The Champions (1975) # 16

“A World Lost!”

Cover Date: November 1977

On Sale Date: August 1977

Writer: Bill Mantlo

Artist: Bob Hall

Inker: Mike Esposito

Letterer: Denise Wohl

Colorist: Phil Rache

Editor: Archie Goodwin

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Doctor Doom has released a neuro-gas into the atmosphere that has given him control over all air-breathing beings on the planet. Seeking a challenge, he released Magneto from his control and proposed a contest. Seeking assistance, Magneto was able to free the Beast from Doom’s control in hopes that he would lead them to Charles Xavier. Instead, Beast led them to Los Angeles and the headquarters of the Champions, who are under Doom’s control and believe Beast to be a traitor for working with Magneto. During the fight Magneto hears a news report of Doom visiting the White House, causing him to depart with the Beast to confront his foe. Darkstar uses her abilities to form a sphere of darkforce that allows the Champions to follow.

In Washington D.C., Doom is being fawned over by the politicians under his mental control when the Hulk arrives, summoned by Doom and also under his power. Magneto and the Beast arrive, followed by the Champions, and a full-on battle erupts. When Doom orders the Champions to kill Magneto, Ghost Rider realizes that the Beast and Magneto have been telling the truth, and that his own supernatural powers must have cancelled out Doom’s control over him. Ghost Rider joins the fight alongside the Beast against his own teammates, eventually making his way to Doom. He blasts Doom in the face with hellfire, causing him to remove his faceplate. Doom inhales his own neuro-gas, which frees everyone else from his control. The Hulk and Magneto escape, leaving the Champions to deal with a Doctor Doom that is seemingly stuck in a loop: Doom commands, but also must obey, and cannot do both. 

Damn, Beast, show some gratitude!

THE ROADMAP

This story began in Super-Villain Team-Up (1975) # 14, which featured a cameo from the Champions on the last page as the lead-in to this issue.

Ghost Rider last appeared with the Champions in Iron Man Annual (1968) # 4.

The flashback story in Giant-Size Hulk (2006) # 1 takes place immediately after the events in this issue, with the Champions again facing off against the Hulk.

This issue reveals that Johnny Blaze does not breathe air while in his Ghost Rider form.

CHAIN REACTION

Doctor Doom takes over the world and faces off against Magneto in what amounts to a wacky but pretty fun crossover.

I didn’t bother reviewing the first chapter of this story, since Ghost Rider appears on the last page only, but the set-up is pretty simple. Doom mind controls the world via gas except for Magneto, who is trying to find allies to help him and gets saddled with the Beast and (eventually) Ghost Rider. It’s a needed spotlight for Johnny Blaze, who hasn’t received much attention in the Champions series outside of being an asshole to everyone else on the team, as he’s the one who actually saves the day. It makes a roundabout bit of sense that Ghost Rider wouldn’t breathe air, he’s a skeleton that’s on fire, and it’s a nice bit of character work that has Blaze just going along with the Champions against the Beast until he sees Doom actually giving them orders. 

For a story that seems pulled out of the early 1960s Silver Age, what with its inherently goofy “neuro-gas” plot and a contest between two megalomaniacal villains, it actually has quite a few clever touches. The best bit by far is Doom’s furious impatience with the White House officials doting on him, including the topical at the time President Jimmy Carter. The Ghost Rider bit at the end that gives the issue its twist is pretty great, too, with Doom inhaling his own gas and being unable to issue orders for himself to obey. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense if you think about it for too long but it’s an unexpectedly messy conclusion to what should be a huge dangling continuity point. So Doctor Doom’s gas is still in the atmosphere and everyone is theoretically under his control, he just can’t exert that control because he’s wracked with neuro-gas induced indecision? Brilliant.

Following John Byrne’s departure, this story (and the Super-Villain Team-Up chapter preceding it) is drawn by the returning Bob Hall, whose work looks decidedly different than it did during the Soviet arc. There’s a comparison to be made with contemporaries like George Tuska and Frank Springer in Hall’s work here, much more so than in the past. It works for the story, though, with its throwback art style to match its Silver Age charm. It does feel like a step back after the last few months of glorious Byrne art, but it’s not bad by any means.

This was a story that seems like it should have been a much bigger deal but was relegated to two titles on the verge of cancellation. That doesn’t make it any less entertaining, just more of a curio than anything else.

Ghost Rider saves the day AGAIN!