers - stay off my road. Or else. - Clement". Johnny looks at his bike and discovers that the fuel tank was ruptured in the crash, so he sets off on foot to find a mechanic that can help him fix it.

Soon, Johnny comes across a young man changing the tire on his expensive sports car. The kid immediately recognizes Johnny and admits that he's a big cycle fanatic. The kid, Frederick William Mathew Mitchell the Third - or just plain "Mitch" - agrees to give Johnny a lift once his tire is changed. Someone had scattered a handful of spikes along the road, giving him a flat tire. At that moment, four armed men on motorcycles pull up, admitting that they put the spikes on the road so they could kidnap Mitch and hold him for ransom. Johnny transforms into the Ghost Rider, who makes short work of the bikers and then returns to Blaze's form, confusing Mitch. Two motorcycle policemen arrive, but Johnny realizes that something is amiss right before he's knocked unconscious. The two cops are with the bikers, and Mitch is kidnapped after all.

Several hours later, Johnny awakens to find all of the men gone and Mitch's car consumed by a fire. A diesel truck then pulls up, and the driver offers Blaze a ride - even though Johnny recognizes the rig as the one that ran him off the road. Johnny tells the trucker, Clem, about Mitch being kidnapped...but Clem tells him that the police won't save him in time and that it's up to the two of them to help. At the biker gang's hideout, the kidnappers speak via radio with Mitch's rich uncle, who refuses to pay the ransom. The gang's leader, Deever, tells his men that if the money isn't theirs by dawn then he'll slit Mitch's throat.

Meanwhile, Johnny rides with Clem, but finds it odd that the truck's radio only plays songs and commercials from several decades ago. The truck also seems able to pass under bridges that are way too low for the vehicle to make it past. When they arrive below the hideout, Clem tells Johnny that he'll have to go the rest of the way alone because he's not able to leave his truck. Johnny agrees, and once out of sight turns into the Ghost Rider, who crashes through the roof of the lodge. Deever is the only one not scared and proceeds to throw a vial of nitroglycerin at the demon. The Ghost Rider catches the vial out of the air and tosses it into his mouth, allowing it to explode with no effect, laughing the entire time. The demon then fries all of the kidnappers with hellfire.

A short while later, Johnny and Mitch herd the men into the back of Clem's truck. Clem then refuses to give the two a ride back to town, and that he has to get going before the sun comes up. Johnny and Mitch then watch as Clem's diesel truck disappears before their eyes as it drives into the sunrise. An hour later at a gas station, Johnny and Mitch are approached by the store owner, who tells them that they must be crazy for riding bike's on "Clem's road". He then tells them a story of a diesel trucker named Clement Barstow, who was clubbed to death by a biker gang 30 years ago and now haunts the highway, killing bikers and helping out good people every now and then. But as the mechanic says he thinks the story is just an urban legend, Johnny and Mitch can only look at each other in disbelief.

Mind = BLOWN!

THE ROADMAP
This issue features a Night Rider back-up story that takes place after the character's appearance in Ghost Rider (1973) # 50 and before The Ghost Rider (1967) # 4.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 51 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books