Ghost Rider (1973) # 15

"Vengeance On the Ventura Freeway!"

Cover Date: December 1975

On Sale Date: September 1975

Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Bob Brown
Inker: Don Heck
Letterer: Karen Mantlo
Colorist: Michele Brand
Editor: Marv Wolfman

Cover Artist: Sal Buscema

While Johnny - as the Ghost Rider - attempts to land a dangerous stunt with Katy Milner in his arms, Karen Page is shooting at the pair with a laser gun while under the control of the Orb. One of Karen's shots hits Katy in the shoulder, while the other hits the gas tank of the Stuntmaster cycle that Blaze is riding. Johnny manages to ride the bike down a ladder, but then crashes into a clothes rack, which cushions them. When the Ghost Rider recovers, he notices that the Orb is a bit too solid to be a real ghost, and watches as the villain grabs the enthralled Karen and jumps on his bike with her. Realizing that the Orb pretended to be a ghost to get to Karen - to cash in on the million dollar bounty that's been placed on her head - Johnny blasts a wall of fire between himself and his enemy. A stunt-rider himself, the Orb easily leaps his bike over the flame-wall and blasts Blaze with his laser gun, incapacitating him long enough to make his escape. By the time he's recovered, Johnny is surrounded by the show's crew, including the Stuntmaster and director Coot Collier. Coot angrily blames Blaze for Karen's kidnapping, causing Johnny to knock him aside and pursue the Orb on his own. Jumping on his own skull-cycle, Johnny rides after his foe. When the Stuntmaster helps Collier to his feet, the director comments that he deserved the shot, and that they need to go help Blaze rescue Karen. In quick succession, the Orb, the Ghost Rider, and a car carrying the Stuntmaster and the gun-toting Collier crash through the gates of Delazny Studios and head toward the freeway.

Meanwhile, studio accountant Cosgrove is pouring through the Stuntmaster show's records for dirt on Collier. He finds that there's an employee on the show that has no records, no past employment, union record, or even a record of work time and payment. Not understanding why this person hasn't complained about not being paid, Cosgrove decides that Collier's hiding something and that he's going to find out exactly what it is.

The frantic chase between the Orb and the Ghost Rider makes its way onto the crowded Ventura Freeway, where the villain is firing his laser wildly into traffic. Johnny attempts to blast the villain with his flame, but the Orb merely laughs and tells him that he's wearing an asbestos-fibered costume as protection. However, the fire serves to break the trance placed on Karen, who begins to fight back against the villain. Despite his desire to cash in on her bounty, the Orb decides in favor of self-preservation and tosses Karen off his bike. She's barely caught by Johnny, who stops along the side of the freeway to let her off. He then again races toward the Orb, who uses his laser pistol to cause a major traffic accident on the highway. Johnny is forced to jump the wreckage, but is a sitting duck for a shot from the villain's gun. However, he sees the gun shot out of the Orb's hands, and looks back in surprise to find Coot giving him a thumbs up with his rifle in hand. The Ghost Rider rides up beside the Orb and leaps off his bike, tackling his enemy to the side of the freeway. Blaze begins to pound away at the Orb's head, shattering his helmet, and doesn't even notice that he has transformed back into his normal self now that the danger to him has passed. He continues to beat on the Orb until Karen arrives with Coot and the Stuntmaster and yells for Johnny to stop. Blaze counters that the Orb tried to kill his stepfather and will keep trying to kill him if he doesn't take him out once and for all. Johnny then turns to find his "friend" that helped him beat back Satan approaching. The "friend" tells Johnny that he will soon have an opportunity to direct his rage at those he should truly be angered at, and he should not take his frustrations out on a defeated foe. Blaze thanks the man and tells him that he's not going to waste time feeling sorry for himself, no matter how lousy he feels for what he's done.

Elsewhere, at a local hospital, Richard and Wendy Pini arrive to check in on the injured Katy Milner. The doctor tells them that Katy won't respond to any medical treatment at all, but is interrupted by a nurse coming out Milner's room. The doctor and the Pinis rush into the room and discover Katy possessed by demons who call themselves the Possessors.

The Champions (1975) # 2

"Whom the Gods Would Join..."

Cover Date: December 1975
On Sale Date: September 1975

Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Don Heck
Inker: John Tartag
Letterer: Irv Watanabe
Colorist: Phil Rache
Editor: Marv Wolfman

Cover Artist: Dave Cockrum

On the UCLA campus, six assembled heroes (Iceman, Venus, Ghost Rider, Angel, Hercules, and Black Widow) have been confronted by the Greek gods Pluto, Ares, and Hippolyta. The evil gods have come for Hercules and Venus, demanding that they are to wed Ares and Hippolyta against their wills. Hercules rushes through the portal to fight them, but Pluto easily defeats him. To save their ally, Ghost Rider and Angel are able to distract Pluto long enough for the others to pull Hercules to safety while Iceman blocks the portal with a mountain of ice.

Instead of breaking through the ice to follow the heroes, Pluto transports himself and his allies to Olympus to confer with Zeus, who has unwillingly betrayed his son, Hercules. Pluto reminds Zeus that he has forged an alliance with other Lords of Hell, and the only way to keep them from attacking Olympus is to force the two marriages. Zeus complies, unaware of Pluto's true plan: due to godly law, no husband or wife may oppose their spouse, meaning that Hercules and Venus would be unable to stop them from overthrowing Zeus.

Back on Earth, the heroes are attacked by the Huntsman, who has the power of both Zeus and Pluto. Huntsman strikes the group with his fire spear, which Ghost Rider is able to withstand. Blaze strikes Huntsman out of the sky with a blast of hellfire, while the others realize that the villain's attack has knocked both Hercules and Venus unconscious. Ghost Rider stays behind to protect the fallen heroes, while the others go out in search of the Huntsman. Using his magic staff, Huntsman calls upon a giant named Menoetius to fight the heroes, but the monster is quickly defeated by their teamwork. On the verge of defeat, Huntsman teleports Angel, Iceman, and Black Widow; while Ghost Rider sees Pluto, Ares, and Hippolyta appearing in front of him. Ghost Rider blasts all three of them with hellfire, then realizes that they were actually his friends with an illusion cast over them. Huntsman knocks Black out from behind, them teleports himself and the unconscious Hercules and Venus back to Olympus. When the other heroes recover, they all part in defeat when they realize that there's no way four mortals could track someone to Olympus.

The Champions (1975) # 1

"The World Still Needs...the Champions!"

Cover Date: October 1975
 On Sale Date: July 1975

Writers: Tony Isabella
Artist: Don Heck
Inker: Mike Esposito
Letterer: Dave Hunt
Colorist: Petra G.
Editor: Marv Wolfman

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

On the campus of UCLA, Bobby Drake and Warren Worthington III - two former X-Men named Iceman and the Angel - walk amongst the students and talk about what they could do with their lives now that they're no longer part of the X-Men. They talk briefly about their old friend Beast and his membership in the Avengers, but their discussion is cut off by a shimmering hole that opens in mid-air and the group of demonic Harpies that emerge. The Harpies attack the students, demanding them to hand over Venus, but Iceman and Angel intervene. Angel debuts a new costume that doesn't cover his face with a mask, prompting Bobby to ask about it. Warren tells him that he's tired of hiding his identity, and from this moment on the Angel is going public.

In a nearby building, the Black Widow and her partner Ivan wait for a job interview, hoping to be hired on by the college to teach Russian to the students. Without warning, another hole in space opens, and a group of Amazons come through also demanding the whereabouts of Venus. Ivan tries to fight the women but is knocked unconscious, leaving the Widow to fight alone. A moment later, Dr. Victoria Starr arrives at the room to interview the Widow, and the Amazons finger her as Venus. The Widow rescues Starr and the two escape out a window, with the Amazons in hot pursuit.

Elsewhere on campus, Johnny Blaze - the Ghost Rider - rides to pick up a package for a friend when he is suddenly attacked by Cerberus, the guardian of Hades. His power triggered by danger, Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider and attacks Cerebus, causing the demon to retaliate by transforming into a giant dog. Blaze turns and flees with Cerebus chasing behind. Also on campus, preparing to give a lecture on mythology, the legendary Hercules is attacked by an army of mutates that have sworn to conquer him. The battle quickly takes Hercules and his enemies outside, where he is seen by the Ghost Rider. Blaze rides up to Hercules and offers him a ride so they can talk about what's going on. They quickly approach Iceman, Angel, the Black Widow, and Dr. Starr, who are being chased by the Amazons and Harpies. The assembled heroes change opponents: Hercules bests Cerebus, the Ghost Rider causes the Harpies to flee from his hellfire, and Iceman traps the Amazons in blocks of ice. The mutates are defeated by Dr. Starr, who reveals her true form of Venus, goddess of love. Hercules, Venus, and the other heroes talk briefly about the confusion of the attacks, but are suddenly struck by a powerful, unseen force that drives them to the ground. Hercules and Venus are the first to recover, and the heroes are approached by three godly figures: Pluto, Ares, and Hippolyta. Pluto tells them that he is a messenger for Zeus: Hercules shall marry Hippolyta while Venus is to marry Ares. Should either of them refuse, the universe shall die!

Ghost Rider (1973) # 14

"A Specter Stalks the Soundstage!"

Cover Date: October 1975

On Sale Date: July 1975

Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: George Tuska
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Phil Rache
Editor: Marv Wolfman

Cover Artist: Ron Wilson

On the Hollywood soundstage for the Stuntmaster television show, Johnny Blaze prepares for his first on-the-job stunt, dressed in a copy of the Stuntmaster's costume. Johnny starts his motorcycle and begins the stunt, but is interrupted when a man rushes in front of him and commands him to stop. Johnny wrecks the bike while avoiding the man, and recovers in time to see the director, Coot Collier, arguing with the newcomer. The man, whose name is Cosgrove, is there for the studio and tells Collier that he can't continue with the stunt because Blaze isn't a member of the stuntmen's union. Johnny tries to attack the accountant, but is stopped by the Stuntmaster. The two bikers walk away just as a tour group passes by...but no one notices the ghostly image of the deceased Orb floating above the tour guide. The guide and the group then attack Johnny, who undergoes his transformation into the Ghost Rider due to the amount of danger. He rings himself and the injured Stuntmaster in a ring of hellfire to keep the crowd back, but he then sees the giant ghostly Orb hovering over the people. The Orb tells Blaze that he's come back from the grave to exact his revenge on the Ghost Rider, and he then orders the people under his mental command to walk through the wall of fire. Before they reach it, however, a blast of water drenches the crowd and awakens them from their spell. The Orb fades away and Johnny returns to normal, while Karen page and her stand-in, Katy Milner, approach with two firehoses. Karen rushes to Johnny's side and acts concerned about him, but then gives him the cold shoulder and walks away. Confused, Johnny talks with Katy, who tells him that in return for running an errand for her she will tell him about Karen's past.

A little while later, Katy and Blaze meet and she asks him to pick up a package from her brother at the UCLA Medical Center. Johnny agrees, and the two go on a motorcycle tour of the studio. Katy tells Johnny that Karen's had her heart broken by a string of men - including the lawyer Matt Murdock - and that she's afraid to let anyone else get that close again. Johnny then mentions that he'll need to find a new place to stay, since he had been crashing in Karen's guest-room. Katy tells him that two of her friends who work for the studio have a beach house with a spare room that Johnny could possibly rent. Katy takes Johnny to meet her friends, Richard and Wendy Pini, on a back lot of the studio, but their meeting is interrupted by another thrall of the Orb, who attacks them with a forklift. While the other three people scatter, Johnny transforms into the Ghost Rider and returns to his cycle, riding circles around the forklift. He's surprised by a laser attack from the Orb's ghost, which puzzles Blaze. The Ghost Rider jumps over the forklift and blasts it with his hellfire, destroying the vehicle and knocking the driver unconscious. The Orb fades away while Johnny returns to human form, just as Wendy, Richard, and Katy make their way back to him. Johnny then asks for directions to UCLA so he can run Katy's errand before they start shooting their next scene.

When he arrives at UCLA, Johnny first encounters the rest of the superheroes that will join together with him as the Champions. After their first adventure, Johnny has returned to Delazny Studios, in despair over the Champions' failure in the mission. During one of his stunts, Johnny catches the falling Katy, but then feels himself transforming into the Ghost Rider. While riding through the air, he looks to his side and sees the Orb appearing above Karen page, who is being ordered by the villain to shoot Blaze with the gun in her hand.

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.

Marvel Spotlight (1972) # 22

"Journey Into Himself!"

Cover Date: June 1975

On Sale Date: March 1975

Writer: Steve Gerber
Artist: Sal Buscema
Inker: Bob McLeod
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Phil Rache
Editor: Len Wein

Cover Artist: Sal Buscema

Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, has fallen into a comatose state, while his astral body is trapped in a nightmare caused by the witch Madame Swabada.  Hellstrom is led through various dream encounters with his childhood and forced to fight old enemies.  One stop on his dream journey is the gravesite of his mother, Victoria Hellstrom, from which rises Linda Littletrees, the former Witch Woman saved from Satan's servitude by Hellstrom.  He continues on his dream journey, falling through a hole in the earth only to land on the back of Johnny Blaze's motorcycle.  The Ghost Rider is riding down a ribbon of highway floating in space, and he tells Daimon the "good news" that he is now free from Satan's control as well.  The astral project of Blaze tells Daimon that some part of Hellstrom is hiding Swabada's presence inside his own mind, which urges Daimon to confront the witch inside a dream church.  At the church, Hellstrom is confronted not only by his sister, Satana, but by a physical manifestation of his own Dark Soul, freed by Swabada.  Before he can be destroyed, Hellstrom accepts the Dark Soul as part of himself and re-absorbs it, then blasts Swabada out of his consciousness, allowing him to finally wake up from his coma state.   

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."

Ghost Rider (1973) # 11

"The Desolation Run"

Cover Date: April 1975

On Sale Date: January 1975

Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Sal Buscema
Inkers: John Tartag & George Roussos
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Phil Rache
Editor: Len Wein

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

In the most desolate desert area of the United States, a cross-country motorcycle endurance race is preparing to go underway. One of the bikers is Johnny Blaze, who took the Stunt-Master's place in the race as a way to forget his most recent battle with Satan and the departure of Roxanne Simpson. Among the other racers are Terry Fairbanks and Nora Joyce, a divorced couple that were once a riding team but who are now opponents, and Douglas Forester, the man funding the race who is also a competitor. While Blaze checks his bike before the race, the race's starter - a man named Lemuel Driftwood - attempts to strike up a conversation with him. Even though Johnny really doesn't want to talk, he listens as Driftwood tells him about Forester's family dying in a plane crash, and that he sponsored the marathon as a way to forget his pain. Lemuel then says that he himself was raised in an orphanage and was sick a lot as a child - a turn of discussion that causes Blaze to brush off the conversation by saying he needs to check over his bike. Disappointed, Driftwood decides it's time to start the race and fires his pistol into the air, prompting the racers to begin. After a few quick moments, however, Lemuel makes an impulsive decision to prove that he's just as good as the bikers, hopping on a stand-by bike and joining the race himself. 

Unknown to Blaze, among the fans at the race's start lurks the disguised Inferno, who has been charged with the task of making Johnny die while committing an evil act, hence condemning his soul to Hell. Inferno resumes his demonic form as he teleports to another part of the desert, finding the pawn he plans to use to trap the Ghost Rider: none other than the incredible Hulk. Using his fear-inducing powers, Inferno causes the Hulk to be attacked by an illusionary version of the Ghost Rider. The hallucinatory Rider causes the Hulk much pain, but then just as suddenly as he appeared he disappears. The Hulk is now in a furious rage at being attacked, and he leaps off to find Blaze (whose location has been placed in the man-brute's mind by Inferno). Inferno watches the Hulk leave, sure that when the monster attacks the bikers Blaze will run to save himself...and then, after the Hulk kills Blaze, his soul will belong to Satan.

Back at the race, Blaze undergoes the transformation into the Ghost Rider, having forgotten that most of the race takes place at night. While he scrambles for an explanation, Mr. Forester tells him that his ghost tricks won't scare anybody out of the race, and John thanks himself for having the foresight to include the Ghost Rider bit into his cycle act. The six racers continue on until, suddenly, the Hulk crashes down in their path, determined to kill the Ghost Rider. Unable to stop in time, Forester jumps off his bike, allowing it to crash into the Hulk. Annoyed by the crash, the Hulk prepares to kill Forester...but, to the surprise of all, Lemuel Driftwood rides to the rescue, barely pulling Forester away in time before the Hulk strikes. Blaze attempts to lure the Hulk away, but finds that his hellfire does little to harm the rampaging monster. The Hulk attacks, knocking Blaze from his bike, but before the advantage can be pressed, Fairbanks and Joyce manage to distract the goliath while Forester and Driftwood help Blze to his feet. Having regained his senses, Blaze blankets the Hulk with hellfire, burning up all of the oxygen around his head. Eventually, the Hulk passes out due to lack of oxygen and falls to the ground defeated. The bikers celebrate momentarily before Blaze recommends that they leave the area before the Hulk wakes up. Later, after the weary bikers make it to the finish line, the one racer that continued on during the Hulk's attack (and subsequently won the race), asks Blaze why he helped a bunch of losers instead of winning the prize money. Johnny looks back at the four people who helped him and tells the other man that he's got it wrong, "there isn't a loser in the pack".

Marvel Two-In-One (1973) # 8

"Silent Night...Deadly Night!"

Cover Date: March 1975

On Sale Date: December 1974
 

Writer: Steve Gerber
Artist: Sal Buscema
Inker: Mike Esposito
Letterer: Charlotte Jetter
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Len Wein

Cover Artist: Ron Wilson

On Christmas Eve, Johnny Blaze is riding through the Arizona desert. When three mysterious men on camels appear in the road in front of him, Blaze swerves and wrecks his bike. The men check on him, unshaken by his flaming skull, and they tell Johnny that they are three kings following a star toward a child of prophecy. Understandably confused by what's happening, Blaze rides ahead of the kings in order to find answers.

Meanwhile, in New York City, the Fantastic Four are celebrating the Christmas holiday - all except for Reed Richards, who is too busy studying the new star that's appeared in the sky despite the advice of Ben Grimm, the Thing. Back in Arizona, Ghost Rider arrives at a city that appears to be from biblical times, only all the residents are Native Americans. While investigating the town, Blaze finds the stable, within which is an Indian couple and their baby in a manger. Then, Blaze is startled by a shadowed figure who forbids him to enter the stable. The unknown man claims to be the child's creator, and he sweeps Johnny and his motorcycle into a tornado, which carries him back to the hills outside the city.

At the Baxter Building, Richards has discovered that the new star is pointing toward the Indian reservation of their friend, Wyatt Wingfoot. Reed is preparing to go investigate, but Grimm offers to go in his place so Richards can spend the holiday with his family. The Thing takes off in the Fantastic Four's Pogo Plane, and within an hour he has arrived at the reservation where he's met by Ghost Rider, who fills Grimm in on what he's seen. They see the three wise men approaching on their camels, and Blaze stops them with a ring of hellfire and demands their help. Later, Ghost Rider and the Thing sneak into the town, disguised as two of the three wise men. There they find an old enemy of the Fantastic Four, the Miracle Man, who transforms the stable animals into beasts to restrain the heroes. The Miracle Man explains that he had been imprisoned by the Indian mystics the Cheemuzwa, but he managed to escape and steal their power. In order to attain godhood, he transformed the Cheemuzwa and the reservation into a replica of Jerusalem, where he has created a new immaculate messiah.

Suddenly, though, the Miracle Man's powers fade away when he attempts to kill Ghost Rider. The Thing frees himself and attacks, but Miracle Man's powers work just fine against Grimm. Miracle Man sets fire to the city, hoping to destroy it and the heroes, before fleeing to the hills. Blaze tells the Thing to go after the villain while he rescues the spellbound Indians. The Thing catches up to his foe, and after a brief fight he manages to knock the Miracle Man unconscious. At that moment, the villain's spell fades; the town and its residents return to their normal state. The freed Cheemuzwa appear and take Miracle Man away with them, but the "messiah" child remains at the reservation to be cared for by the Native Americans. Ghost Rider and the Thing say their goodbyes, but while he drives away Johnny tries to figure out why the Miracle Man's powers wouldn't work on him.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 10

"Ghost Rider"

Cover Date: February 1975

On Sale Date: November 1975

Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Mike Ploog
Letterer: Jon Costa
Editor: Len Wein

Cover Artist: Ron Wilson

Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider, rides through the streets of New York City and accidentally witnesses two men killing another. Wanting no part of what's happened, he rides on, but is then chased by the killers. Upon trapping him in an ally, the men are shocked to see Blaze's flaming skull. The Ghost Rider points his finger, causing flame to erupt on the ground. The men make a run for it, and Blaze rides back to Madison Square Garden, where he transforms back into his human form. He thinks back to try and remember what happened, hoping to find some answers in the past.

Johnny's father, Barton Blaze, died in a motorcycle accident when his son was very young. Johnny was then adopted by Crash Simpson, another stunt rider that ran his own cycle show with his wife Mona and daughter Roxanne. Johnny grew into adolescence, and had followed his step-father's footsteps by taking up cycle riding. When he was fifteen, his motorcycle caught fire during a practice session. Though he attempted to save his family, Mona Simpson is killed in the bike's explosion. Before she dies, she makes Johnny promise her that he'll never ride in the show due to the danger, which he agrees to. Five years later, Johnny is discovered riding in secret by Roxanne, who tells him that she is in love with him. Later on, Crash tells the two that he has cancer, and that the show's performance at Madison Square Garden will be his last, if he lives to even see that.

Determined to keep his step-father from dying, Johnny researches some occult books, finally using them to summon Satan. In exchange for Johnny's soul, the Devil will spare Crash Simpson from the cancer that's killing him. Three weeks later, Crash tells Johnny that he plans to try and break the world's cycle jump record at the Garden. Johnny knows he'll be fine, due to the deal he made with Satan. When Crash attempts to jump it, he doesn't make it, and dies in the resulting accident. Furious at what happened, Blaze suits up, mounts a bike, and does the same stunt...and makes it, breaking the world record. That night, Satan returns to claim Johnny's soul, claiming that he only said he'd spare Crash from the disease and nothing else. As the Devil prepares to take Johnny to Hell, Roxanne enters and banishes the demon with the pure essence of her soul. She tells Johnny that she read his books behind his back, and learned how to send the devil away. The next night, however, Johnny begins to burn with fever, until his head suddenly transforms into a flaming skull. Every night since, he has undergone the transformation into...the Ghost Rider!

Ghost Rider (1973) # 9

"The Hell-Bound Hero!"

Cover Date: December 1974

On Sale Date: September 1974

Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Jim Mooney
Inker: Sal Trapani
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Jan Brunner
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: Rich Buckler
 

Stuck between Satan's servant Inferno and the fear-controlled populace of San Francisco, the Ghost Rider faces the greatest crisis of his short existence. As he valiantly attempts to escape the panicked horde of innocent bystanders caught in Inferno's power, Blaze is unaware of Roxanne Simpson's situation. Brought to Hell by Satan, Roxanne is shown images of her father, Crash Simpson, trapped in the endless torments of Hell. Satan tells her that if she does not renounce her protection of Blaze, then her father will continue to suffer at his hands. Torn between her father and the man she loves, Roxanne breaks into tears and agrees to the demon's demand, renouncing her protection over the Ghost Rider. Immediately after, Satan reveals that he has tricked the young woman - he has never had a claim on Crash Simpson's soul, the man they have beheld since was nothing more than an illusion - and that her foolishness has delivered Blaze to him on a silver platter.

At that exact moment, back on Earth, Johnny suddenly finds that his Ghost Rider powers are gone, including his hellfire bike. At the mercy of Inferno, Johnny attempts to run, but is cut-off by the giant form of Satan himself, clutching Roxanne in his hand. Inferno approaches from behind, grabbing Blaze in a bear-hug. Johnny manages to free himself, immediately taking the initiative and beating Inferno into unconsciousness. Weakened from the fight, Satan strikes, leaving Blaze powerless before him. Before he can apply the deathblow, however, Satan is stopped by a bearded man that emerges from the crowd. The man's presence forces Satan to back away, as the stranger states that Johnny has earned the right to retain his soul. Satan vanishes, enraged that he no longer has claim to Blaze's soul. Johnny questions the man on his identity, to which the stranger replies "I am..a friend.", before disappearing as well.

Several days later, Johnny and Roxanne exchange words on what has happened between them. Upset that her naiveté almost allowed Satan to claim her lover's soul, Roxanne leaves Johnny in order to grow up a little. Meanwhile, in Hell, Satan forms a new plan to get revenge on the Ghost Rider. He transforms Inferno into a human, telling him that he is to tempt Blaze into committing evil and then kill him immediately. If Johnny dies with evil in his soul, then he shall be owned by Satan forever.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 8

"Satan Himself!"

Cover Date: October 1974

On Sale Date: July 1974

Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Jim Mooney
Inker: Sal Trapani
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Phil Rache
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

After his defeat of Aquarius, Satan himself appears before Johnny Blaze, declaring that he is tired of the stunt rider constantly defying his power. The Ghost Rider attempts to flee, but Satan blasts him to the ground with hellfire. Though he cannot claim Johnny's soul, the demon states that will make his life os painful that he will give it over of his own free will. Crumbling before the Hell-Lord's onslaught, Johnny calls out Roxanne's name. Satan gets even more angry, as the mere thought of someone pure in heart is painful to him. Satan then turns the tables, saying that while Roxanne protects Johnny, there is nothing to protect her . Blaze attempts to fight the devil, but Satan merely fades away, telling Johnny that everything he is stems from Hell itself. Moments later, dawn breaks, transforming Johnny back into his normal self. He rides away, eventually coming to the hospital that houses the injured Stuntmaster, who offers him a job as a stuntman on his television show. Johnny declines, due to his commitment to the cycle show. At that moment, Roxanne comes into the room, wrapping her arms around Blaze, telling him how worried she was about him. Johnny begins to complain about how the cycle show is on it's last leg, and the Stuntmaster tells him about a cycle race coming up that's got a huge cash prize. Before she can hear anymore, however, Roxanne is given a vision of her father burning in a lake of fire. Nearly fainting at the gruesome sight, Johnny asks her why she screamed, but Roxanne lies and says it was nothing. Meanwhile, in Hell, Satan watches the scene and comments that the vision he gave the girl resulted in more than he hoped, having caused her to tell a "little white lie".

That evening, on a bridge overlooking San Francisco, Johnny and Roxanne have a long discussion about their lives. As the sun sets, however, Blaze once again falls victim to his curse, transforming into the Ghost Rider. Immediately after, a ghostly image of Crash Simpson appears, causing Roxanne to run toward it despite Johnny's warnings. Realizing too late that it's a trick of Satan's, the vision vanishes in a burst of light, taking Roxanne with it. Not sure what to do, Blaze decides to try and contact Daimon Hellstrom - the Son of Satan - for assistance.

In Hell, Roxanne appears before Satan, who tells her that he has no desire to harm her. He opens a door, revealing Crash Simpson, who is trapped in a never-ending loop of reliving the death of his wife, Mona - his own personal Hell. Roxanne faints after seeing this, forcing Satan to call forth the demon Slifer. Giving him one more chance to defeat the Ghost Rider, Satan transforms him and sends him to Earth, where as the newly-christened Inferno he appears before Blaze. Johnny avoids the demon's mystical bolts, but fails when he tries to turn the battle into a physical one. Inferno bats the Rider away, and then a wave of power begins to emit from the demon - energy of pure fear, driving the onlooking citizens to take up arms and destroy the thing they fear, namely the Ghost Rider. Johnny gets back on his hellfire-cycle and attempts to ride away, but finds himself completely boxed in by the insane crowd.

Back in Hell, Roxanne confronts Satan with the knowledge that the mysterious Messenger took her father to safety from the demon realm. Satan merely laughs at this, revealing that the Messenger was in fact him . Roxanne refuses to believe this, but Satan tells her that there is only one way he will relinquish his hold on Crash's soul. Roxanne must renounce her protection of the Ghost Rider, for while he could still fight his way free of Satan's grasp, her father could not.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 7

"...And Lose His Own Soul!"

Cover Date: August 1974

On Sale Date: May 1974

Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Jim Mooney
Inker: Jack Abel
Letterer: A. Kupperberg
Colorist: Phil Rache
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: John Romita

As the Zodiac member Taurus roars out of the bank he's just robbed on his motorcycle, he is confronted by the Ghost Rider. Surprisingly, Taurus knows about Johnny, saying the two have much in common. The Zodiac leader roars off down the street, with Blaze in hot pursuit behind him. As Taurus rides off, he thinks to himself about how the documents he stole from the bank will make certain that Cornelius Van Lunt, the original Taurus, will spend the rest of his life in prison.

During his escape, Taurus rides past an autograph signing that's being held by the Stuntmaster, a former villain that had reformed with the help of Daredevil. Now a television star, the Stuntmaster decides that if he helps the Ghost Rider, maybe it will give him an opportunity to repay some of the good that had been done to him in the past by heroes. Still pursuing Taurus, Blaze thinks back to the original Zodiac, who were all defeated and captured by the Avengers weeks prior. Before he can think about the mystery more, the Stuntmaster rides up beside him and offers his assistance. Johnny reluctantly accepts the help, and the two proceed to knock Taurus off his bike. To the two heroes' astonishment, however, Taurus changes before their eyes into yet another member of the Zodiac, Scorpio, who uses his Zodiac Key weapon to knock the two unconscious.

When the two heroes awaken, they are chained to posts in a waterfront warehouse, the Zodiac member named Aquarius standing before them. With Aquarius is the demon Slifer, who served the monster Roulette before the Ghost Rider killed him. Aquarius tells the two heroes his story, about how Cornelius Van Lunt betrayed his fellow Zodiac members by getting himself cleared of his criminal charges and leaving his teammates to a life behind bars. As a result of Van Lunt's betrayal, Aquarius contracted a rare lung condition, giving him one year to live. Swearing vengeance on Van Lunt, Aquarius' shouts were heard by Slifer, who offered him a deal. For one year, Aquarius would possess the powers of the combined Zodiac, in order to gain vengeance, but at the end of that year he would forfeit his soul to Hell. Having already used the powers of five Zodiac members, Aquarius says that his vengeance on Van Lunt is almost finished.

At the end of the story, Blaze uses his hellfire to burn through the Stuntmaster's chains, allowing him to break free. Aquarius transforms into Cancer, who crushes Stuntmaster's ribs with his claws. When the Ghost Rider rushes forward, the Zodiac member transforms into Capricorn, who uses the unconscious Stuntmaster as a projectile. After checking on the injured Stuntmaster, Johnny races out of the warehouse, but doesn't spot Aquarius anywhere. He asks a young woman if she's seen anybody, but the woman tells him to get lost. Blaze jumps on the Stuntmaster's bike, but before he can ride off he realizes that one of the Zodiac members was a woman. Transforming from Virgo, the woman, into Aries, the villain uses his horns to batter the Ghost Rider senseless. When Aries attempts to run, Johnny tackles him off the pier and into the water. Instantly, Aries transforms into Pisces, a fish-man, but Blaze turns the tables on him by super-heating the water into a furnace with his hellfire. The two make their way back onto the dock, with Aquarius again assuming his true form. However, Slifer appears, saying that Aquarius' time has come and that he owes his soul. Aquarius argues he made the deal only a few weeks ago, not a full year, to which Slifer replies that the villain has assumed the form of each Zodiac member once, making a Zodiacal year. Despite Aquarius' protests, Slifer touches him and the two disappear, leaving Johnny to ask "what next?"...the answer to which coming in the form of a towering Satan before him.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 6

"Zodiac II"

Cover Date: June 1974

On Sale Date: March 1974

Writers: Gary Friedrich & Tony Isabella
Artist: Jim Mooney
Inker: Sal Trapani
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Phil Rache
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: John Romita

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 a mysterious gunman takes aim and shoots at his bike, causing him to wreck. Emerging from the crash unhamrmed, 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 emplores 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 himelf 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) # 5

"And Vegas Writhes In Flame!"

Cover Date: April 1974

On Sale Date: January 1974

Writers: Marv Wolfman & Doug Moench
Artist: Jim Mooney
Inker: Sal Trapani
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: P. Goldberg
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Roxanne Simpson is held at gunpoint by crooked stock-car promoter Dude Jensen, who had caught her eavesdropping on his plan to assassinate one of his drivers. Before he can shoot her, Jensen's lackey Slifer bursts into the trailer and tells him not to fire, because the area is swarming with police. Jensen laughs, and is then consumed by hellfire, transforming him into the demonic Roulette. He then transforms Slifer into his demonic form and sets the trailer on fire with a point of his finger. The two then teleport away, leaving Roxanne to burn to death in the trailer.

Elsewhere in Las Vegas, the Ghost Rider rides through the city in search of Rocky, but is surprised by the appearance of Roulette in the sky above him. The demon pelts Blaze with blasts of hellfire, but during his bid for escape, Johnny sees a vision of Roxanne trapped in the burning room. Roulette appears again, telling Johnny that he has to make a choice: save Roxanne, or stop him from burning down Vegas. Though he struggles with the choice momentarily, the derogatory remarks thrown out by the Vegas citizens quickly makes his choice for him. Blaze races off to rescue Roxanne, leaving Roulette to begin his assault on the city. The demon sets a large casino on fire, destroying it and killing many of the people inside. Johnny, meanwhile, makes it to the burning trailer and rides right through the wall, scooping up Rocky before plowing through the opposite wall and to safety. Before she can say anything, Johnny sets her down and races back into the city, determined to save it whether it deserves it or not.

Meanwhile, a group of casino owners talk about a note they each received, which says all of them will die and their casinos will be destroyed, signed by Roulette. They realize that Roulette and Dude Jensen are one and the same, recalling how the race promoter had lost twenty thousand dollars at one of the casinos. When he couldn't pay back what he'd lost, they took him into the desert and shot him, leaving his body dumped in a quarry. The Ghost Rider, elsewhere in the city, is then attacked again by Roulette, daring the biker to follow his trail. Blaze tracks the demon down to the desert, where he finds a huge castle floating on a platform of hellfire. Johnny jumps through the castle's doors, quickly finding Roulette in his throne room. Jensen tells his story to Blaze, revealing that after his body was dumped in the quarry he was brought back to life by none-other than Satan himself. He made a deal with the demon-lord, his return to life in exchange for destroying the Ghost Rider. Roulette then downs Johnny with a hellfire blast, then calls upon Satan for the power to destroy their enemy for all eternity. Satan appears and grants Jensen's request, pouring more power into his body. Johnny sees his opportunity, blasting Roulette with his own hellfire, essentially overloading the demon's body. Jensen explodes, leaving only a tattered robe and the victorious Ghost Rider.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 4

"Death Stalks the Demolition Derby"

Cover Date: February 1974

On Sale Date: November 1973

Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Jim Mooney
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: P. Goldberg
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: John Romita

On a deserted stretch of Nevada highway, the Ghost Rider is pursued by a fleet of police officers. Thinking he can lose the patrol cars, Johnny takes his hell-cycle off road, into the desert, but the police are one step ahead of him as they follow in a modified dune buggy. Riding onto a dead end at the top of a plateau, Blaze is forced to give himself up when the sun rises and he returns to his injured, human form. Meanwhile in Carson City, the Attorney General of the state talks to the sheriff that captured Blaze, telling him to make sure he gets the best of care. Roxanne Simpson is in the office with the A.G., and he offers to pardon Johnny for his crimes, as long as he accepts the deal he's laid out. Roxanne tells him that they'll do anything to make sure Blaze's name is cleared.

In Vegas, the bed-ridden Johnny is physically abused by the sheriff that arrested him, but is stopped by the famous stock car promoter, Dude Jensen. Dude offers Blaze a job for when he regains his help, promising to take care of his troubles with the law. The next day, Roxanne visits Johnny in the hospital, where he tells her that Dude Jensen got the charges against him dropped, and that he's going to go to work for him once he's better. Though she says nothing, Roxanne thinks to herself that Jensen is the man the Attorney General is after, but decides to remain silent until she talks to the A.G. first. As the two lovers talk, however, a jealous Linda Littletrees watches from the hallway, wishing she had Blaze for herself.

Two months later, a recovered Blaze is set to debut as the star of the Dude Jensen Demolition Derby in Las Vegas. Roxanne talks with the Attorney General, who tells her that they can't do anything against Jensen until they have evidence. Roxanne goes to Johnny's dressing room, where she finds him talking closely with Linda. Roxanne storms out, slapping Johnny for his effort. Linda then tries to move in, but Johnny tells her to get lost. As she leaves, he notices the sun setting, and undergoes the painful transformation into the Ghost Rider. Blaze creates his hellcycle and rides into the arena, joining the cars, and the demolition derby immediately begins.

Meanwhile, outside, a distraught Roxanne overhears Jensen telling a lackey to shoot the driver Red Thompson, due to the fact that Thompson is an independent driver that's costing his show a fortune. Before she can get to a phone to tell the Attorney General what she's learned, Roxanne is caught by the lackey. Back in the arena, Johnny has managed to survive the derby, but he soon finds himself in the sights of a car that's prepared to run him over. Before the car can hit him, however, Jensen's lackey fires a bullet into the driver's brain, causing him to swerve away and crash. The Ghost Rider chases down the sniper, and promptly fries him with hellfire. In his trailer, however, Jensen has Roxanne tied to a chair. She tells him that she's working for the Attorney General, to which Jensen replies by shoving a pistol in her face.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 3

"Wheels On Fire"

Cover Date: December 1973

On Sale Date: September 1973

Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Jim Mooney
Inker: John Tartag
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: John Romita

Following their rescue from Satan, the Ghost Rider and the unconscious Witch Woman are dropped off in the desert by Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan. Johnny protests that Hellstrom is leaving them to die a hundred miles from civilization, but the Son of Satan leaves them stranded regardless. Linda Littletrees awakens, her soul now free from Satan's influence, and Blaze tells her that they're stranded in the desert. Linda attempts to use her powers to save them, but finds them gone now that her soul has been freed. Johnny tells her that he'll die once the sun comes up, due to the injuries he endured in his human form. Linda tells him that he still has his powers, and with her help he can learn to harness them. Under Linda's guidance, Johnny concentrates and creates a flaming motorcycle from a stream of hellfire. Linda tells him that he must hurry, for the cycle will only exist until he reverts back to Blaze's form, and that she can't ride the bike because she no longer has her Satanic powers - to her, the bike wouldn't exist. So Blaze rides off into the desert, promising to make it to a town and find help for her.

Johnny rides for hours through the desert, desperately looking for signs of civilization. Finally he sees a freeway, with a city just beyond, and he increases his speed to reach it in time. As Blaze rides onto the freeway, however, dawn rises behind him - triggering his transformation back into his injured normal body. As he transforms, the hellfire cycle disappears beneath him, causing him to tumble viciously onto the highway, causing a massive wreck of cars in his wake. As police approach the scene of the accident, Johnny lays unconscious on the concrete. A few miles distant, Roxanne Simpson runs for her life after she, too, had been abandoned in the desert. She sees a light coming down the road, and her heart jumps with hope that she's been rescued - but instead she finds Big Daddy Dawson, her pursuer, bearing down on her. Roxanne attempts to run again, but her legs are caught by Dawson's chain. He captures her again and takes her back to his hideout.

The next evening, Johnny awakens from a nightmare and finds himself in a hospital, watched over by doctors and the police. Dawson reads about Johnny's hospitalization in the newspaper and decides to ransom off the kidnapped Roxanne to him. As night falls, Johnny finds himself transforming once again into the Ghost Rider, and he easily escapes the hospital. He leaves the entrance to the building just as Dawson pulls up with Roxanne, catching the biker by surprise. When Dawson realizes that his bullets are ineffectual against the demonic Ghost Rider, he leaves Roxanne behind and flees on his motorcycle. Blaze again creates his flaming cycle and takes chase, following Dawson onto a crowded highway. Johnny blasts Dawson with hellfire, but accidentally sends his enemy crashing into a truck, killing Dawson and causing another massive wreck that injures countless innocent drivers. In shock, Johnny hears the approaching police sirens and decides to run - to where, he doesn't know.

Marvel Team-Up (1972) # 15

"If An Eye Offend Thee..."

Cover Date : November 1973

On Sale Date: August 1973

Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Ross Andru
Inker: Don Perlin
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

At Madison Square Garden in New York City, Peter Parker (also known as the amazing Spider-Man) and Mary Jane Watson attend a show called "The Ghost Rider's Motorcycle Extravaganza." The show begins just as the couple take their seats, and Johnny Blaze, the flaming skulled Ghost Rider, roars into the open floor on his motorcycle, causing the crowd to go wild with excitement. The cyclist performs an amazing stunt with four other riders, one of which is Roxanne Simpson, Blaze's girlfriend and the daughter of Crash Simpson, former owner of the cycle show. Suddenly, a group of bikers bust into the arena and ride past the security guards. The leader of the group has a helmet shaped like a giant eyeball and calls himself the Orb. The gang rides in circles around the arena, the Orb's eye hypnotizing the crowd. Only Parker evades being mesmerized, his spider-sense warning him to look away at the last moment. Peter shoots his web onto the rafters, where he climbs up and changes into his Spider-Man costume. On the arena floor, the Orb grabs Roxanne by the waist and rides off with her, leaving the Ghost Rider to be dealt with by his men. Spider-Man swings down and assists in defeating a few of the gang, but their pursuit of the Orb is stopped when he commands the hypnotized crowd to form a barrier between him and the heroes. The mesmerized crowd then deliver Blaze a message in one unified voice, saying that the Orb will return Roxanne to him in exchange for ownership of the cycle show.

Meanwhile, the Orb and his gang arrive at his lair, where he awakens the hypnotized Roxanne. he tells her that his name is Drake Shannon, and that he used to be her father's partner in starting the cycle show. Shannon was a reckless person, and when he realized he couldn't get along with Crash, he challenged him to a cross-country race, the winner of which would get sole ownership of the show. During the race, Shannon attempted to run his former partner off the road, but instead caused himself to wreck, his cycle flipping at 95 miles an hour, throwing him into a skid across the tarmac for more than 25 yards...on his face. He's wanted nothing but revenge ever since, and he was approached by an organization called "They", who gave him his hypnotic helmet. He then removes the helmet and shows Roxanne his hideously disfigured face. Blaze then enters the lair with the ownership papers to the cycle show, demanding that he and Roxanne be allowed to leave. The Orb instead commands his men to open fire on the two, but the gang is stopped by the entrance of Spider-Man. The Orb jumps on his cycle and again kidnaps Roxanne, forcing the Ghost Rider and Spider-Man to jump on cycles of their own and give chase. The chase leads them out of the lair, which is the power room to an abandoned subway rail, and into Grand Central Station. Spider-Man shoots a strand of web that grabs hold of Roxanne, freeing the girl from the Orb's grasp. With Spidey making sure the girl is safe, Blaze chases the Orb back onto the subway rails, but the villain fails to see an oncoming train. The subway train crushes the villain, and Blaze narrowly avoids the same fate by grabbing onto a railing attached to the ceiling. He then returns to the platform, the ownership papers in his hand. He sets the papers afire with his hellfire, saying that he's almost glad the Orb didn't live long enough to find that the papers were worthless forgeries. Blaze and Roxanne then part company with Spider-Man, saying that perhaps they will meet again.

Marvel Spotlight (1972) # 12

"The Son of Satan!"

Cover Date: October 1973

On Sale Date: July 1973

Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Frank Chiaremonte
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: John Severin
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: Herb Trimpe
 

Locked in a cabin at the Indian reservation, a manic Daimon Hellstrom pounds on the door to his prison, promising that he can save the life of Linda Littletrees. Despite the fact that Hellstrom had told them not to release him until morning, no matter how much he pleaded, Sam Silvercloud and Snake Dance open the door and free the man, only to Daimon transformed into the Son of Satan! Garbed in a red cape, golden trident in hand and a pentagram tattooed on his chest, the demon spawn tells the Indians that while by day he is the meek Hellstrom, by night he becomes his father's son, whose elemental trident can produce blasts of searing hellfire. Hellstrom demands to know Linda's whereabouts, sure that she has been possessed by his father. When the two men refuse to tell him, the Son of Satan raises his trident in the air, causing a ferocious thunderstorm. From the clouds, a mystical chariot descends, drawn by two demonic horses. Daimon jumps aboard the chariot and leaves the Indians, determined to find Linda Littletrees.

Meanwhile, in the remote desert, Roxanne Simpson finds herself at the mercy of Big Daddy Dawson and his biker gang after the disappearance of Linda and the Ghost Rider. Before the men can injure the young girl, the Son of Satan appears, demanding to know where Linda and Blaze have gone. Hellstrom quickly defeats the bikers, causing them to run away without Dawson, whom the devil scion has blasted with his trident. Daimon then attacks Roxanne, demanding to know where his father has gone. She tells him that the Witch Woman disappeared with the Ghost Rider, though she doesn't know where they went. Hellstrom knows, however, and departs, abandoning Roxanne once again to the desert.

The Son of Satan makes his way to a desert plateau in the desert, in which is a cavern that doubles as a gateway to Hell itself. He descends into the netherrealm, and when he reaches his father's throne room, finds Satan and his two captives, Linda Littletrees and Johnny Blaze. Not pleased at seeing his son, Satan commands his demon hordes to destroy him, but Hellstrom fights on, destroying the demons with his power. He makes his way to a bridge high above the floor, a bridge that supports the weight of the entire roof of Hell. Daimon threatens to destroy the bridge, thus destroying Hell, unless Satan allows him, Linda, and Blaze safe passage back to Earth. Satan agrees, realizing he has no choice, and Daimon takes the two captives back to Earth. Realizing that the sun is about to come up, and with it a reversion back to his normal self, Daimon sets down his chariot in the desert and leaves Blaze and the unconscious Linda, despite the fact that the two would most likely die. Daimon flies away, stating that their lives are of little consequence to him.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 2

"Shake Hands With Satan!"

Cover Date: October 1973

On Sale Date: July 1973

Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Jim Mooney
Inker: Syd Shores
Letterer: C. Jetter
Colorist: L. Lessmann
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Still on the road after fleeing from Copperhead Canyon, Johnny keeps experiencing visions of Slade's fiery crash. Roxanne attempts to help him, but Blaze instead loses all hope in their situation. Stopping the truck, Johnny gets out and screams for Satan to come claim his soul, that he's tired of running. As if on command, Linda Littletrees, the Witch Woman, appears in the sky.

Back at the Apache reservation, Daimon Hellstrom has arrived to try and help Linda. Realizing that night would soon be upon them, Daimon asks Sam to bind him and lock him in a room. They are not to release him until morning, no matter how he may plead later on.

In the desert, Linda agrees to take Johnny to Satan, but also decides to take Roxanne as well. Before anything can happen, the scene is interrupted by the roar of motorcycle engines. A biker gang, led by Big Daddy Dawson, surround the three. Linda snaps her fingers and teleports herself and Johnny away, leaving Roxanne in the hands of Dawson.

At the reservation, a hysterical Hellstrom demands that they unlock his door, for if they don't then Linda shall surely die. When Sam opens the door, he sees that Daimon has changed into something horrific. Linda and Johnny, meanwhile, arrive in Hell, where the woman reveals herself to actually be Satan in disguise. His demons hold Johnny down, but the netherlord is interrupted by some unseen person before he can take Blaze's soul.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 1

"A Woman Possessed!"

Cover Date: September 1973

On Sale Date: June 1973

Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Tom Sutton
Inker: Syd Shores
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Following his encounter with Linda Littletrees, the Witch Woman, Blaze races back toward the hospital where he left Roxanne. He encounters a police barricade, which he breaks through easily. Immediately afterwards, however, one of the officers shoots him in the shoulder, causing him to wipe out on his bike.

Meanwhile, Linda has fallen into a strange coma. Her fiancé, Sam Silvercloud, and father, the man once called Snake Dance, are unable to wake her up, realizing that her soul has been stolen by Satan. Sam, unwilling to let his loved one die, dials a number out of a newspaper. The number is for an occult exorcist named Daimon Hellstrom, who agrees to fly to Arizona immediately to help Linda. Back at the hospital, Johnny's road manager, Bart Slade, tells Roxanne that he plans to make the jump over the canyon in Blaze's stead. Elsewhere, Linda is approached by Satan, who takes possession of her body and flees toward the city in search of Blaze.

Night falls, prompting the hospitalized Johnny to transform into the Ghost Rider. With his injuries surprisingly healed in his demon form, Blaze escapes from the hospital and heads for the canyon. He arrives just in time to see Slade attempt the jump, unable to do nothing but watch as his friend crashes into the canyon wall. Blaze hurriedly scoops up the fainted Roxanne, and the two escape in a pickup truck. Back at the reservation, Hellstrom arrives to help Linda.

Marvel Spotlight (1972) # 11

"Season of the Witch-Woman!"

Cover Date: August 1973

On Sale Date: May 1973

Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Tom Sutton
Inker: Syd Shores
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: Rich Buckler

In the abandoned cave ruins, Linda Littletrees, now going by the moniker of Witch Woman, holds the Ghost Rider captive. Binding him to the wall with flaming shackles, the Apache girl tells Johnny that she has been sent by Satan to collect his soul. Using her satanic powers, Linda projects her thoughts onto the cave wall, showing Blaze how she became Satan's thrall.

Less than a year before, she left her family's reservation to attend college in New York City. When she arrived, she met her roommate, a blonde girl named Jennifer Glatzer, who was a practicing devil-worshiper. Linda immediately became friends with the other girl, who eventually convinced the Indian to read some of her occult books. After about six months, Linda fell asleep on her bed while studying. While she slept, Linda crept into the room, her satanic candle lit. She opened the window and called for her master, offering Linda as a bride. When she received no sign of Satan's arrival, Jennifer assumed that he has rejected her gift. When she looked at Linda, however, she saw the pentagram emblazoned on her forehead, a sign of acceptance. Johnny interrupts Linda's story, arguing with her that she was unwillingly duped into satanic servitude. Denying his accusations, the Witch Woman conjures a gag of hellfire around Blaze's mouth, so she can continue her story without further interjections.

The night after Jennifer's secret offering, Linda decided that she would join her roommate for one of her group's rituals. The two dressed in exotic outfits and then covered up in large robes, so as not to draw attention to themselves on the way to the sabbat. Jennifer assured Linda that it's all pretend, easing her nervousness. They arrived  at a large house and descended into the crypt-like basement, where Linda was shocked to see dozens of women with flaming torches surrounding a large altar. Jennifer and the other women surrounded the frightened girl and dragged her to the altar, tying her down as they chanted. Jennifer called out for her master to appear, pulling out a large knife in the process. As the girls continued to chant louder and louder, Jennifer plunged the knife into Linda's stomach, but the girl felt nothing but the essence of Satan pouring into her.

Linda becomes wrapped up in telling her story, breaking the concentration needed to maintain the Ghost Rider's bonds. Realizing he has his chance to escape, Johnny runs from the cave and hops on his motorcycle, his escape finally snapping his enemy back to reality. She fires several bolts of hellfire at the Rider as he navigates his way down the narrow trails of the pueblo. As he makes his escape, Satan appears before Linda, claiming that she has failed in her task. Linda pleads for a second chance, which the demon begrudgingly gives her. Having made his way to the bottom of the caves, Johnny turns back to see the Witch Woman standing at the top of the pueblo. She tells him that because she has failed in her mission, she must now pay the price. Turning her blasts of hellfire back on herself, Linda lights herself afire and falls to the canyon floor. Johnny turns away, unable to watch the girl's death. He rides away just as the sun comes up, transforming him back to his normal self.

Marvel Spotlight (1972) # 10

"The Coming of...Witch-Woman!"

Cover Date: June 1973

On Sale Date: March 1973

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Tom Sutton
Inker: Jim Mooney
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Stan G.
Editor: Roy Thomas

Cover Artist: Rich Buckler

The Ghost Rider races through the Arizona desert with the comatose Roxanne Simpson in his arms, desperate to get her to a hospital before the snake venom in her system kills her. Back at the Apache reservation, Snake Dance's followers turn against him, finally realizing that he's nothing but a charlatan. Sam Silvercloud strings the old medicine man up to a tree, preparing to hang him, but the men are stopped by several rifle shots. They turn to see a young woman, Linda Littletrees, Snake Dance's daughter returned from college. Linda unties her father and convinces all the men to return to the reservation.

Meanwhile, Blaze races through the nearest city, the welfare of his girlfriend the only thing concerning him. He roars through the emergency room doors of the local hospital and demands a doctor to save Roxanne. After a little persuasion of the hellfire variety, the doctor agrees to help. After a quick examination, however, the doctor tells Johnny that she will still die, because the hospital has run out of snake bite serum. Back at the reservation, Linda is appalled that her father almost killed a girl because of superstitions. Snake Dance assures his daughter that Roxanne WILL die, because he knows the white men have no serum. He shows that he has the only vial of the serum, but accidentally allows Linda to take it from him. The young girl runs out the door and hops on her motorcycle, praying to an unseen "master" that she reaches Roxanne in time.

At the hospital, the doctor tells Blaze that the only thing they can do is a complete blood transfusion, but it would be very dangerous and she may not live through the procedure. The Ghost Rider tells the doctor to do what he must, and walks out of the hospital. Johnny rides his bike away from the motorcycle, just missing the arrival of Linda with the serum. The police catch sight of the speeding Blaze and follow in pursuit. Linda, meanwhile, gets the serum to the doctor in the nick of time, saving Roxanne's life. The doctor tells Linda the girl's name, and it rings strangely familiar to the Apache.

Johnny is chased by two motorcycle cops, which he tries to stop with a few blasts of hellfire. The cops continue their chase, until Blaze manages to trap them behind a wall of flame. The police radio in an all-points bulletin on the Ghost Rider as he rides away. Elsewhere, Linda recalls why she recognized Roxanne's name. When she was a little girl, she was rescued from being run over by a motorcycle cop named Officer Crash Simpson, who she had heard started a motorcycle show a few years later. She goes back and talks to the doctor, who tells her that Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider, was the one that brought Roxanne to the hospital. Linda, thinking it ironic that the man her master sent her to kill is involved with the daughter of the man that once saved her life, walks outside the hospital in time to see Blaze speed by, several police cars on his tail. Realizing that she must rescue Johnny from the police so she can kill him herself, Linda jumps on her bike and gives chase. She easily passes the police cars, and takes a shortcut to a set of Indian cave ruins. Johnny is surprised when a police helicopter cuts off his escape route, but then a shimmering portal opens in front of him. The next thing Johnny knows, he's standing before the costumed Linda Littletrees, who refers to herself as...the Witch Woman!

Marvel Spotlight (1972) # 9

"The Snakes Crawl At Night"

Cover Date: April 1973; On Sale Date: January 1973

Writer: Gary Friedrich; Artist: Tom Sutton; Inker: Chic Stone; Letterer: Shelly Leferman; Editor: Roy Thomas; Cover Artist: Mike Ploog

After fleeing from the Apache known as Snake Dance by attempting to jump over a gorge, Johnny Blaze finds that his bike has been sabotaged when it explodes in mid-air, leaving him to fall to his death in the canyon. The Ghost Rider hits the rocks at the canyon base, and Snake Dance revels in his triumph, believing Blaze to be dead. Meanwhile, back at the rodeo where Johnny is to perform his cycle act, the foreman comments that Blaze has disappeared. Roxanne believes that he must have ridden out the canyon, so the foreman tells Sam Silvercloud to give her a ride there as well. On the way to the canyon, Silvercloud (the one responsible for sabotaging Johnny's bike) tells Roxanne that the land is rightfully owned by the Apaches, and that they will soon reclaim it from the white man. They arrive at Copperhead Canyon, where Silvercloud tells Roxanne that Blaze is dead. He then kidnaps the young woman and takes her to the nearby Indian reservation.

The next morning, the rodeo manager is upset because both Johnny and Roxanne are now nowhere to be found. At that moment, Bart Slade, the cycle show's road manager, enters the room dressed in cycle leathers and says that if Blaze doesn't show, he's more than ready to fill in for him. Hours later, Johnny, now in his human form, awakens on the canyon floor, astonished that he's still alive after the fall. Suddenly, Satan appears before the stunt rider and tells him that he's responsible for Johnny surviving the crash. He tells Blaze that if he died by the hand of another mortal, he would be unable to capture his soul. Therefore, whenever Blaze's life is in danger, Satan will extend protection over him, until he himself has a chance to take his life. The devil disappears, leaving Johnny alone on the canyon floor. Luckily, a helicopter passes overhead and airlifts Johnny out. Meanwhile, at the Indian reservation, Silvercloud presents Roxanne to Snake Dance, who decides that they shall sacrifice her to the Snake-God as a bride. The witch doctor then returns to his home, where he states to himself that the entire snake ceremony and belief system is a charade, perpetrated to save his people from starvation and poverty.

Blaze arrives at the rodeo just in time, barely making it to his dressing room before nightfall triggers his transformation into the Ghost Rider. He runs out to do his act, and is surprised to find Slade ready to do the stunts himself. Because Bart is a cripple with a bum leg, Johnny stops him from doing the act, but only manages to anger his former friend even more. Blaze continues and starts the stunt show, stunning the audience with his cycle mastery. During one stunt, however, he loses his concentration and crashes his bike into a wall. The Ghost Rider emerges unscathed, but quickly spots Sam Silvercloud standing on the sidelines. He chases the saboteur down and forces him to give up Roxanne's location.

At the reservation, Snake Dance and his men perform the Snake-God ritual, with Roxanne tied to a serpent-shaped stake. Snake Dance tells her that she must prove herself worthy by enduring deadly snake venom, and that only ones who are chosen by the Snake-God can survive. Two snakes shoot out from the shaman's arms, biting Roxanne on each wrist. Snake Dance, knowing all too well that the venom will kill Roxanne, continues his sham by saying that the gods are angry with the Apaches, and that the only way to appease them is to rise up against the white man as an army. At that moment, the Ghost Rider roars onto the scene, quickly dispatching Snake Dance's followers with his hellfire. He unties Roxanne from the stake, but realizes that he must get her to a hospital before she dies. He turns to the Apaches one last time and tells them that Snake Dance is a charlatan, and that they shall never again threaten innocent people. He rides off on his motorcycle, vowing that if Roxanne dies, he shall return to exact vengeance.