The Mighty Thor (1966) # 429-430

"This World Is Mine!" & "The God, the Ghost, and the Guilty!"

Cover Date: February & March 1991
On Sale Date: December 1990 & January 1991

Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Ron Frenz
Inker: Joe Sinnott & Al Milgrom
Colorist: Mike Rockwitz
Lettering: Mike Heisler & Chris Eliopolous
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Cover Artist: Ron Frenz

In an abandoned Brooklyn tenement building, the Wrecking Crew (the Wrecker, Thunderball, and Piledriver), argue amongst themselves about the fate of their fourth member, Bulldozer, who was captured by the NYPD's superhuman task force, Code B.L.U.E. Sick of the constant in-fighting, the Wrecker tells the other two that they're going to bust Bulldozer free, but only when he feels it's safe to do so. Meanwhile, in a Manhattan police station, Bulldozer is being watched by Mad Dog and Rigger, two Code B.L.U.E. officers. Rigger tells Mad Dog they're going to be escorting their prisoner to Kennedy Airport, from which he'll be transported to the Vault. Mad Dog complains about the assignment being boring, but Rigger tells him that the route will take them through Cypress Hills, where the Ghost Rider is rumored to haunt.

That night, during their transport of Bulldozer, the two police officers make their way past the gate to Cypress Hills Cemetery. Suddenly, the rest of the Wrecking Crew attack the armored truck, and the Wrecker's energy blast knocks the truck into the cemetery. The two cops escape the truck, but both are stunned by the Crew's attack. In another part of the cemetery, however, Dan Ketch is visiting the grave of his deceased sister and sees the fight erupting. He runs to his motorcycle and touches the gas cap, triggering his transformation. While the Wrecking Crew - including the newly freed Bulldozer - prepare to kill the Mad Dog and Rigger, the Ghost Rider rides over the hill. The Crew recognize the Rider from television reports, but are nonetheless surprised by the brutality of the demon's attack. He successfully evades the Crew's blows, but Piledriver believes the Rider to be simply a glorified athlete with a few fancy special effects. The Wrecker gets tired of the Ghost Rider's interference, and blasts him with the Asgardian power contained in his crowbar. The magical energy that strikes the Rider accidentally rips open a dimensional gate, from which emerges the lord of Hell, Mephisto. While Mephisto demands to know who has dared summon him, the Ghost Rider frantically questions why he finds the demon lord so familiar. Elsewhere in the city, the Asgardian trickster god, Loki, senses what has transpired. Cursing the Wrecker for finally attracting the notice of an powerful being, Loki realizes that he must step in and take care of the matter personally.

Later, in an abandoned factory in Manhattan, the Wrecker attacks his teammate Piledriver, who dared to call the Wrecker a coward for fleeing their fight with Ghost Rider after Mephisto appeared.  The Wrecker dispels the challenge to his leadership and states that they will be taking out the Ghost Rider tonight.  Ghost Rider, meanwhile, rides through the city, feeling fear for the first time since seeing Mephisto, who he recognizes but cannot remember from where. Elsewhere, Loki travels to Hell to meet with Mephisto following the Wrecker's accidental use of Asgardian magic that called the demon-lord to Earth.  Mephisto, who is holding the Soul Crystal used to imprison former Ghost Rider Zarathos, tells Loki that the resemblance between the Ghost Rider and his "former vassal" is a coincidence and nothing more.  Mephisto shows Loki a "soul-shroud" used to collect the souls of deceased immortals, and the face upon it actually manages to stun Loki, who expresses a desire for an alliance.  Later, back on Earth, Loki tells his companions Ulik and the Enchantress that Mephisto is planning to betray him and he must move up his plans to reclaim the Asgardian power from the Wrecking Crew. 

While riding through the city, Ghost Rider transforms back into Danny Ketch, who continues his search for the Wrecking Crew, while Eric Masterson transforms himself into Thor to search as well.  The Wrecking Crew, while searching for Ghost Rider, see Thor flying by and decide to ambush him.  Loki sees these events from afar and uses magic to lure Danny Ketch to the same area.  The Wrecking Crew attack Thor on a rooftop and the battle is soon joined by Ghost Rider as well.  While the battle is going on, Loki and Ulik take the Wrecking Crew out one-by-one, reclaiming the magic that powers them and leaving them near death.  When the Wrecker attempts to use his magic power in his crowbar, Loki twists the blast to open up a rift, from which come a horde of Mephisto's demons.  While Thor and Ghost Rider defeat the demons, Loki manages to take out the rest of the Wrecking Crew.  When Thor finds them, he sees that the Wrecker has vanished but the rest of the Crew need medical attention.  Ghost Rider, his work done, rides away jumping from rooftop to rooftop.  Meanwhile, in Hell, Mephisto's soul-shroud has been completed, and the face upon it is none other than Thor's.

Amazing Spider-Man (1962) # 274

"Lo, There Shall Come a Champion!"

Cover Date: March1986
On Sale Date: December 1985

Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Ron Frenz w/ Tom Morgan & James Fry
Inker: Joe Rubinstein w/ John Romita Sr.
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: George Roussos & Co.
Editor: Jim Owlsley
Editor-In-Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: John Romita Sr.

The Beyonder, a being of ultimate power, invades the realm of Mephisto, set on destroying it and everything else within the Multiverse of creation. Mephisto strikes a wager with the Beyonder that within the span of one day a mortal being will show that he is worthy of living, thereby saving the entire Multiverse. The Beyonder chooses Spider-Man to be Mephisto's agent and then frees Zarathos from the Soul Crystal, setting him loose on Earth to torment Spider-Man. The Beyonder creates a giant video screen in Hell so he and Mephisto can watch, stating that Zarathos must merely get Spider-Man to give up his sense of responsibility within the time frame allotted. 

On Earth, Spider-Man overhears some criminals talking about a hit they've placed on the Kingpin of Crime. Spider-Man finds himself in a moral dilemma about saving the Kingpin's life and Zarathos appears before him demanding that the Kingpin die, blasting Spider-Man with a cloud of sulfur before disappearing. Spider-Man is the attacked by the Green Goblin, who he unmasks as the deceased Norman Osborn. Spider-Man returns to his apartment and falls asleep, where Zarathos attacks in his dreams while disguised as his parents. Peter wakes up covered in boils yet still tries to make his way to save the Kingpin, but not before he's confronted by the ghosts of Captain Stacy and his daughter, Gwen Stacy, who ravage Spider-Man with guilt. Zarathos attacks directly, blasting Spider-Man with hellfire, but the hero refuses to give up and defies Zarathos, punching him away and winning the wager for Mephisto. Spider-Man rescues the Kingpin from the assassination attempt and, in Hell, Mephisto places Zarathos back within the Soul Crystal and tells Mephisto that the Multiverse can live for another day.

Team America (1982) # 11

“Challenges!”

Cover Date: April 1983
On Sale Date: January 1983

Plot: Jim Shooter
Script: Tom DeFalco
Artist; Dave Simons
Inker: David Weiss
Letterer: Rick Parker
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Editor: Jim Shooter
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Dave Simons

During a race at an Oklahoma motorway, the members of Team America – Honcho, El Lobo, Cowboy, and R.U. Reddy – finish with El Lobo winning the race. They’re soon joined by Wrench and Georgianna, but the tensions within the team quickly drive them apart, with El Lobo striking out on his own. While on his solo ride, El Lobo sees a billboard advertising the Quentin Carnival and recognizes Johnny Blaze as once being a champion stunt rider. Later, El Lobo pulls up beside an elderly couple and their daughter, Mary-Michelle, who jumps out of their car and onto the back of El Lobo’s motorcycle before he rides away.

Later, El Lobo and Mary-Michelle are joined at the Quentin Carnival by the rest of Team America just in time to watch the cycle stunt show featuring Johnny Blaze and Red Fowler. They are unaware that they’re being surveilled by Mary-Michelle’s parents, the Winderfields, who are secretly Hydra sleeper agents. They report back to their director, Elsie, who tells her subordinate Halstan about Team America, specifically the mysterious Black Marauder who appears whenever the team is around. Elsie then receives a communication from the Supreme Hydra, who orders that Team America is to be eliminated “visibly and spectacularly”. Back at the carnival, Team America meet Blaze and Fowler and afterward Johnny feels the Ghost Rider straining to emerge. Later that night, the Black Marauder emerges with his motorcycle from Team America’s trailer and rides out into the desert, where he’s confronted by the Ghost Rider. Before Zarathos can attack the Marauder, Johnny Blaze is able to regain control and tells the silent biker to leave while he can. Meanwhile, Mary-Michelle packs her things and leaves her parents, despite their angry protests.

The next morning at the Lakebed Speedway, Team America prepare for the race. Hydra’s forces are there in disguise and both Johnny and Red are attending as spectators. Once the race starts, Johnny loses control and becomes the Ghost Rider, who roars onto the track demanding the Black Marauder to appear. The Marauder arrives, surprising all of Team America, and the racetrack descends into chaos. Hydra attacks as well, signaled by the Winderfields, while Ghost Rider and Black Marauder continue their battle. When the Marauder turns away from the Ghost Rider to rescue El Lobo, Zarathos realizes that it is not his duty to punish the innocent, only the guilty. He turns his attentions toward Hydra, melting their tanks with hellfire and causing their forces to flee. Ghost Rider departs, followed by Red Fowler, leaving Team America to find the unmasked Black Marauder amongst the wreckage.

Marvel Two-In-One (1973) # 80

“Call Him…Monster!”

Cover Date: October 1981

On Sale Date: July 1981

Writer: Tom DeFalco

Artist: Ron Wilson

Inker: Chic Stone

Letterer: Joe Rosen

Colorist: George Roussos

Editor: Jim Salicrup

Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter

Cover Artist: Ron Wilson

In the Baxter Building, headquarters of the Fantastic Four, blind sculptress Alicia Masters is shocked by a sudden earthquake that destroys many of her statues. Afraid that something may have happened to her love, Ben Grimm, Alicia races down the hall to the next room where the Thing is punching on his new hydraulic exercise machine and causing the tremors. Alicia, relieved at hearing Ben's voice, steps into the room directly in the path of the returning punching block - but is saved at the last moment by Mr. Fantastic. Upset that he almost accidentally caused Alicia's death, the Thing leaves the building in grief. Sometime later, while the rest of the Fantastic Four help to clean up her studio, Alicia can only brood on where Ben may have gone.

Elsewhere in the city on an empty rooftop, the Thing sits brooding over the curse of his appearance and power. In a fit of anger, he destroys part of the building and realizes that he's too dangerous to associate with normal people. He gets on his flying cycle and takes to the sky where he hears police sirens from below. The police are in frantic pursuit of the Ghost Rider, who maniacally leads them on a harrowing chase through the city that terrifies onlookers before finally culminating with a game of "chicken" with an elevated train. Landing on a rooftop, the Ghost Rider allows Johnny Blaze to regain control, leaving the man tired and weak. Blaze is approached by the Thing, who offers him a ride by saying "us monsters have to stick together". When they land in front of the run-down motel that Blaze is staying in, Johnny thanks Ben by giving him two tickets to the show he's performing at Shea Stadium. Feeling a little less alone, but still brooding, Grimm returns to the Baxter Building and reunites with Alicia, who welcomes him back with open arms.

The next day, a huge crowd has gathered at Shea Stadium to see Johnny Blaze perform a cycle jump over 16 automobiles. In the crowd are two young men, who decide to steal one of the performance stock cars. Also in the crowd are Alicia and Ben, who watch in amazement as Blaze begins his show, performing seemingly impossible tricks with his bike. But as he's finishing his act, Blaze is almost run down by the two kids in the stolen car, causing him to wreck. As the kids drive off, Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider, hungry for vengeance against them for nearly killing him. The Thing sees what's happening and heads for his sky-cycle, worried that Blaze may do something harsh to the kids.

The Ghost Rider quickly catches up to the boys and disables their car, forcing them to flee on foot. As the demon burns the boys with hellfire Ben arrives and commands him to stop - something the Rider takes as an insult. The two begin to fight, with the Thing easily gaining the upper hand due to the Rider not wanting to fight someone undeserving of vengeance. The battle continues until the Thing flies into a rage himself, beating the Ghost Rider mercilessly before he realizes what he's doing. Ghost Rider takes the advantage when Ben stops fighting, and the Thing uses a different tactic by speaking to the submerged personality of Johnny Blaze. Grimm eventually talks the Rider down and Blaze returns to his normal form and collapses in the Thing's arms, apologizing before he passes out.

Later, the Thing returns to the Baxter Building and finds Alicia, who asks him why he's so quiet. Grimm replies that even though his life is difficult he still has good things like his friends and family in the Fantastic Four and Alicia herself. Ben comments that it's not fair for him to have so much while others have nothing at all. As he says this, Johnny Blaze rides out of New York, still alone.