Werewolf by Night (1998) # 6

"Love is Colder Than Death, Part 1"

Cover Date: July 1998; On Sale Date: May 1998

Writer: Paul Jenkins; Artist: Leonardo Manco; Letterer: Janice Chiang; Colorist: Marianna Manco; Editor: Joe Andreani; Editor In Chief: Bob Harras; Cover Artist: Leonardo Manco

A rash of brutal killings has been happening in New York City, and Jack Russell - the Werewolf by Night - has been tasked by his mysterious benefactor into stopping the murderer.  To do this, he visits the Underworld, a bar that is frequented by supernatural creatures.  At the bar he is assaulted by three vampires, who are insulted by the presence of a werewolf.  The fight is halted by the Ghost Rider, who has arrived to talk with Jack about the killings.  The two talk about their recent changes, namely Russell having freed himself from the control of the wolf demon and Ghost Rider having ascended as the new king of Hell.  Despite Jack's insistence, Ghost Rider refuses to help him, stating that he cannot show favoritism amongst his charges.  Jack gets up angry and leaves, while Ghost Rider tells him that he doesn't have to go farther from the room to find his killer.  That night, Jack locks himself in the sewer during his werewolf transformation, and when he awakens the next day he finds a dead body in the room with him.

Superior Spider-Man Annual # 1

"Hostage Crisis"

Cover Date: January 2014; On Sale Date: November 2013

Writer: Christos Gage; Artist: Javier Rodriguez; Inker: Alvaro Lopez; Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos; Colorist: Javier Rodriguez; Editor: Stephen Wacker; Editor-In-Chief: Axel Alonso; Cover Artist: J.G. Jones

A former employee of the Kingpin sells information about Peter Parker being connected to Spider-Man to the vampire assassin Blackout, who kills the informant in return. Later, Parker (whose body is now inhabited by the mind of former villain Otto "Dr. Octopus" Octavius) visits with his Aunt May and her husband Jay Jameson, who expresses concern about Peter's work with Spider-Man. Peter leaves and goes down into the subway, unaware he's been followed by Blackout. On a train, Peter uses his Spider-Bot camera systems to check up on the city and sees May and Jay being attacked by Blackout. The vampire easily disables Jameson kidnaps May before Parker can make it back to their apartment. Blackout left a cellphone for Peter, which means he won't kill May until he gets what he wants.

Not long after, the cellphone rings inside Spider-Man's headquarters. Blackout proves that May is still alive, then gives his demands that Parker is to sabotage Spider-Man's equipment so the villain will have an advantage against him. Parker uses his Spider-Bots to triangulate Blackout's location, but decides he needs to do some research on his enemy before taking action. He contacts Danny Ketch, former host to the Ghost Rider, whose sister was murdered by Blackout. Ketch tells Spider-Man that Blackout will target everyone he loves if he doesn't kill him, and offers up a few suggestions about his weaknesses, including sunlight. Spider-Man briefly considers asking Dr. Strange for help, but decides against it when he realizes that Strange could possibly discern that he is actually Otto Octavius.

Spider-Man tracks Blackout to an abandoned slaughterhouse, where he catches the villain exiting the building with May. Using his Spider-Bots to form a forcefield around May, Spider-Man deprives Blackout of his hostage. The fight turns vicious, with Blackout submerging the hero in darkness and stabbing him in the back with his claws. Blackout attempts to rip out Spider-Man's throat, but an electrical plate in his neck shocks the vampire into unconsciousness, which Otto/Peter had planned. He tells May to leave, breaks Blackout's legs and arms, and hangs him from meat-hooks. Octavius then brutally removes Blackout's fangs and claws, leaving the vampire to beg for his life. Spider-Man tells Blackout that he is going to spread the word to all criminals that Parker and his family are off limits from now on, and he then uses a generator to fry Blackout with artificial sunlight. The next day, a pickpocket steals Parker's wallet, but gives it back and begs for mercy when he realizes who he has stolen from. Meanwhile, the Green Goblin has returned and is plotting against Spider-Man.

Giant-Size Hulk # 1

"Green Pieces"

Cover Date: August 2006; On Sale Date: June 2006

Writer: Peter David; Artist: Juan Santacruz; Inker: Raul Fernandez; Letterer: Randy Gentile; Colorists: Studio F; Editor: Mark Paniccia; Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada; Cover Artist: Ryan Sook

On the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, Secret Service Agent Spooner prepares for the arrival of the President when he's approached by Hercules. The President is on his way to give the Congressional Medal of Honor to the Champions for saving the country from Dr. Doom's mind control gas - a plot stopped by Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider, due to him not having to breathe in his supernatural form. The rest of the Champions - Black Widow, Angel, Iceman, Darkstar, and Blaze - join Hercules just in time to hear Spooner declare a "Code: Jade" after a phone call. Spooner tells the heroes that Bruce Banner, the Hulk, has just been spotted in a car on Wilshire Boulevard. Angel takes off with a radio to see if he can spot Banner, and when he finds the car he witnesses Bruce transforming into the Hulk and bursting out of the vehicle. When Angel tries to talk to him, the Hulk tosses the car's door at him - and though it misses him, Angel realizes that the metal door is heading toward a church wedding. Though he gets hit himself in the process, Angel manages to keep anyone from getting hurt.

Back on the freeway, Hulk has picked up the car just as Iceman and Ghost Rider arrive and attack. Hulk breaks free of the ice produced around him, and shrugs off Blaze's hellfire just as the other Champions arrive. Hercules attacks, hitting Hulk several times while the monster continues to hold the car in the air. With one kick, Hercules is sent flying away. The Champions continue to press their attack, forcing Hulk to set down the car and slam his fists repeatedly onto the street, knocking the heroes senseless with the shock waves. Confident that he has won, the Hulk picks the car back up and leaps away - leaving the Champions to wonder why the monster never attempted to throw the car at them.

Angel follows Hulk to a hospital, where he enters carrying a young girl that's in a considerable amount of pain. Realizing that the Hulk is trying to save her, Angel orders the doctors to help the girl. Content that the girl is safe, Hulk leaps away. Later, in the hospital, the Champions are visiting with the girl - Bruce's cousin, Jennifer Walters - whose appendix had burst while she was in the car with Banner. Hercules questions why the Hulk didn't tell them that he was trying to save her, but Walters angrily replies "Did you ask?"

Later that night, Hercules and the Black Widow sit atop the Champions building and discuss the day's events. Hercules remarks that they are no longer honorable for attacking the Hulk without first finding out what was going on. They attacked without provocation, and Hercules hopes that one day they will have the opportunity to make amends to the Hulk.

Deadpool (2008) # 26

"Sinner-Sinner, Chicken Dinner"

Cover Date: October 2010; On Sale Date: August 2010

Writer: Daniel Way; Artist: Carlo Barberi; Inker: Juan Vlasco; Letterer: VC's Joe Sabino; Colorist: Marte Gracia; Assistant Editor: Jody Leheup; Editor: Axel Alonso; Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada; Cover Artist: Dave Johnson

In the desert outside of Las Vegas, Johnny Blaze leaves a diner and rides into the city. At a casino in Vegas, Deadpool quits his newly-acquired job as the casino's security head. He kills the casino owners, but as he's leaving he is stopped by the Ghost Rider, who grabs the killer with his chain and pulls him behind his motorcycle through the city. Ghost Rider has tracked Deadpool down to make him face vengeance for all the lives he's taken. When they reach the desert, past the city's limits, Deadpool pulls himself onto the back of the Ghost Rider's bike and grabs one of the handles, throwing on the brakes. The bike flies out of control, throwing the two men into the air. As they fall, Deadpool pulls out his guns and blows Ghost Rider's skull apart. After they land, which results in several broken bones for Deadpool, Ghost Rider reforms his head and grabs his target by the throat. Ghost Rider gives Deadpool the Penance Stare, which causes an unforeseen feedback between them that causes Ghost Rider to turn back into Johnny Blaze. 

The Penance Stare causes Deadpool to relive the "highlight reel" of his life, including when he first became a mercenary, when he was diagnosed with cancer, and when he signed up for the Weapon X project. He wakes up screaming and immediately punches Blaze in the face. Blaze tells him that they're 80 miles away from Las Vegas, and that he'll need time to fix his motorcycle. After he finishes, Deadpool asks Blaze if he came after him to kill him. Johnny explains that it wasn't him that came after him, it was the Ghost Rider that wanted him to see something important; if he'd wanted Deadpool dead, he'd be dead. Deadpool asks Blaze if he thinks he deserves to die. Johnny answers "yes", to which Deadpool replies "Thanks, man".

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 14

"Zodiac II"

Cover Date: August 1993; On Sale Date: June 1993

Writer: Gary Friedrich & Tony Isabella; Artist: Jim Mooney; Inker: Sal Trapani; Letterer: Artie Simek; Colorist: Phil Rache; Editor: Roy Thomas; Cover Artist: Bill Wylie

Late at night in San Francisco, an armored truck drives across a bridge on way to its destination. Inside, the drivers discuss how surprised they were when they learned their boss, Cornelius Van Lunt, was actually the villain Taurus of the Zodiac, unaware that they are being watched by a strange man that's hanging from the bridge's suspension cables. The man, dressed as a lion, drops down onto the top of the truck and proceeds to rip a large hole in the ceiling, the noise enough to force the drivers to pull over. They circle around to the back of the truck, but are attacked by the man, who is actually Leo of the Zodiac. The strangest thing, as the drivers say before they're knocked unconscious, is that the real Leo is still in jail with the rest of his group. Grabbing the money in the back of the truck, Leo signals to the pilot of his helicopter, Slifer, to come pick him up.

 

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Johnny Blaze goes to see Attorney General Barnett, who is waiting for him with both his son, Dave, and Roxanne Simpson. Congratulating him on the excellent job he did against Roulette, Barnett tells him that he has another assignment ready. Blaze refuses to do any more dirty work for him, and a fight nearly breaks out between him and Dave. Before Johnny can walk out, however, Dave pulls a gun on him and forces him to sit and listen. Barnett tells him that they need his help to stop the Zodiac, to which Johnny replies that the villains were put in jail weeks ago. The Attorney General explains that four different Zodiac members, Leo, Libra, Gemini, and Sagittarius, have struck San Francisco in the past 24 hours, each committing crimes directed against their leader, Cornelius Van Lunt. What makes the crimes so bizarre is the fact that none of the Zodiac have escaped and are all still in jail. Blaze again refuses to help, and he and Roxanne leave.

 

That evening, at sunset, Johnny stands in the center of an outdoor arena. As expected, his nightly curse activates and he transforms into the Ghost Rider. Roxanne emerges and embraces her lover, asking if they'll ever beat Satan's power. Blaze answers that by saying the only thing they can do at the moment is try and get their cycle show back on its feet. Straddling a motorcycle, Johnny takes off in an attempt to try and create some new stunts. He does get far, as a mysterious gunman takes aim and shoots at his bike, causing him to wreck. Emerging from the crash unharmed, the Ghost Rider finds Dave Barnett, who is pointing a gun at him. Blaze simply points his finger at the gun, and a stream of hellfire melts it out of Barnett's hands. Realizing that Johnny truly does have supernatural powers, Dave grabs Roxanne by the throat in order to force the Ghost Rider to help him defeat the Zodiac. The Attorney General arrives, having followed his son, and implores him to let the girl go. Using Roxanne as a shield, Dave drags her into the shadows. Mr. Barnett tells Johnny that his son has suffered a nervous breakdown due to his being captured by the Zodiac two years prior when he was an FBI agent. They tortured him, and when he broke he told them all about the defenses of New York City, allowing the villains to capture the city for a brief time.

 

Suddenly, a spotlight at the top of the arena is turned on, shining directly on Blaze and Barnett. Though they can't see him, they hear Dave's voice behind the light, telling them that either Johnny helps against the Zodiac or Roxanne dies. Creating his hellfire cycle, Johnny rides straight up the stands toward the light, but when he gets to the top he finds Dave is gone. A lasso is then thrown over him, trapping his arms. On the other end of the rope, Dave begins to pull him backward, but a burst of hellfire frees the Ghost Rider. A fight between the two men breaks out, and the outmatched Barnett finds himself hoisted into the air by Blaze, who is prepared to throw him down to his death. Roxanne appears in the spotlight below, however, and begs Johnny not to hurt him now that she's safe. Blaze lets the other man down, only to find that his mind has completely snapped. Feeling sympathy for Dave, Johnny finally agrees to hunt down the Zodiac for him.

 

Back in San Francisco, a bank is attacked by a motorcycle riding Taurus, who demands to be taken to Cornelius Van Lunt's safety deposit box. The bank manager, despite being utterly confused by the fact that Van Lunt and Taurus are supposed to be the same person, tells the villain that the vault is on a time lock and that it won't open until the next morning. Touching a button his bike, Taurus blasts the door with an energy beam, completely disintegrating it. In the vault, Taurus grabs a bunch of documents that contain incriminating evidence, enough to put Van Lunt away for life. As he rides out of the bank, he is confronted by the Ghost Rider.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 13

"You've Got a Second Chance, Johnny Blaze!"

Cover Date: August 1975; On Sale Date: May 1975

Writer: Tony Isabella; Artist: George Tuska; Inker: Vince Colletta; Letterer: Irv Watanabe; Colorist: T. Vartanoff; Editor: Len Wein

Following the departure of the Phantom Eagle, the Ghost Rider is left with the mourning grandson of the Eagle's last victim. Joel sees the Ghost Rider's flaming skull, but before he can freak out Blaze transforms back into his normal body. This confuses Johnny, who's used to turning into the Ghost Rider every night, all night. He thinks back to his recent ordeals and believes that he's finally freed himself from Satan's influence and that his curse is over. Realizing that he's broke, Johnny decides to go to Hollywood to take the Stunt-Master up on his job offer.

Two days later, Blaze arrives in the Los Angeles television studio that houses the Stunt-Master TV show. He finds the Stunt-Master, who introduces him to director Coot Collier, stunt-woman Katy Milner, and the show's co-star Karen Page. Blaze is hired on the spot as the new stunt-man, but before any filming could start Karen is grabbed by the Trapster on his flying disc. The Trapster mentions that there's a million dollar bounty on Karen's head, and he means to collect.

Blaze gives chase on his motorcycle, but to his surprise he transforms into the Ghost Rider. He chases the Trapster to a studio back lot filled with prop replicas of famous landmarks, where he forces the villain to crash his flying vehicle. Trapster immediately goes on the attack against the Ghost Rider, throwing every weapon he can against the demon, while Karen recognizes the Ghost Rider as being Johnny. Blaze weathers the assault, but Trapster gets the upper hand with his gravity intensifier weapon. Johnny lets loose one last blast of hellfire, which strikes Trapster's anti-gravity disc on his chest, causing the villain to fly away uncontrollably. Blaze turns back to normal once the Trapster is gone, leading him to believe that he's now turning into Ghost Rider whenever there's danger around. Johnny frees Karen from the paste that's holding her captive, and she gives him a reward kiss for saving her.

The Supernaturals (1998) # 1

Cover Date: December 1998; On Sale Date: October 1998

Writers: Brian Pulido & Mark Andreyko; Artist: Ivan Reis; Inker: Joe Pimentel; Letterer: Comicraft; Colorist: Elizabeth Lewis & Dean White; Editors: Tim Tuhoy & Brad Gould; Editor-In-Chief (Chaos!): Brian Pulido; Editor-In-Chief (Marvel): Bob Harras; Cover Artist: Jim Balent

When two young boys, Daniel and Jericho Drumm, attempt to use voodoo to bring their mother back to life, they accidentally started the "Chaos! Event", which caused all of Earth's superhumans to disappear instantly.  Daniel Drumm also disappeared after the event, which still haunts his brother Jericho even 13 years later.  Jericho wakes up as the Halloween anniversary of the event is causing unexplained phenomena around the world, and despite his successful musical career Drumm realizes that only Doctor Strange can help him.  Meanwhile, at Stone Hinge, a young couple witness a powerful entity crossing over to Earth.

Elsewhere around the world, several young men and women, including Maria, Jack Russell, Isaac Christians, and BMX biker Johnny Blaze are watched by mysterious individuals.  Back in New York, Jericho Drumm transforms into Brother Voodoo and goes to the home of Dr. Strange, only to find it a wreck and its owner missing.  Drumm picks up the Eye of Agamatto and sees a vision of the people he will need to find in order to save the world from a repeat of the Chaos! Event.  The first of the five people is near him, a young woman named Felicia Hardy.  Meawhile, the others are all attacked by the watchers, which causes the targets to reveal their mystical natures.  Isaac Christians transforms into the hulking Gargoyle and destroys his attackers, which Christians did not want to happen.  During Blaze's X-Games competition, which Maria is also attending as a model, the creatures attack as well.  When zombie pirates attack the show, Maria transforms into Satana and Blaze becomes the Ghost Rider.  Finally, in Los Angeles, Jack Russell has become the Werewolf by Night, who is attacked by small demons that merge into a larger more powerful form.  Back in New York, Felica Hardy is sexually harassed by a co-worker, and when she tells him to "drop dead" he flies backward through the window to his death.  Brother Voodoo arrives in time to witness this, unaware that they are all being watched by the being from Stone Hinge, Jack O' Lantern.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 12

"Phantom of the Killer Skies"

Cover Date: June 1975; On Sale Date: March 1975

Writer: Tony Isabella; Artist: Frank Robbins; Inkers: Frank Giacoia & Mike Esposito; Letterer: K. Mantlo; Colorist: J. Cohen; Editor: Len Wein; Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Traveling through the Arizona desert, the Ghost Rider comes across an old man that's raving about somebody tormenting him. Johnny grabs the guy and roars off on his bike, just as a World War I biplane strafes the area with machine gun fire. Blaze manages to find cover between two rock outcroppings, but is shocked when the plane pass right through the stone. The Rider pulls the old man into a small cave, just as the sun begins to rise. With the dawn, Johnny transforms back into his normal form, and notices that the ghost plane has disappeared as well. The old man, Hermann Von Reitberger, tells Johnny that he was a German airfighter during WWI, and his greatest enemy was a mystery flyer named the Phantom Eagle. During combat, Reitberger shot down his opponent's plane, but before he died, the Phantom declared that he would stalk him as a ghost until he had his revenge. He'd been tormenting Reitberger ever since, all the way to America. Johnny offers to give the old man a lift to a nearby hanger owned by his grandson, Joel.

That evening, Joel tells Blaze that the Phantom Eagle was actually a German named Karl Kaufman who fought in the war under an alias in order to protect his parents that still lived in Germany. Moments later, the Phantom flies through the hangar, only to land on the other side of the runway. The sun sets just in time, as Johnny's transformation into the Ghost Rider is triggered. He rides out to the Eagle's plane, where the ghost tells him that Reitberger is a liar. On the night of his death, Kaufman had attempted to smuggle his parents out of the country. As they boarded the fighter plane, Reitberger saw them from the sky and mercilessly strafed them, murder both Kaufman and his parents.

Reitberger jumps in Joel's restored biplane, determined to kill the Eagle once and for all. The Eagle takes to the skies, despite the Ghost Rider's attempts to stop him. A brief firefight takes place, but eventually Reitberger's plane is shot down and crashes into the hangar, killing him instantly. With Reitberger dead, the Eagle flies away into the night, his spirit finally able to rest. Johnny looks on, thinking to himself "I hope he has bad dreams."

Ultimate Avengers 2 (2010) # 6

"Crime & Punishment, Part 6"

On Sale Date: October 2010; Cover Date: December 2010

Writer: Mark Millar; Artist: Leinil Francis Yu; Inker: Gerry Alanguilan; Letterer: VC's Cory Petit; Colorist: Dave McCaig; Assistant Editor: Sana Amanat; Editor: Mark Paniccia; Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada; Cover Artist: Leinil Francis Yu

Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider, attacks Vice-President Blackthorne, who is now also a demonically-powered Vengeance.  Blaze quickly gets the upper hand, saying that he's fantasized about killing Blackthorne for 20 years, but before he can finish the job he is shot down by Hawkeye, the Punisher, and SHIELD.  Blackthorne laughs and takes down the Avengers himself, then turns his attention toward the wounded Blaze.  He's interrupted by Tyrone Cash, who grabs him while driving the Ghost Rider's motorcycle.  Cash drives the flaming bike into a nearby gas station, causing a massive explosion.  However, the explosion does nothing to Blackthorne, who insults the unconscious Cash for thinking fire could harm a demon.  Having recovered, Blaze wraps his chains around Blackthorne and drags him into a church, which begins to sap the strength of both men, but not before Blaze beats Blackthorne into the ground.  The two men continue to fight even as they transform back into their human bodies, with Blackthorne recovering and striking Blaze with a candle-holder.  Blackthorne is then shot and killed by the newly-arrived Punisher, who also has orders to execute Blaze as well.  Johnny gets up and walks away, telling the Punisher that he won't kill him because they have too much in common, namely seeking vengeance for the murders of their loved ones.  Outside the church, Hawkeye arrives and asks Castle where the Ghost Rider is, with Frank replying that he let him go.  Castle begs Hawkeye to tell him where the control implant is inside his body so he can escape to continue his mission of punishing criminals, but Hawkeye just punches him in the face, knocking him out.

In Illinois, Mephisto and Johnny Blaze sit on a park bench, watching Roxanne Simpson play with her husband and daughter.  Mephisto states that he brought her back to life, but if Blaze ever once turns against him she will go right back in the ground.  Johnny says that he'll continue being the Ghost Rider to send souls to Hell if it means Roxanne will have a happy life.

Meanwhile, Nick Fury confronts Hawkeye with the knowledge that the Punisher escaped and the control implant had been hidden in the tooth knocked out by Hawkeye's punch. Later, in Russia, the Punisher has caught up with the "Red Hammer" and prepares to executing him, wondering about the message that was passed along to him by the Ghost Rider.  Who else but his family would tell him to keep up the good work?

Venom: Nights of Vengeance # 1

"Nights of Vengeance, Part 1: Reprisals in Blood"

Cover Date: August 1994; On Sale Date: June 1994

Writer: Howard Mackie; Artist: Ron Lim; Inker: Al Milgrom; Letterer: Ken Lopez; Colorist: Tom Smith; Editor: Danny Fingeroth; Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Ron Lim

A homeless man named Sean Knight is being chased through the back alleys of San Francisco by Michael Badilino, former NYPD and now a government agent.  When Knight is cornered, Badilino is grabbed by Venom, who has taken an oath to protect innocent people.  He knocks Badilino unconscious, Knight passes out, and he takes both men back to the underground city Venom calls home.  There, Knight regains consciousness and tells his story to Venom and a woman named Beck: Knight was a DEA agent who infiltrated a group of mercenaries called the Stalkers.  When the group discovered a wrecked alien ship they stole sets of battle armor, Knight blew his cover, and he's been on the run from them ever since.  Badilino wakes up and confirms Knight's story, saying he thinks the Stalkers may have connections to Anton Hellgate, who Badilino has been trying to find.  The conversation is interrupted by the arrival of the Stalkers, who threaten to blow up the underground city with a bomb if Knight isn't surrendered to them.  Knight goes outside to face them, but the Stalkers are then attacked by Venom, who disables the bomb.  When Venom begins to be overwhelmed by the four technologically superior mercenaries, Badilino transforms into Vengeance and joins the battle.  When the Stalkers are defeated, their armored suits cover them in circuitry, transforming them into hosts for an alien life form that goes from planet to planet looking for lifeforms to hunt.  Believing that Venom and Vengeance are worthy of being hunted, the alien-possessed Stalkers teleport away with the innocent people in the underground city, including Venom's lady friend Beck.  Knight volunteers to help the two "heroes", he knows where the Stalkers have gone.