Ghost Rider (1973) # 46

"The End of a Champion!"

Cover Date: July 1980
On Sale Date: April 1980

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Don Perlin
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Denny O'Neil
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

After being beat during the first night of their competition, Johnny prepares for the second part of his stunt-cycle tournament with Flagg Fargo. The first challenge is the barrel race, which Johnny does perfectly on until the end, when he bumps one of the barrels. Fargo then goes on to win the challenge, and by the end of the second night the score has Johnny behind by over 200 points. Johnny gets riled by Fargo's constant insults and punches him. He then leaves, riding out to an all-night diner. While there, he spots one of the men responsible for the warehouse robbery he had witnessed a few nights before. He transforms into the Ghost Rider, who follows the criminal only to lose him in front of Fargo's trailer. The demon, believing that the criminal is in cahoots with Fargo, busts into the stunt rider's trailer and threatens him. The Rider leaves when Flagg professes his innocence, saying that once he gets the confession from his accomplices he shall return for vengeance.

Hours later, Johnny tries to get some sleep in preparation for the next day's competition, the last chance he has to keep his title. Unable to rest, he takes a ride on his bike, only to run across the van of the same criminals he'd pursued earlier. He transforms, and the Ghost Rider rips into the men's hideout. When he demands to know about Fargo's involvement, the men all say that the biker is honest and would never join with a bunch of crooks.

The next day, Blaze and Fargo meet for the last day of the competition. Though still 200 points behind, Johnny performs with the determination to keep his world championship. At the end of the day, the final scores are 825 to 820, in Fargo's favor. Flagg is named the new world champion stunt rider, but during the ceremony he says that what Blaze had done that day was the greatest riding he's ever seen his life. He offers the title back to Johnny, who refuses it. He says that Flagg won it fair and square, but he will be back to reclaim the title himself. Blaze retires to his room, where he despairs alone.

"Flagg Fargo the douchebag!"

THE ROADMAP
The first half of the contest between Blaze and Flagg Fargo happened in the previous issue, Ghost Rider (1973) # 45.

Johnny gets his chance for a rematch against Fargo in Ghost Rider (1973) # 58.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 46 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!


Boy, that sure is depressing...

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