Ghost Rider (2019) # 6

"Hearts of Darkness II, Part 2"

Cover Date: May 2020; On Sale Date: March 2020

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Juan Frigeri; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Jason Keith; Editor: Chris Robinson; Senior Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder

On Long Island, Stacy Dolan's home is visited by Blackheart and the corrupted Emma, who tells Stacy that they need her. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, Danny Ketch and the Caretaker attempt to explain to Punisher and Wolverine that the cop killed by Johnny Blaze was really a demon. When the Punisher pushes for answers, Danny stabs him in the chest with the Spirit of Corruption's sword, temporarily incapacitating him. Wolverine attempts to intervene, but the fight only stops when the Caretaker steps in and Danny transforms back into his human form.

Elsewhere, on a snowy mountaintop, Johnny and his captive Mephisto are confronted by Dr. Strange. Blaze is furious that Strange left him abandoned and alone to rule Hell; while Strange attempts to explain that he hadn't forgotten about Johnny, Mephisto continues to mentally manipulate Blaze. Realizing that they are actually inside one of the rooms of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Johnny demands to know where the door to leave is located. Dr. Strange attacks, starting a fight between the two, while Mephisto slips off during the confusion. Mephisto leads them to the door out while Strange again attempts to reason with Johnny.

Back in New York, the Caretaker has led Danny, Punisher, and Wolverine to the morgue containing the dead cop's body, where she uses a spell to prove that he was a demon. She explains that every time Johnny uses his Damnation Stare on a demon he becomes more evil and corrupt and they must stop him before he goes too far. Outside of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Dr. Strange goes flying onto the street, where a fully demonic Johnny tells him that he should have walked away when he had the chance.

Ghost Rider (2019) # 5

"Hearts of Darkness II, Part 1"

Cover Date: February 2020; On Sale Date: December 2019

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Juan Frigeri; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Jason Keith; Editor: Chris Robinson; Senior Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder

At the docked cruise ship in Manhattan, where Johnny Blaze killed a host of demons including one possessing a cop, the Punisher and Wolverine examine the crime scene. Realizing that Danny Ketch had been there they assume he was responsible for the deaths of who they believe were innocent people and go about tracking him down. Meanwhile, at a motel in Utah, Johnny Blaze interrogates the captive Mephisto about the escaped demons. Mephisto tells him that all of this has been orchestrated by Lilith, who is furious at both of them for Johnny's place on Hell's throne.

In Cypress Hills Cemetery, Danny Ketch drinks at his mother's grave and talks to her about the Spirit of Corruption inside of him. His drinking is interrupted by the Caretaker, who tells him to sober up and help her stop Johnny from going mad with power. While they talk, Danny's bar is invaded by Blackheart, who asks the bartender Emma about Danny's whereabouts. When Danny and the Caretaker leave the cemetery they're stopped by Punisher and Wolverine. Danny transforms into the Spirit of Corruption and fights the two vigilantes, neither of whom are able to hurt him. Caretaker stops the fight and Punisher states that a Ghost Rider killed the people on the cruise ship, and with Johnny in Hell that just leaves Danny, who replies that Johnny's not in Hell anymore.

Elsewhere, at a bar in Kentucky, Lilith and her Lilin torture the Orb, using his all-seeing eye to track the whereabouts of Blaze and Mephisto. Johnny, as the Ghost Rider, drags Mephisto behind his motorcycle as they race down the highway, but of both them unexpectedly enter a magic portal that sends them to a snowy mountain. There they are confronted by Dr. Strange, who wants to know why Johnny has taken Mephisto.

King in Black: Ghost Rider (2021) # 1

Cover Date: May 2021; On Sale Date: March 2021

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Juan Frigeri; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Jason Keith; Editor: Jake Thomas; Senior Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Will Sliney

Johnny Blaze rides into New York City with Mephisto in tow, only to find the city overrun with giant symbiote dragons. Blaze attempts to down one of the dragons with his Damnation Stare and manages to drive it to the ground, where it is beheaded by Danny Ketch, the newly christened Death Rider. Ketch has arrived to help alongside the Caretaker and Blackheart, who wishes to see Mephisto freed and returned to the throne of Hell. While Johnny and Danny talk about Blackheart, Mephisto takes the opportunity to try and escape. Mephisto is confronted by a group of demons possessed by symbiotes, who wish to claim the devil for themselves. Ghost Rider and his companions fight through the demons, allowing Johnny time to give one his Damnation Stare, which disrupts all of the symbiotes in the area, freeing the demons.

Blackheart opens a portal to Hell, but Johnny refuses to let Mephisto go. The Caretaker and Danny explain that Lilith is coming for the throne of Hell, and only Mephisto can stop her. Johnny finally, reluctantly agrees and allows Mephisto to return to Hell, abdicating his place on the throne. This allows Johnny, Danny, and the Caretaker to turn their attention to fighting the horde of symbiotes attacking the city.

Meanwhile, Stacy Dolan and Emma wake up in the Fadeaway Bar, released from Blackheart's corruption. In Hell, Mephisto takes his place on the throne, saying "it's good to be home".

Ghost Rider (2019) # 4

"The King of Hell, Part 4"

Cover Date: February 2020; On Sale Date: December 2019

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Aaron Kuder & Juan Frigeri; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Jason Keith; Editor: Chris Robinson; Senior Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder

At the Caretaker's library in Brooklyn, Sister Sara opens up a portal to Limbo. She tells Danny that he must find Belasco and ask for the aid of Necrosis, a being powerful enough to defeat Johnny Blaze as the King of Hell. Danny steps through the portal and emerges in Limbo, told before he goes that Belasco will find him.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Blaze and Wong defend the Hotel Inferno from a horde of attacking demons that are determined to free Mephisto. When the demons are defeated, Blaze goes to get Mephisto himself but is stopped by Wong, who tells him that Mephisto cannot leave his prison. Johnny defeats Wong and gives him the Penance Stare before entering the hotel and finding Mephisto. Desperate for information about Hell and the escaped demons, Blaze frees Mephisto and wraps him chains, dragging him out of the hotel behind his motorcycle.

Back in Limbo, Danny finds Belasco and entreats on him for assistance. Belasco laughs and tells him that if he wants help from Necrosis he must first defeat the creature in battle. Danny fights valiantly but is quickly overwhelmed by Necrosis until Belasco intervenes, beheading Necrosis himself. Belasco then uses Necrosis' blood to infect Danny, transforming him into a new Spirit of Corruption.

Ghost Rider (2019) # 3

"The King of Hell, Part 3"

Cover Date: February 2020; On Sale Date: December 2019

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Juan Frigeri; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Jason Keith; Editor: Chris Robinson; Senior Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder

A flashback to the year 1654 shows the Spirit of Vengeance named Chief Hellhawk fighting Necrosis, the Spirit of Corruption. Necrosis gains the upper hand and kills Chief Hellhawk.

In the present day, Danny is pulled from the East River by Sister Sara, the Caretaker, who tells him that he's the only one that can stop his brother Johnny. Meanwhile, an angry Blaze realizes that there's only one person he can turn to for help in returning Hell's escapee demons. At the Fadeaway Pub, Danny and Caretaker have a conversation about what's happening to Johnny and how being the King of Hell is corrupting him. In Hell, Lilith addresses an army of demons and opens a portal, sending them to Earth to kill Blaze and give her the throne to Hell. Danny meets with his ex-girlfriend Stacy Dolan outside of her home and tells her that Johnny is responsible for the deaths on the cruise ship. Stacy convinces Danny to help stop his brother, and the Caretaker arrives on her motorcycle to take Danny with her. Finally, in Utah on the road to Las Vegas, Johnny kills two demons who are on their way to the Hotel Inferno before making his way to see the imprisoned Mephisto.

Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance # 1

Cover Date: November 2019; On Sale Date: September 2019

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Juan Frigeri; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Dono Sanchez-Almara; Editor: Chris Robinson; Consulting Editor: Devon Lewis; Senior Editor: Jordan D. White; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Phillip Tan

In a small Nicaraguan village, former Ghost Rider Alejandra Jones finds the people she's been protecting under attack by Carnage, who is there to claim the Symbiote Codex attached to Alejandra. Meanwhile, at the Fadeaway Pub in New York, Danny Ketch is visited by the spirit of his brother, Johnny Blaze, who is now the King of Hell. Johnny asks Danny to go help Alejandra, since he can't leave Hell to help her himself. Danny reluctantly agrees to help.

Danny arrives in Nicaragua shortly after and finds a family hiding inside a store. The family's young daughter tells him about Alejandra fighting to protect them, and they soon see her outside battling Carnage. Danny transforms into the Ghost Rider and joins the fight, but is unable to stop Carnage from killing Alejandra. Carnage absorbs her Codex and temporarily gains powers similar to the Ghost Rider. Alejandra wakes up in Hell and finds Blaze, who tells her about the Codex and why Carnage wanted it. She demands that Blaze send her back to Earth to help the village, but the only way he can is to have her spirit possess someone.

Back on Earth, Danny gives Carnage the Penance Stare, but it backfires and incapacitates Danny instead. Blaze sends Alejandra to possess the daughter of the family that Danny met and she leads the villagers to fight back against Carnage, saving Danny in the process. Alejandra says goodbye and relinquishes the girl's body. She finds herself back in Hell, where Blaze introduces her to other past Ghost Riders, telling her "welcome home".

Marvel Comics Presents (2019) # 6

"Fadeaway"

Cover Date: August 2019; On Sale Date: June 2019

Writer: Ed Brisson; Artist: Juan Frigeri; Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna; Colorist: Andres Mossa; Editor: Chris Robinson; Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski; Cover Artist: Arthur Adams

Danny Ketch sits in his bar, The Fadeaway, and drinks to dull the pain of the transformation he knows is coming.  The Ghost Rider emerges and rides to Cypress Hills Cemetery, where he finds a funeral gathering interrupted by Wallow, who is feeding off the dark secrets of the mourners.  Ghost Rider is unable to touch the ghostly Wallow, who escapes to a nearby bus.  Ghost Rider follows Wallow onto the bus and transforms back into Danny, who offers up his own misery to feed Wallow.  When Wallow begins he has to turn solid, which gives Danny time to transform back into Ghost Rider and give the ghost the Penance Stare.  This sends Wallow to Hell, where he's confronted by Johnny Blaze, the new King of Hell.