Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 124

"The Walking Wounded, Part 2: Stir the Soup"

Cover Date: March 1993; Publication Date: January 1993

Writer: Ann Nocenti; Artist: Steve Lightle; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti; Letterer: Michael Higgins; Colorist: Mike Thomas; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Paris Karounos

Mary Walker is visited by Dusk, who comes from the Realm of Insanity and offers to take the Typhoid Mary personality away from her if she brings him the Ghost Rider.  Her vision is interrupted by her friend, Eve, who comes into the bathroom and tells Mary that Danny Ketch is hanging around waiting for her.  When they leave the bathroom they see the shopping mall is closing and the lights have already been turned off.  Mary is sent to get the van for the Women's Action Movement, passing by the people leaving the last movie showing as she goes toward the back doors.  When she finds the doors are locked, she's approached by two security guards who begin sexually assaulting her.  Sensing danger, Dan excuses himself to transform into the Ghost Rider, and finds Mary in her Typhoid identity defending herself against the security guards.  Ghost Rider recognizes Typhoid Mary from his dreams and gives her the Penance Stare, but is then interrupted by a passing priest from the movie theater.  The priest tells the Ghost Rider that only God can decide guilt and exact penance, prompting Ghost Rider to respond "Father, do you know who you are talking to?"

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 123

"The Walking Wounded, Part 1: Soulfeast"

Cover Date: February 1993; Publication Date: December 1992

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

Daniel Ketch experiences a "waking nightmare", during which the Ghost Rider is confronted by Typhoid Mary.  The woman tells Ghost Rider that "Dusk is falling" and that he should give up his human side in favor of the monster.  Later, in upstate New York, Danny arrives a shopping mall to try and clear his mind.  Inside the mall, a group called the Women's Action Movement are holding a demonstration for shoppers about the women's liberation movement.  Danny stops and talks to one of the group members, a pregnant girl named Eve, about how both sexes face challenges in life.  They're joined by Mary Walker, another group member who excuses herself quickly after a few minutes of debate.  In the bathroom, Mary is confronted by her other personality, the twisted Typhoid Mary, who uses Mary's desire for Danny as a way to take control of their shared body once again.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 118

"Legion of Vengeance, Part 6: Vengeance Is Ours"

Writer: Joey Cavalieri; Artist: Shawn McManus; Letterer: Steve Dutro; Colorist: Fred Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Steve Lightle

Ghost Rider and Iron Fist have their final battle with the Legion of Vengeance, now aware of D'Kay's plan to have the Legion supplant the heroes of Earth and then lead humanity to extinction.  Ghost Rider and Iron Fist manage to defeat the Legion by turning their powers against one another, and while they are under the fever dream of contagion they are able to convince the Legion that they must use their abilities for good and not destruction.  D'Kay appears and strips the Legion of their powers, returning them to their mundane lives in order to keep them from becoming true heroes.  Ghost Rider and Iron Fist leave the crypt, satisfied in their victory, but are unaware that the Legion still retain a vestige of their powers.  D'Kay, stating that the lust for power will always be there, swears that one day the Legion of Vengeance will return.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 117

"Legion of Vengeance, Part 5: A World of D'Kay"

Cover Date: November 1992; Publication Date: September 1992

Writer: Joey Cavalieri; Artist: Shawn McManus; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti, Ken Branch, & Shawn McManus; Letterer: Steve Dutro; Colorist: Fred Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Steve Lightle

Ghost Rider and Iron Fist are confronted by D'Kay, the demon responsible for empowering the Legion of Vengeance.  D'Kay claims that he has created the Legion as a new breed of hero that will make Ghost Rider and Iron Fist obsolete, then invites them to Hell to see his plans.  They agree and are tricked into believing they are torn apart in Hell, though they quickly recover.  D'Kay explains that the Legion are his four avatars of doom to bring the downfall of mankind, signifying the betrayals of the mind, body, earth, and God.  He returns Ghost Rider and Iron Fist to the cave on Earth, where they are attacked again by the Legion of Vengeance. 

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 116

"Legion of Vengeance, Part 4: Our Name is Legion..."

Cover Date: October 1992; Publication Date: August 1992

Writer: Joey Cavalieri; Artist: Shawn McManus; Letterer: Steve Dutro; Colorist: Fred Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Shawn McManus

Nearly dead from disease, Iron Fist is on the ground in the cavern.  While Ghost Rider is held at bay, Bacillus attempts to touch Iron Fist one last time to finally kill him, but Iron Fist is able to grab the villain and hold him.  Threatening to snap him in half if he doesn't reverse his sickness, Iron Fist is restored to full health by Bacillus' touch.  Ghost Rider uses his hellfire and Penance Stare to uncover the origins of the four members of the Legion of Vengeance, and how in each case a malevolent entity was working behind the scenes.  When Ghost Rider demands the entity show its face, the demon D'kay appears.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 115

"Legion of Vengeance, Part 3: The Secret of Strontium-90!"

Cover Date: October 1992; Publication Date: August 1992

Writer: Joey Cavalieri; Artist: Shawn McManus; Letterer: Steve Dutro; Colorist: Fred Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Shawn McManus

Vesper and her partner, Strontium-90, attack the gang of looters, who are immediately poisoned by Strontium-90's deadly radiation.  When Ghost Rider and the gravely ill Iron Fist arrive, the mob turns on them in a case of mistaken identity.  While the two heroes fight their way free, Vesper and Strontium-90 escape to their secret lair.  Ghost Rider is able to track Strontium-90's radioactive footprints back to a crypt in Cypress Hills Cemetery, where deep underground they find the four members of the self-proclaimed Legion of Vengeance, including Bacillus and Mind's Eye along with Vesper and Strontium-90.  Enraged that they claim to be heroes, Ghost Rider and Iron Fist attack the four killers.  During the fight, however, Iron Fist finally succumbs to Bacillus' lethal contagion and collapses, dying of the disease.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 114

"Legion of Vengeance, Part 2: If the Mind's Eye Offends Thee..."

Cover Date: September 1992; Publication Date: July 1992

Writer: Joey Cavalieri; Artist: Shawn McManus; Letterer: Kevin Sharpe & Steve Dutro; Colorist: Fred Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Shawn McManus

Ghost Rider has arrived at the burning church and is accused of setting the blaze by Iron Fist, who refuses to listen to Ghost Rider's claims of innocence.  Iron Fist uses his power to destroy Ghost Rider's motorcycle with one kick, but the Rider easily reassembles the bike.  The two heroes are approached by a dying man, who says that two costumed villains in Cyrpess Hills Cemetery are causing people to get sick.  The man dies and Ghost Rider realizes that his attention is needed at the cemetery, but when he drives away a furious Iron Fist jumps on the back of the motorcycle to tag along.

In the cemetery, a young couple are assaulted by the Mind's Eye and his partner, Bacillus, who is able to spread sickness with a touch.  He causes the boy to fall ill and die, but is caught by Ghost Rider's chain before he can kill the girl.  When he reaches for her, Iron Fist steps between them and is touched by Bacillus instead, causing him to grown extremely sick while the villains escape.  Ghost Rider attempts to save Iron Fist, saying that he will not call the cemetery his final resting place.  Meanwhile, a riot has broken out during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the church fire.  Out of the candle smoke comes Vesper, the woman responsible for the fire, and she attacks the mob with accusations of hypocrisy.  While she attacks the mob, a fourth villain waits on a nearby rooftop for his moment to make himself known and feared.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 113

"Legion of Vengeance, Part 1: The Night Has a Thousand Eyes!"

Cover Date: September 1992; Publication Date: July 1992

Writer: Joey Cavalieri; Artist: Shawn McManus; Letterer: Janice Chiang; Colorist: Fred Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Sam Keith

Under a speeding elevated train, Daniel Ketch rides his motorcycle and thinks about the latest events in his life. His attention is caught by change falling from the sky, and when he looks up he sees a man lifted into the air by a creature with a giant eyeball in his chest. The creature, who calls himself the Mind's Eye, tells his victim that he sees the guilt hidden within the man and is sentencing him to death by throwing him onto the railway as a train heads toward them. Daniel transforms into the Ghost Rider and barely rescues the man before the train runs him down. He pursues the Mind's Eye, but the villain is able to disappear in the shadows of the night, leading the Rider on a chase through the city.

Meanwhile, in a church filled with parishioners, Daniel Rand sits in a pew and reflects on his near-death experience and the lost religion of K'un L'un, the mystical city that transformed him into the Iron Fist. Suddenly, a young woman begins to scream out about the hypocrisy of the church-goes before she bursts into flame. Calling herself Vesper, goddess of the candlelight, the woman begins to burn the church down around them. Rand changes into Iron Fist and confronts Vesper, but is unable to stop her before she brings the church down in flames. Iron Fist escapes the blaze with as many innocents as he could gather, but when he gets outside he finds the Ghost Rider waiting for him. Mistaking the Rider for a villain, Rand declares that if he should raise a hand against the innocent people he stands first against Iron Fist.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 112

"Return of the Braineaters, Part 6: Showdown"

Cover Date: August 1992; Publication Date: June 1992

Writer: Chris Cooper; Artist: John Stanisci; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti & Ken Branch; Letterer: Steve Dutro; Colorist: Fred Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Sam Keith

Ghost Rider and Jack Russell are on the trail of the Braineaters, who are chasing the young boy Billy.  Russell takes silver bullets and merges them with Ghost Rider's chain, which when thrown into the Braineaters prevents them from ever becoming werewolves again, causing their deaths if they attempt to transform.  The gang's leader, Scuzz, arrives and battles Ghost Rider on the rooftop of a building, but allows himself to be impaled on a spiked fence rather than become a normal human again.  Later, Dan Ketch and Jack Russell talk about how Billy has been reunited with his remaining family.  Dan laments that he's unable to control the Ghost Rider, so before he leaves Jack tells him that if he ever needs a friend he just has to listen for the howling to know he's there with him.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 111

"Return of the Braineaters, Part 5: Roadkill"

Cover Date: August 1992; Publication Date: June 1992

Writer: Chris Cooper; Artist: John Stanisci; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti & Ken Branch; Letterer: Steve Dutro; Colorist: Fred Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Sam Keith

Danny Ketch wakes up in the sewer with Jack Russell, remembering nothing since he was beaten nearly to death outside the Black Moon Bar & Grill, the headquarters of the Braineaters.  At the bar, the leader of the Braineaters named Scuzz tells the gang's human concubine Lupe that the kid they were holding hostage has outlived his usefulness.  Remembering what Dan said to her before he was savagely beaten, Lupe manipulates the Braineaters into fighting one another while she escapes with Billy.  The bikers quickly realize what's happened and give chase after them.  Lupe tells Billy to keep running and stands defiant, but the Braineaters all just ride past her on their bikes.  Only Scuzz stops, wanting the pleasure of killing Lupe himself.  Dan and Jack arrive at the bar and find the dying Lupe in the alley, and with her dying words she asks Dan if she "did good".  Dan transforms into an enraged Ghost Rider, who chases down Scuzz and punches him against a wall.  Scuzz, however, says that in the time it takes to kill him the rest of the Braineaters will have found and killed Billy, so what will Ghost Rider chose to do: kill Scuzz or save Billy?

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 110

"Return of the Braineaters, Part 4: Under Cover at the Black Moon Bar and Grill"

Cover Date: July 1992; Publication Date: May 1992

Writer: Chris Cooper; Artist: John Stanisci; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti & Ken Branch; Letterer: Steve Dutro; Colorist: Fred Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Sam Keith

With the Braineaters holding the little boy Billy hostage and Jack Russell seemingly dead, Ghost Rider has surrendered himself and has had his limbs chained to motorcycles.  When the Braineaters attempt to rip him apart, Ghost Rider is able to break the chains, but the werewolves escape with Billy still in their possession.  The weakened Ghost Rider is found by Russell, who barely survived his fall of the bridge.  Jack has a plan and sends Dan Ketch out to local bars to try and locate the Braineaters in their human forms.  At the Black Moon Bar & Grill, Dan finds the Braineaters and strikes up a conversation with their human concubine, Lupe.  Dan sees through the girl's tough exterior and tries to appeal to the good inside her, but he's interrupted by the Braineaters.  They drag him outside of the bar and beat him nearly to death, leaving him unconscious in the alley.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 109

"Return of the Braineaters, Part 3: Battle on the Brooklyn Bridge"

Cover Date: July 1992; Publication Date: May 1992

Writer: Chris Cooper; Artist: John Stanisci; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti & Ken Branch; Letterer: Steve Dutro; Colorist: Freddy Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Sam Keith

The Werewolf confronts Danny Ketch in the cemetery, but transforms back into Jack Russell to propose a partnership. He tells Danny about the Braineaters, a biker gang of werewolves that he's encountered before and feels obligated to stop.  Realizing that the boy, Billy Baldwin, witnessed the Braineaters in their human forms the two vigilantes track him to the Brooklyn Bridge, where he's being chased by the Braineaters.  A motorcycle battle commences, but Russell is knocked off the bridge and Billy is grabbed by the werewolves, who demand Ghost Rider's surrender.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 108

"Return of the Braineaters, Part 2: Claw and Bone"

Cover Date: June 1992; Publication Date: April 1992

Writer: Chris Cooper; Artist: John Stanisci; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti & Ken Branch; Letterer: Steve Dutro; Colorist: Freddy Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Sam Keith

A young boy named Billy Baldwin just watched a pack of werewolves kill a couple in the park and is now witnessing Ghost Rider and the Werewolf by Night, each thinking the other to be the killer, fight.  The battle is brief as they quickly uncover Billy, who says that neither of them killed the couple.  Billy runs away and Ghost Rider departs, leaving the Werewolf to decide which one to follow.  At the Baldwin home, the werewolf gang the Braineaters have come looking for Billy, torturing and killing his family while their human concubine Lupe watches.  Finally, at Cypress Hills Cemetery, Ghost Rider transforms back into Danny Ketch, who then sees the Werewolf by Night looming over him.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 107

"Return of the Braineaters, Part 1: Bad Moon Rising"

Cover Date: June 1992; Publication Date: April 1992

Writer: Chris Cooper; Artist: John Stanisci; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti; Letterer: Mike Heisler & Steve Dutro; Colorist: Freddy Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Sam Keith

In Brooklyn's Prospect Park, Ghost Rider discovers the mutilated body of a person that appears to have been mauled by a large beast.  The next day, Jack Russell reads about the murder in the newspaper and goes off to find the killers, thinking to himself that he's been tracking them across the country.  That night, a young couple is being mugged by a large biker, but the mugger flees on his motorcycle when he's interrupted by a group of bikers that have their own plans for the couple.

Later, Jack is in the park searching for the killers while a group of kids play nearby.  One of the kids named Billy accidentally sees the bikers killing the couple; they are the Braineaters, a group of werewolves that kill indiscriminately.  Billy overhears them discussing how another gang of Braineaters encountered Jack Russell and were wiped out, which this gang's leader Scuzz says happened because they forgot the first rule: anyone who sees them change has to die.  Ghost Rider deals with some criminals in the city, then makes his way toward the park.  Billy is discovered by the Braineaters, who give chase after him, and Jack arrives just in time to discover the bodies of the couple they killed.  Ghost Rider appears on his motorcycle and, upon seeing Jack in his werewolf form, assumes he is the killer he's been searching for and attacks.

Midnight Sons Unlimited (1993) # 2

"Organ Grinder"

Cover Date: July 1993; Publication Date: May 1993

Writer: Mort Todd; Artist: Bart Sears; Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti; Letterer: Jon Babcock; Colorists: John Kalisz & Paul Becton; Editor: Hildy Mesnik; Group Editor: Bobbie Chase; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Bill Sienkiewicz

In a terminal ward of a hospital, Johnny Farmer lies brain dead, kept alive by breathing machines. But deep in his brain is a spark of consciousness, the result of Farmer experiencing the Penance Stare of the Ghost Rider following his rape of a young woman. The Stare caused his body to shut down, but the machines now beep with brain activity - the one thought of revenge on the Ghost Rider. Suddenly, Farmer is approached by the Darkhold Dwarf, who offers him a page of the Book of Sins to gain his fondest wish. Farmer reads the cursed words of the Darkhold as the Dwarf fades away...

 

Weeks later, on a New York street, Dan Ketch undergoes the transformation into the Ghost Rider - who senses that this section of the city is housing a darker evil of unnatural origin. The Rider comes across a woman running for her life, and she tells him that a monster ripped her boyfriend's heart out. A flying mailbox collides with the Ghost Rider's bike, and the girl escapes while the "monster" approaches. Farmer has become the Harvestor, who is trapped in a decaying body that needs fresh organs placed within it to live. The page of the Darkhold gave him the ability to instantly graft fresh transplants onto his body, and any wound the Rider causes him will directly result in his needing a new organ "donor". Ghost Rider attacks with his chain, but finds the Harvestor to possess incredible strength - he catches the chain and throws the Rider into a wall that collapses down atop him. Harvestor leaves, thinking the Ghost Rider dead, but the Spirit of Vengeance emerges from the rubble moments later. He leaps atop his bike and chases the Harvestor down, tackling him to the ground but finding the villain impossible to hold due to the viscid texture of his body. Harvestor leads the Ghost Rider into a seemingly-abandoned building, and the two's fight sends them through the floor into the basement level. There the Rider finds dozens of people hanging naked from the ceiling - still alive and intended as fresh organ supplies. As the hero and villain grapple, Ghost Rider again gives the Harvestor his Penance Stare, which drives the monster back into the hanging crowd of victims. The people grab and grasp at the Harvestor's body, eventually tearing him apart. Satisfied that the monster is destroyed, the Ghost Rider begins the task of helping the innocent victims down.

Midnight Sons Unlimited (1993) # 1

"Eyes of the Beholder"

Cover Date: April 1993; Publication Date: February 1993

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Klaus Janson; Letterer: Janice Chiang; Colorist: Gregory Wright; Editor: Hildy Mesnik; Group Editor: Bobbie Chase; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist; Mark Texeira

In the small town of Sleepy Hollow, a monster hunts and kills a young couple during a snow storm.  As it happens, a catatonic elderly woman named Clarisse Van Ripper watches silently from the window of her nursing home.  Later, at the crime scene, police give some details of the murders to the passing John Blaze, who the sheriff recognizes from the Quentin Carnival.  Blaze goes to where he left Ghost Rider, but finds that the Rider has saved a young woman that had been raped.  Ghost Rider gives the rapists the Penance Stare and he and Blaze then flee from the arriving police officers.

Not far away, the monster attacks a group of small children, who are rescued by Ghost Rider.  The creature thinks to itself that the Rider must have been sent by "the Other" who gave it its power, and attempts to defend itself.  A fight breaks out between Ghost Rider and the monster, which is interrupted by John Blaze and his hellfire shotgun.  The monster flees to the nursing home and heads directly to the room where Clarisse lays in bed.  Blaze kills the monster with his hellfire and then finds a page of the Darkhold sitting next to Clarisse's bed.  Blaze puts two and two together, that the monster was Clarisse, while the old woman thinks to herself about her life.  She had been a childcare worker who abused children, and when one fought back it caused her to fall down a flight of stares, paralyzing her into a catatonic state for the rest of her life.  When the Darkhold Dwarf approached her with the deal that would allow her to walk again, the spell implanted her mind into the body of the monster, giving her the means to take her revenge on the town's children.  Realizing that Clarisse was the true monster responsible for the murders, Ghost Rider gives her the Penance Stare, which breaks her from her catatonia just enough for her to scream.

Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 18

"Siege of Darkness, Part 16: Spirit of Death"

Cover Date: January 1994; Publication Date: November 1993

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Henry Martinez; Inker: Keith Williams; Letterer: Bill Oakley; Colorist: John Kalisz; Editor: Bobbie Chase; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Henry Martinez

Ghost Rider leads the remaining Midnight Sons to a crypt, the entrance to Zarathos’ underground lair. Mystical energy prevents all but Ghost Rider, Blaze, and Vengeance from entering, but Stacy Dolan manages to follow behind them. They quickly locate the imprisoned Caretaker, who tells them they’ve been lured into a trap. Zarathos appears and challenges Ghost Rider to a final battle. He teleports the two of them away, but at the last second Stacy jumps into the portal with them. 

They reappear at Glastonbury Tor in England, where Zarathos allows Ghost Rider to usher Stacy to safety inside the castle. Zarathos talks with Ghost Rider about how he has no memory of what happened after his original defeat and that he is a slave to machinations he set into action thousands of years ago. The two battle but Ghost Rider is quickly and easily overpowered, dying as his essence is absorbed by Zarathos. As he does he reverts to Dan Ketch, who tells Stacy that he will always love her. As she cradles his bones, finally realizing why she felt a connection to Ghost Rider, Zarathos claims his fallen enemy’s jacket as his trophy. The other Midnight Sons arrive, ready for the final battle.

Ghost Rider (1990) # 45

 “Siege of Darkness, Part 10: Blood" 

Cover Date: January 1994; On Sale Date: November 1993 

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Ron Garney; Letterer: Janice Chiang; Colorist: Gregory Wright; Editor: Bobbie Chase; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Ron Garney 

Ghost Rider shares a moment with Stacy Dolan on a rooftop. When he goes to leave he pauses, allowing her to join him on his motorcycle. Later, at the Nightclub of the Blood, Hannibal King arrives with a psychic message from the Caretaker. Upon receiving it, Seer realizes that the Fallen are corrupted members of the Blood, and their goal is to turn other members of the Blood to the side of Zarathos. Seer takes Ghost Rider and Vengeance with her to see Patriarch, the oldest member of the Blood. Stacy stays behind with Blaze, questioning her feelings about Ghost Rider. 

Arriving at Patriarch’s castle, they find him in battle with Ranter of the Fallen. Though he rejects the idea that he needs to be rescued, Patriarch stands aside while Ghost Rider and Vengeance defeat Ranter. Patriarch refuses to join them and after they leave he opens a portal to Zarathos, saying that he chose his side long ago. Back at the Nightclub, Ghost Rider tells Stacy to forget about him and focus on her love for Dan.

Ghost Rider (1990) # 44

“Siege of Darkness, Part 2: Into the Mist” 

Cover Date: December 1993; On Sale Date: October 1993 

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Ron Garney; Letterer: Janice Chiang; Colorist: Gregory Wright; Editor: Bobbie Chase; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Ron Garney 

At the entrance to Cypress Hills Cemetery, reporter Linda Wei gives an update on the strange mist pouring out of the graveyard. Her cameraman is grabbed and killed by a demonic creature, but Linda is saved by Ghost Rider and Blaze. Learning that the creature is one of the Lilin that had been exiled to another dimension, the Midnight Sons enter the cemetery to find answers. At the spot where Lilith and Zarathos had been defeated a fissure has opened to the Shadow Side, which is the source of the mist and the return of the Lilin. The Midnight Sons are attacked by Zarathos and Lilith, forcing them to retreat further into the cemetery. They are rescued by the Caretaker, who leads them into the tunnels below. 

Meanwhile, the Lilin attack a nearby police precinct that is housing victims of the corrosive mist. When Blackout threatens the life of a child outside, Michael Badilino transforms into Vengeance and joins the fight against the Lilin. Ghost Rider and his allies emerge onto the street and see Captain Dolan and his daughter Stacy firing their guns at the Lilin, and when Stacy is threatened by Blackout Ghost Rider cones to her defense. The Caretaker tells them that they must escape before Zarathos gets his hands on the Medallion of Power. Dr. Strange arrives and protects them behind a mystical shield before teleporting them away to his Sanctum Sanctorum, escaping just as Zarathos smashes through the shield. 

Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance (1992) # 16

"Road to Vengeance: The Missing Link, Part 6: Zarathos"

Cover Date: November 1993; Publication Date: September 1993

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Henry Martinez; Inker: Keith Williams; Letterers: Bill Oakley; Colorist: John Kalisz; Editor: Bobbie Chase; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Henry Martinez

Ghost Rider, John Blaze, Vengeance, and the Caretaker all lay defeated at the feet of the newly-reborn Zarathos.  The Spirits of Vengeance are able to escape into the catacombs beneath Cypress Hills Cemetery with the unconscious Mrs. Ketch, while the amnesiac Zarathos is found by Lilith and her Lilin.  Centurious, injured in the battle with Ghost Rider, demands Lilith's help but instead he is attacked and teleported away by the Lilin and Zarathos.  Lilith, seeing an opportunity for power, tells Zarathos that she is his mother. 

At the Blood's mystical Nightclub, Caretaker and Seer tell the Spirits of Vengeance about how they're connected to one another through the Medallion of Power and Mephisto's interference.  While the members of the Quentin Carnival look after Mrs. Ketch, Caretaker teleports them away, but not before Mrs. Ketch demands that Caretaker tell them the whole truth about "her babies".  The heroes arrive back at the cemetery and attack, but only when Ghost Rider taps into the power of the Medallion on his motorcycle gascap is he able to blast Zarathos and Lilth back into the catacombs, which he believes has sealed them away "forever".  With the battle ended, Blaze demands to know what Mrs. Ketch was talking about, and Caretaker reveals that he and Dan Ketch are actually brothers.