Fantastic Four (2022) Annual # 1

"Contest of Chaos, Part 3"

Cover Date: October 2021; Publication Date: August 2021

Writer: Zac Gorman; Artist: Alan Robinson; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: GURU-eFX; Executive Editor: Tom Brevoort; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Francesco Manna

In Arizona, Johnny Storm (the Human Torch) accompanies the Thing to a shoe store. When the Torch goes into the back room of the store he finds himself seemingly transported to Hell. There he finds Johnny Blaze, who explains that they're not actually in Hell but instead trapped in some kind of illusion. Blaze suddenly hits Storm in the face and the two begin fighting, until they are interrupted by a group of demons. While Storm realizes the demons are actually innocent humans, Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider and attacks the Human Torch. Deciding not to fight, the Torch flies away, while Ghost Rider finds a van and transforms it into his hellish ride to give chase.

While flying through "Hell", the Torch finds a train seemingly full of demons, including a ferocious looking cat demon. Ghost Rider catches up and tackles the Torch, crashing both of them into the train. The Torch attempts to flee again but is attacked by the cat demon, which he uses as a distraction against Ghost Rider. The Torch then ties Ghost Rider's chain around a heavy food cat and tosses it off the train, dragging Ghost Rider along with it. Having won the fight, the train and the landscape change back to normal, revealing that they've been in Chicago the whole time. The Human Torch is then teleported and frozen in front of Agatha Harkness, who congratulates him on winning the battle. 

Shadowland (2010) # 5

Cover Date: January 2011; Publication Date: November 2010

Writer: Andy Diggle; Artist: Billy Tan' Inker: Victor Olazaba w/ Billy Tan; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Guru EFX; Assistant Editor: Tom Brennan; Editor: Stephen Wacker; Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada; Cover Artist: John Cassaday

Hell's Kitchen is consumed by a riot with the police unable to calm things down. Outside the Shadowland fortress, Matt Murdock's friend Foggy Nelson attempts to scale the castle's wall. He loses his grip and falls, but is caught by the Ghost Rider, who tells him next time take the stairs. Inside the fortress, the demonically possessed Daredevil stands victorious over the heroes he has defeated. He senses the Ghost Rider and leaps toward the wall, which the Rider breaks through on his motorcycle. Daredevil surprises him by kicking him off his bike and back out through the hole in the wall. The Beast, who has taken total control of Daredevil's body, explains that he has caused the people to riot in order to feed him with the destruction he craves. Ghost Rider replies with a blast of hellfire from his mouth, which the Beast easily absorbs. He grabs Blaze and absorbs all of the hellfire from his body, leaving the Ghost Rider an immobile skeleton.

Inside, White Tiger brings Foggy Nelson to Daredevil's throne, ready to kill the man. Daredevil stops her so he can do the kill himself, but Foggy is able to reach Murdock outside of the Beast's control. Using this opportunity, Iron Fist uses his chi to strike Daredevil - but it wasn't meant to harm him, it was meant to heal Matt's spirit. Daredevil begins an internal struggle with the Beast and is losing his fight until Elektra enters the dream world tells him that the only way to defeat the Beast is to kill himself. He takes a sword and stabs it through his chest, which frees him from the Beast's possession but nearly kills him as well. Foggy tries to save his friend, but Elektra tells him to let Murdock go. Meanwhile, outside, the rioters awaken, confused by what's been happening.

Back inside Shadowland, the heroes take stock of everything that's happened, feeling lucky that Bullseye wasn't resurrected. But Daredevil's body has mysteriously vanished, and Elektra finds his discarded mask at the end of a tunnel. Later, the Kingpin arrives at Shadowland and finds Typhoid Mary in charge of the Hand. Fisk reveals a trigger phrase that gives him control over Mary, and in turn control over the Hand as well. Elsewhere, a living Matt Murdock wanders into a church and asks the priest for forgiveness.

Shadowland (2010) # 3

Cover Date: November 2010; Publication Date: September 2010

Writer: Andy Diggle; Artist: Billy Tan; Inker: Victor Olazaba w/ Billy Tan; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Christina Strain & Guru EFX w/ Hannin & Dalhouse; Assistant Editor: Tom Brennan; Editor: Stephen WackerEditor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada; Cover Artist: John Cassaday

In the Shadowland dungeon, Jake Lockley - actually the vigilante hero Moon Knight - is fighting the Hand's ninjas. Fighting with him is the Spirit of Vengeance, Ghost Rider, who has been sent by the Kingpin to free Shadowland's prisoners. The ninjas are defeated and the prisoners freed, giving Moon Knight the opportunity to ask Ghost Rider what he's doing there. When Blaze replies that he's been played, Lockley asks the obvious question: "How the hell could someone else make the Spirit of Vengeance dance to his tune?" That's exactly what Blaze aims to find out for himself. Ghost Rider drives back into the underground tunnels, leaving Moon Knight to investigate the Shadowland operation.

Inside the Shadowland throne room, Daredevil, his ninja followers, and his lieutenants (White Tiger and Black Tarantula) are fighting a group of heroes that had come to talk sense into Murdock: Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Colleen Wing, Misty Knight, Shang Chi, and Spider-Man. Daredevil is confronted by both Iron Fist and Shang Chi, and with a surprising increase in strength and skill Daredevil is able to defeat them both. Spider-Man attempts to stop Daredevil, but is set on fire by another of Daredevil's aides, Typhoid Mary. The fight is stopped by the Punisher, who blows through a wall and gives the heroes the opportunity to escape. When they get outside, they see the citizens of Hell's Kitchen rioting in the streets.

Meanwhile, at Fisk Tower, Lady Bullseye tries to tell the Kingpin that he is playing with fire by summoning the Ghost Rider to do his bidding. There is a reason the Hand has not summoned the Zugaikotsu warrior for centuries and the Ghost Rider will be coming for Fisk. The Kingpin tells her that he's planned on Blaze returning; the scroll that summoned him also protects Fisk from the Ghost Rider. If he wants to be free of the spell, he will have to destroy the source of the Hand's magic. He will send the Ghost Rider to destroy the Hand, and when they are gone he will step in to pick up the pieces. At that moment, the Ghost Rider arrives at Fisk Tower and rides his bike up the side of the building.

Back at Shadowland, Daredevil is told that it was the Ghost Rider who freed their prisoners. Murdock knows that the heroes will return, and decides that the Hand needs better fighters. He then has an idea and tells Mary to bring a shovel to find their new champion - unaware that Moon Knight is watching from the rafters. In a nearby cemetery, Daredevil and Mary exhume the grave of Bullseye, who Daredevil killed days before. Using the magic of the Hand, he will resurrect Bullseye to be his greatest warrior. Their grave-robbing is interrupted by Elektra, who has come to join Daredevil's crusade.

The next day, in Harlem, the heroes are recuperating from their fight with the Hand. They now realize that Daredevil should never have been able to defeat either him or Shang Chi in combat. They are then joined by Master Izo, the monk who steered Daredevil toward taking over the Hand. Realizing his mistake, he tells the heroes that Daredevil has now become the vessel of an ancient demon, the Beast of the Hand, who hungers for the complete end of humanity.

Shadowland (2010) # 2

Cover Date: October 2010; Publication Date: August 2010

Writer: Andy Diggle; Artist: Billy Tan; Inker: Victor Olazaba; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Christina Strain; Assistant Editor: Tom Brennan; Editor: Stephen Wacker; Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada; Cover Artist: John Cassaday

 

Outside the temple in Hell's Kitchen, now renamed Shadowland, cabbie Jack Lockley is beginning his investigation into the disappearance of all criminals and cops now that the Hand has taken control. Lockley is secretly the vigilante Moon Knight, and his plan is to be taken captive by the ninjas.

Elsewhere, Iron Fist and Luke Cage are in Fist's soup kitchen discussing Daredevil's murder of Bullseye and whether they should step in and stop their friend from making any more mistakes. Surprisingly, the Kingpin and his bodyguard Lady Bullseye come through the door and suggests an alliance between them to drive the Hand out of Hell's Kitchen. The Kingpin tells them that eventually, they're going to have to take down Daredevil themselves. Meanwhile, inside his Hand temple, Daredevil tells his aide Black Tarantula that they need reinforcements - all costumed heroes are invited to join the Hand.

In the penthouse of Fisk Tower, the Kingpin prepares a magical ritual using an ancient scroll stolen from the Hand. He plans to summon the Zugaikotsu warrior, one of the Hand's most ancient of enemies, and use him as a weapon against Daredevil. Fisk completes the spell, and a moment later the windows of his office are blown out by the demon warrior, who wants to know why he has been summoned. The Kingpin answers "what else...vengeance."

Back in Shadowland, Daredevil gives an audience to his former friends: Cage, Iron Fist, Shang-Chi, Misty Knight, and Colleen Wing. The heroes attempt to talk Daredevil out of what he's doing in Hell's Kitchen, but he refuses to listen even when Spider-Man arrives to join the discussion. Down in the Shadowland dungeon, Moon Knight is in a cell next to several captive SWAT officers. Using a regurgitated lock pick, Lockley escapes his cell - but before he can free the others, he hears a motorcycle engine. The Zugaikotsu has arrived, and it is actually the Ghost Rider. Daredevil is informed that the dungeon is under attack, which causes him to believe that the heroes have plotted against them. He orders his ninjas to take them, dead or alive!

War of the Realms Strikeforce: The Dark Elf Realm # 1

Cover Date: July 2019; Publication Date: May 2019

Writer: Bryan Hill; Artist: Leinil Francis Yu; Inker: Gary Alanguilan; Letterer: VC's Joe Sabino; Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth; Editor: Will Moss; Associate Editor: Sarah Brunstad; Executive Editor: Tom Brevoort; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Leinil Francis Yu

At Avengers Mountain, Thor's mother Freya meets with the Punisher to discuss a mission and the agents needed to carry it through.  Castle handpicks She-Hulk, Ghost Rider, and Blade and assembles them in a meeting room to listen to Freya.  She tells them that Malekith has his own Black Bifrost Bridge in the Dark Elf realm of Svartalfheim that must be destroyed.  The heroes all agree to join her, but she tells them that first they must be tested.  Using Asgardian magic Freya forces each of them to confront their greatest fear: for She-Hulk it is her cousin the Hulk and for Blade it is himself as a future lord of the vampires.  Robbie Reyes faces Johnny Blaze, who calls him an imposter. The Avengers fight through the magic and attack Freya to prove their worth. She stops the magic challenge and cinsukts with Punisher to plan their attack on the Black Bifrost. Much later in Svartalfeim, Freya decides to make a last stand to defend the Black Bifrost, as it is now the only way to cross between the Nine Realms.

Savage Avengers (2019) # 22

"A Waking Nightmare"

Cover Date: September 2021; Publication Date: July 2021

Writer: Gerry Duggan; Artist: Patch Zircher; Letterer: VC's Travis Lanham; Colorist: Java Tartaglia; Editor: Tom Brevoort; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Valerio Giangiordano

Conan awakens and finds himself back in the Hyborian Age, in the city of Aquilonia, unaware of how he has been transported back in time. He is attacked by that era's Ghost Rider, who travels atop a giant flaming spider and believes Conan to be working for Kulan Gath.  During the battle, Conan is bit by the flaming spider and passes out.

Conan awakens again, this time in a cave where he and Johnny Blaze are suspended from the ceiling by spider webs. Conan frees himself and Blaze, both of whom have figured out that they are reliving nightmares. Blaze admits that they are now reliving one of his nightmares, and the two men are attacked by a pack of werewolves. During the battle Blaze is overwhelmed and the world fades to black.

Conan and Blaze awaken again to find themselves at the mercy of Nightmare, who admits to having enthralled Ghost Rider to go looking for Conan for him. Nightmare states that Kulan Gath has been attempting to conquer the realm of dreams, and that the wizard has a nightmare of his own: that Conan will come and kill him. Nightmare tells Conan to seek out Dr. Strange, and then both Conan and Blaze awaken a final time in the alley within which they had first fought one another.  The two shake hands and Blaze decides to go get some rest, but tells Conan that he has an ally in him once he finds Kulan Gath. Conan leaves as well and journeys to Dr. Strange's home, where he finds the sorcerer meeting with the giant demon Shuma-Gorath. 

Savage Avengers (2019) # 21

"Dream Warriors"

Cover Date: August 2021; Publication Date: June 2021

Writer: Gerry Duggan; Artist: Patch Zircher; Letterer: VC's Travis Lanham; Colorist: Java Tartaglia; Editor: Tom Brevoort; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Valerio Giangiordano

While asleep in the Hellfire Club mansion, Conan the Barbarian has nightmares about his death the hands of the wizard Kulan Gath. When he awakens he is confronted by Emma Frost, the White Queen, who gives him permission to continue using the Hellfire Club as his home. Unable to sleep, Conan ventures out into the city, where he witnesses a person jump to their death from an apartment building. Realizing that the people inside are being controlled in their sleep, Conan enters the building and pulls the fire alarm, waking up the residents and telling them to flee their apartments. Conan is unexpectedly chained around the neck and dragged outside the building by Ghost Rider, who has sensed the essence of Kulan Gath on the barbarian. 

During the battle, which takes the two into a nearby alley, Conan recognizes the Ghost Rider, stating he saw his ancestor astride a giant spider in the ancient past. Ghost Rider, confused and distracted by nightmares in his head, refuses to listen to Conan's protestations of innocence and continues the battle. When he attempts to give Conan the Penance Stare, Conan shoves his fingers in Ghost Rider's eye sockets and shatters his skull, the result of which seemingly transports Conan back into the past of ancient Aquilonia. 

Thanos (2017) # 17

"Thanos Wins, Part 5"

Cover Date: May 2018; Publication Date: March 2018

Writer: Donny Cates; Artist: Geoff Shaw; Letterer: Clayton Cowles; Colorist: Antonio Fabela; Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: Geoff Shaw

The Silver Surfer, now armed with the hammer Mjlonir, attacks Thanos, Old King Thanos, and Cosmic Ghost Rider, sweeping all of them aside.  When Ghost Rider attacks, stating that the Surfer isn't the only Herald of Galactus there, the Surfer kills him, smashing him to pieces with his hammer.  The Surfer is then attacked by an enraged Hulk, who is calmed by the Surfer's voice and reverts back to Bruce Banner.  King Thanos then stabs both of them in the back with the flaming sword of Surtur, killing Banner.  The two versions of Thanos then beat the Surfer mercilessly, eventually killing him.  Now that they are the only two living creatures in existence, Death appears outside, dressed for a wedding.

Thanos (2017) # 16

"Thanos Wins, Part 4"

Cover Date: April 2018; Publication Date: February 2018

Writer: Donny Cates; Artist: Geoff Shaw; Letterer: Clayton Cowles; Colorist: Antonio Fabela; Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: Geoff Shaw

During his last attack on Earth, Thanos was in the skies above Manhattan slaughtering all of the planet's heroes.  On the ground below was Frank Castle, the Punisher, who was crushed under a falling building.  As he died, he thought that he would give anything to punish Thanos...and found himself in Hell before Mephisto.  Castle signed a deal with Mephisto to become the Ghost Rider, but found that he was the only living being left on Earth.  Centuries later, after having become mad from loneliness, Castle witness the coming of an injured Galactus.  Castle makes his second deal and becomes the cosmic powered Herald of Galactus, and the two of them went across the galaxy hunting for Thanos.  It took the pair centuries, but when they finally confronted Thanos the Mad Titan killed Galactus and offered Castle a place by his side, where he remained until the end of time.

Old Man Thanos, his younger time travelling counterpart, and the Ghost Rider are confronted by the Silver Surfer and his Annihilation Wave. When the wave of alien insects attacks, Thanos reminds Ghost Rider of his hellish power and, with a massive blast of hellfire, he destroys the entire Annihilation horde.  The Silver Surfer attacks, knocking all three of his opponents to the ground, and Old Man Thanos asks why the Surfer waited so long just to die.  The Surfer answers that he wasn't waiting, he was becoming worthy...just as Thor's hammer Mjolnir flies into his hand.

Thanos (2017) # 15

"Thanos Wins, Part 3"

Cover Date: March 2018; Publication Date: January 2018

Writer: Donny Cates; Artist: Geoff Shaw; Letterer: Clayton Cowles; Colorist: Antonio Fabela; Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: Geoff Shaw

Thanos uses the Ghost Rider's Penance Stare to relive every horrible act of violence and suffering that he's caused, which the Mad Titan enjoys immensely.  King Thanos tells his younger self that he performs that ritual every day.  Young Thanos tosses the Rider's head to the ground, where his body retrieves it to place back on his shoulders.  King Thanos tells young Thanos that he has killed every being in the universe save for one, the Fallen One, and not until his enemy dies can he be reunited with Mistress Death.  Thanos scoffs at his older counterpart's fear of a "forgotten Herald" and in response King Thanos tells him to prepare for the coming battle and leaves.  Ghost Rider invites Thanos to help him "feed the dog" and takes him to the dungeon beneath the throne room, talking all the while about how different he was before becoming the right hand of King Thanos.  In the dungeon, the "dog" needing to be fed is a bestial Hulk, who is kept chained in a pit of bones and relics of long-dead heroes.  Ghost Rider then introduces himself to Thanos as Frank Castle, a name Thanos fails to recognize.

In the chapel where King Thanos worships Death, young Thanos confronts the old man who has readied himself for battle, holding Surtur's Twilight Sword.  After the two argue over their perceived love and servitude for Mistress Death, an explosion announces the Fallen One's arrival.  King Thanos explains that the Fallen One is not a name, it is a title, this time held by the incoming Silver Surfer, accompanied by the Annihilation Wave behind him.

Thanos (2017) # 14

"Thanos Wins, Part 2"

Cover Date: December 2017; Publication Date: February 2018

Writer: Donny Cates; Artist: Geoff Shaw; Letterer: Clayton Cowles; Colorist: Antonio Fabela; Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: Geoff Shaw

In the far future, millions of years after the murders of nearly every being in the universe, King Thanos sits on his throne with the Spirit of Vengeance as his only companion.  He has called his younger self from the 21st century to his future time, and the young Thanos reacts with violence, not believing that he is face to face with himself.  When the Ghost Rider steps in to stop the younger Thanos, stating that he can't be killed, he is hoisted up by his skull with the intention to test that theory.  King Thanos gets on his knees and says "please" to his younger self, stating he needs his help.  Thanos blasts Old King Thanos out of the throne room, unwilling to believe that he would ever ask for help from anyone, but is convinced when his older self calls him by his true birth name, "Dionne".  King Thanos states that he has lost someone and needs help getting them back; when young Thanos asks who he lost, he is pointed to a magnificent statue of Mistress Death while King Thanos answers "who do you think?".

Thanos (2017) # 13

"Thanos Wins, Part 1"

Cover Date: November 2017; Publication Date: January 2018

Writer: Donny Cates; Artist: Geoff Shaw; Letterer: Clayton Cowles; Colorist: Antonio Fabela; Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: Geoff Shaw

On the planet Chitauri Prime, the alien race of Chitauri have been completely dominated and overthrown by Thanos, who waged brutal war upon them in just five hours time.  He kills the king and takes his throne, new ruler of the Chitauri, and is soon approached by a servant who tells him of a being approaching the planet's orbit that has slaughtered its way through their spaceship armada.  The Ghost Rider arrives planetside and blows through the alien army on his way to Thanos, this Spirit of Vengeance that also possesses the Power Cosmic of Galactus as one of his former heralds.  He gets off of his space bike and approaches Thanos, telling him that he's there to bring him back to his master.  Thanos knocks hims aside, but Ghost Rider recovers and binds him in chains forged from the bones of Cyttorak.  Using a shard of the Time Stone, Ghost Rider drags Thanos into space and teleports them to Earth, millions of years in the future.  There, Thanos is brought before the Rider's master, an older version of Thanos himself who tells his younger counterpart that he's "already won".

Peter Parker: Spider-Man (1990) # 93

"Reborn Again"

Cover Date: July 1998; Publication Date: May 1998

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Javier Saltares; Inker: Scott Hanna; Letterer: Richard Starkings; Colorist: Gregory Wright; Editor: Ralph Macchio; Editor In Chief: Bob Harras; Cover Artist: John Romita Jr.

In Cypress Hills Cemetery, local firefighters attempt to douse a mysterious flame that has started - flames burning in the pattern of the Medallion of Power. From the flames emerges the Ghost Rider, who - before jumping on his motorcycle - simply says "It begins anew. I ride again...for vengeance!"

Elsewhere in the city, Spider-Man swings over the rooftops, jubilant that his recent troubles with the law are over. Spider-Man spends his evening stopping muggers and rescuing people from a burning building, but discovers that his reputation is still ruined due to Norman Osborn's allegations of the wall-crawler being a criminal. Spider-Man then visits Arthur Stacy, a friend, and finds that even he is having trouble trusting the hero. Outside the Stacy house, Mary Jane Watson-Parker talks to Jill Stacy before starting home. A few moments later, Mary Jane is startled by her husband, Peter Parker, jumping out of the trees. Peter scoops his wife up and swings them to a nearby rooftop. Peter tells her that things are finally starting to look up and asks "what could go wrong?". Just as Mary Jane says that she wishes he hadn't said that, Parker's spider-sense goes off, causing him to grab his wife and cover them with a web shield just in time to keep them from being burned by a flash of fire. The Ghost Rider rides past them on the street below, melting cars and street lamps as he passes. Parker changes back into Spider-Man and kisses Mary Jane before swinging off after the Rider.

A short time later, Spider-Man wonders what's causing Ghost Rider's flames to burn out of control. He stumbles across an abandoned building caught on fire by Ghost Rider's flames and sees a kid trapped on one of the floors. Spider-Man saves the boy just in time and returns him to his parents, winning back the trust of some of the public. Spider-Man picks the Ghost Rider's trail back up, following the trail of fire left by his motorcycle, and finds the Spirit of Vengeance in the middle of Times Square. Fallen on his knees, the Ghost Rider yells for everyone to stay away from him, that he's lost control of his hellfire. Ghost Rider is confused and disoriented by "so many truths and lies mixed together". "Noble Kale, the Lord of the Dark Realm, Mephisto, Blackheart", he says, "lies within lies within lies!" Spider-Man jumps down to the street, but is immediately attacked by Ghost Rider, who tells the hero to leave - that the lives of innocents are at stake and if he doesn't act soon the streets will run with blood. Spider-Man attempts to stop the Ghost Rider, but the demon smashes the ground beneath them, blowing a huge crater in the street. Severely weakened, Ghost Rider falls next to the hole - and when Spider-Man investigates, he finds a group of terrorists planting a bomb under the street. Spider-Man makes quick work of the terrorists, but sees that the bomb has just over five minutes before it detonates. Ghost Rider says he's too weak to help, but then out of the crowd steps Daniel Ketch, the Rider's descendant and former host. Dan asks the Rider - addressing him as Noble Kale - how he escaped Mephisto's realm and if he remembers him. Ghost Rider claims not to be this Noble Kale, and that Mephisto and Blackheart are the lords of the lie...the truth is not yet known. Spider-Man brings their attention back to the bomb, and Ghost Rider asks Dan to merge with him once again to make him stronger. Realizing that if he doesn't thousands of people will die, Dan agrees - and the two merge, restoring the Ghost Rider to his full strength. Whole once again, Ghost Rider takes the bomb and asks Spider-Man to contain him with as much webbing as he can generate. Within the giant dome of webbing, Ghost Rider stands with the bomb until it explodes, barely contained by Spider-Man's web. Immediately after the explosion, Ghost Rider rides out of the fire and out into the city. Spider-Man thinks to himself that this should finally prove to the city that he's a hero again...but the next day reads an editorial by J. Jonah Jameson that claims both Spider-Man and Ghost Rider to be part of the terrorist plot.

Wolverine (2020) # 36

"Weapons of Vengeance, Part 3: Possessions"

Cover Date: October 2023; On Sale Date: August 2023

Writer: Benjamin Percy; Artist: Geoff Shaw; Letterer: VC's Travis Lanham; Colorist: Rain Beredo; Editor: Darren Shan & Mark Basso; Editor in Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Ryan Stegman

Years ago, Ava Flores takes the possessed child Bram to a nursing home where he murders one of the residents to feed the demon inside of him. In the present day, Wolverine hitches a ride behind Ghost Rider on his motorcycle as they race from Pennsylvania to Utah, arriving at the Weapon Plus base inside Devil's Backbone. Ghost Rider transforms back into Johnny Blaze, and he and Wolverine are detected by the base's crew, led by Father Pike. Elsewhere, CIA agent Jeff Bannister researches the occult texts provided by Blaze on his computer and winds up releasing a demonic presence, from which he is saved by Blaze's companion Talia Warroad. 

Back at Hell's Backbone, Wolverine and Blaze enter the Weapon Plus base, where the find that the group has been experimenting on demons. Wolverine comments that the program has released the Stitcher demon inside Bram to hunt down mutants. Suddenly, control helmets slap down on their heads and electrocute them into unconsciousness. Meanwhile, Talia and Jeff do more research into the demonic Stitcher entity. 

Father Pike brings the now adult Bram into the Weapon Plus lab, where Wolverine has been prepared for possession by Bram's demon, the Bagra-Ghul. Bram takes his place beside Wolverine and the demon Stitcher is transferred from Bram to Logan, transforming him into the Hellverine. Father Pike tells the now demon-possessed Wolverine to go feed upon the mutants of the world, and the Hellverine detects mutants 5 miles in the distance. He steals Johnny Blaze's motorcycle and rides off into the night. 

X-Men (2010) # 15.1

"Hell to Pay"

Cover Date: October 2011; On Sale Date: August 2011

Writer: Victor Gischler; Artist: Will Conrad; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Brian Reber; Assistant Editor: Jordan D. White; Associate Editor: Daniel Ketchum; Editor: Nick Lowe; Editor-In-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: Jason Pearson

At a Native American reservation, X-Man Danielle Moonstar says goodbye to an old woman named Awanata who is laying catatonic and is slowly dying. She exits the small room and tells the other X-Men (Cyclops, Storm, Gambit, and Pixie) that they need to seal the entrance to the room. The woman's husband, Arnold Blackfeather, tells the X-Men that they have to seal Awanata up due to events that happened decades ago. The town was attacked by demons, and though he was a young training shaman Blackfeather was unable to stop them. Awanata, a powerful shaman as well, absorbed the demons into herself and trapped them inside her own soul. But now she's old and dying, and she knows that once she dies the demons will be released. Blackfeather hands Pixie a magical book that contains a spell to seal the demons inside the brick crypt they're building around Awanata.

Before the spell can be cast, the Ghost Rider arrives declaring the sin in the town must be cleansed in fire. Cyclops, noticing that the Rider has changed (shorter, now a female), tries to talk but is cut off by the Spirit of Vengeance, who senses that Awanata has just died. The tomb explodes and a host of demons in human form emerge from the old woman, calling themselves the Atahsaia. The X-Men stand against them, and when the demons transform into their true forms they create a deep pit in the street. The X-Men attack, but quickly discover that they cannot kill the demons. Ghost Rider pulls up beside Moonstar and orders her to get on the bike while Pixie takes the spell book from Blackfeather. The X-Men herd the demons toward the pit, where Ghost Rider and Moonstone use the Rider's mystical chains to drag them down. When the two women emerge from the chasm, the X-Men seal it with rubble and Pixie uses the spell book to mystically seal the demons in. Blackfeather emerges to thank the heroes, but he's caught by the Ghost Rider's chain and forced to confess his sin. It was Blackfeather who originally summoned the demons to use against a rival tribe, and his wife saved him. Ghost Rider commands Blackfeather to pay penance by repairing the town and regaining his family's honor, then she rides away. The X-Men depart as well, leaving the town to put itself back together.

X-Men (1991) # 8

"Tooth and Claw"

Cover Date: May 1992; On Sale Date: March 1992

Writer: Scott Lobdell; Artist: Jim Lee; Inker: Jim Lee & Art Thibert; Letterer: Tom Orzechowski; Colorist: Joe Rosas; Editor: Bob Harras; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Jim Lee

At the X-Mansion, Professor X and Storm introduce the newest member of the team, Bishop, to the rest of the X-Men.  Bishop is a time-traveler from a future where the X-Men were betrayed and murdered by one of the team.  When he sees Gambit, he accuses him of being the murderer due to him being the lone survivor of the future attack.  Xavier breaks up the tense scene by ordering the team to relax at the lake that's on the X-Mansion's property. 

At the lake, Rogue and Gambit's picnic is interrupted by Bishop, who claims that he knows Remy LeBeau as the monster who raised him after "the great betrayal".  Gambit and Bishop begin fighting, which is eventually stopped by Rogue, who convinces Bishop to accept Gambit for who he is now and not who he may become.  Suddenly, they are all attacked by a young woman that fires energy blasts, who Gambit says is his wife.  Later, all of the X-Men are listening to the woman's story: her name is Bella Donna, and while she is a member of the New Orleans Assassins Guild, her "husband" Gambit is a member of the Thieves Guild.  The two clans are now at war with one another, and it's all because Gambit killed Bella Donna's brother in a duel.  In order to keep the peace between the groups, Gambit was exiled, but now that the truce has been broken it's his responsibility to put a stop to the bloodshed.  The other X-Men volunteer to go with him, despite his protests that he can handle the responsibility alone.  While the X-Men prepare to leave, on the outskirts of New Orleans a sheriff's deputy attempts to pull over a speeding motorcyclist.  When he stops the biker, though, he finds that it's actually the Ghost Rider on his way into the city.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2015) # 24

"Think Fast"

Cover Date: December 2017; On Sale Date: October 2017

Writer: Brandon Montclare; Artist: Dominika "Domo" Stanton; Letterer: Travis Lanham; Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain; Editor: Chris Robinson; Senior Editor: Mark Paniccia; Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: Natacha Bustos

Following the loss of Devil Dinosaur, the tween girl genius Moon Girl (real name Lunella Lafayette) is looking for a new partner.  After a brief excursion to the Mojoverse to meet the X-Babies, she sets her sights on Johnny Blaze.  She finds him about to start a race in New York City with two other Spirits of Vengeance who have been pulled from different times.  This race, held once every Solstice, has dire consequences for the loser.  Moon Girl hops on the back of Blaze's bike, but when the race starts he immediately hits a car in the intersection, which allows a little kid Ghost Rider on a flaming big wheel to race ahead.  Moon Girl loans Blaze her roller skates and hops on his shoulders to give chase, eventually leading to all three of them crashing right before reaching the finish line.  They're then passed by an Old Timey Ghost Rider on an old style bicycle, who wins the race.  Moon Girl leaves as the three Spirits of Vengeance argue with one another about rematches, eventually turning into a brawl on the street.

Marvel Legacy (2017) # 1

Cover Date: November 2017; On Sale Date: September 2017

Writer: Jason Aaron; Artists: Esad Ribic, Steve McNiven, Chris Samnee, Russell Dauterman, Alex Maleev, Ed McGuinness, Stuart Immonen, Pepe Larraz, Jim Cheung, Daniel Acuña, Greg Land, Mike Deodato, Jr., and David Marquez; Letterer: Cory Petit; Colorists: Matthew Wilson and Daniel Acuña; Assistant Editor: Alanna Smith; Editor: Tom Brevoort; Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: Joe Quesada

One million years ago, during the Stone Age of the Marvel Universe, a group of heroes assembled by Odin (including the original incarnations of the Black Panther, Phoenix, Starbrad, Iron Fist, and the Sorcerer Supreme) have been in battle with a giant alien Celestial.  The last of the "Prehistoric Avengers" is the Ghost Rider, who swears vengeance upon the Celestial for the death of his mammoth.  When the Celestial stirs, Odin and the others charge forward to attack.

In the present day, Robbie Reyes is asleep in his car before being awakened by a police officer demanding to see his identification.  Robbie speeds away, confused when he realizes he drove in his sleep to Cape Town, South Africa.  He's attacked by the current wielder of the Starbrand, Earth's "energy defense system", who claims that they have been drawn to the area to find something.  While Robbie has no idea what Starbrand is referring to, the attacking hero states that no one can be allowed to find and claim it.  Robbie transforms into the Ghost Rider and fights back, with their fierce battle taking them to an archaeological excavation site overseen by SHIELD.  Starbrand dismissively murders the SHIELD agents and the battle moves on, allowing the surviving archaeologists to descend into the excavated cave.  Inside, deep in the earth, they find the Celestial buried by Odin, which kills them with its giant hand.  Back on the surface, Ghost Rider is able to finally defeat Starbrand by giving him the Penance Stare.  Consumed by the pain he has caused others, Starband dies in a massive explosion.  Robbie transforms back to his human form and is extremely confused that he was able to utilize the Penance Stare.  As he gets in his car and drives back toward Los Angeles, the Asgardian trickster god Loki arrives in the cave as the "inheritor" of the Celestial.

The Unbelievable Gwenpool # 15

Cover Date: May 2017; On Sale Date: March 2017

Writer: Christopher Hastings; Artist: Myisha Haynes; Letterer: VC's Clayton Clowes; Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg; Editor: Heather Antos; Supervising Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: Paulina Ganucheau

Gwenpool and Hawkeye are told a story of Asgardian dwarves and a gem they carved hundreds of years ago that could allow a soul to possess another being's body.  The museum curator telling them the story asks if Hawkeye has been able to recover the meteor stolen from their exhibit, and Hawkeye tells her that the dwarves have used the ore to carve another gem.  Gwen says that the gem, and her ghost friend Cecil who is trapped inside it, is locked in the Ghost Rider's trunk, but then realizes that since she read the comics she knows Ghost Rider's identity and where he goes to high school.  They are unaware that another dwarf, working as a janitor in the museum, overhears their conversation.

At the school, specifically inside Ghost Rider's trunk, Cecil the ghost is speaking with Eli Morrow, the evil spirit that powers the car.  Eli attempts to convince Cecil that he needs to possess Gwen's body in order to achieve vengeance, but Gwen arrives with a blindfolded Hawkeye and grabs the gem from the car.  Robbie Reyes sees what's going on from a window and runs outside, just as a truck full of dwarves drive by and grab the gem from Gwen before speeding off.  Robbie transforms into Ghost Rider and is convinced by Gwen to team up with her and Hawkeye to save Cecil.  This leads to a chase through the city that ends at the docks, where the dwarves are preparing the ritual to place one of them inside the gem.  To stop the heroes, they release the vessel they had chosen to possess, a giant purple monster hidden inside a crate at the dock.  Cecil convinces Gwen to place the gem on the monster, allowing Cecil to take over its body and chase away the dwarves.  Cecil is happy to have a body again, and he tells Ghost Rider that the spirit inside his car is "pretty friggin' evil, dude."  Robbie agrees and drives away, leaving Gwen and Hawkeye to clean up the mess.

The Unbelievable Gwenpool # 14

Cover Date: April 2017; On Sale Date: February 2017

Writer: Christopher Hastings; Artist: Myisha Haynes; Letterer: VC's Clayton Clowes; Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg; Editor: Heather Antos; Supervising Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: Paulina Ganucheau

Gwenpool and her ghost friend Cecil meet with a sorceress, their goal being Cecil's return to a corporeal form.  The witch tells them that there is a vessel in Los Angeles that can help them, Cecil would enter it and would then be able to return to life.  She locates a magical portal in Los Angeles and prepares to send Gwen and Cecil through it via her bathtub, but hesitates when she recognizes the type of magic that has created the portal.  Gwen and Cecil jump through anyway, before the sorceress can tell them that the magic came from Satan.

In the Hollywood Hills, a group of Asgardian trolls are in the midst of a ceremony that involves both a sacrifice of one of their number and a large diamond that they have stolen.  They're being watched by Kate Bishop, the teenage Hawkeye, but before she can act the party is broken up by the arrival of Ghost Rider in the Hell Charger.  While Ghost Rider and Hawkeye fight the trolls, Gwenpool and Cecil pop out of the Hell Charger's trunk, which was the portal that the witch had sent them through.  During the melee Cecil tries to grab the diamond but finds himself sucked into the gem.  When the police arrive the trolls and heroes scatter, with Ghost Rider grabbing the diamond and throwing it into his car before he leaves.  Gwen hitches a ride with Hawkeye, but they quickly realize they can't catch up with him.

Later, Robbie arrives back at his house and leaves the diamond inside his car.  Cecil, still trapped inside the diamond, hears the voice of Eli Morrow asking him if he has really achieved the vengeance his spirit needs to move on to the next world.