The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 13

"...And Vegas Writhes In Flame!"

Cover Date: July 1993; On Sale Date: May 1993

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

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.

"Chasing Phantoms"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dave Sharpe; Colorist: Mike Worley; Editor: Evan Skolnick 

Sheriff Brown chases the Phantom Rider through Bison Bend, not realizing that Jamie and William are tricking them to cover for Carter Slade having left town. William leaves the phantom projector when he and Jamie go to the sheriff's office, where Hollis tells them the reward for Angus has been cancelled since Floyd and Red escaped. Meanwhile, Floyd and Red see the Phantom Rider projection and accidentally shoot each other.

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 12

"Death Stalks the Demolition Derby"

Cover Date: June 1993; Publication Date: April 1993

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

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 Story, Part 2"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dave Sharpe; Colorist: Mike Worely; Editor: Evan Skolnick 

"He Who Rides the Night Winds" finishes the story of how he became the Phantom Rider.

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 11

"Wheels On Fire"

Cover Date: May 1993; Publication Date: March 1993

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

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.

"Ghost Story"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dave Sharpe; Colorist: Mike Worley; Editor: Evan Skolnick 

Carter Slade is performing a ritual dance with a Sioux Indian tribe as "He Who Rides the Night Winds". During the dance, he tells the story of how he became the Phantom Rider.

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 10

"The Son of Satan!"

Cover Date: April 1993; Publication Date: February 1993

Writer: Gary Friedrich; Artist: Herb Trimpe; Inker: Frank Chiaramonte; Letterer: John Costanza; Colorist: John Severin; Editor: Roy Thomas; Cover Artist: Michael Bair

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, thusly 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.

"Who is the Phantom Rider?, Part 3"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dave Sharpe; Colorist: Mike Worley; Editor: Evan Skolnick

Determined to arrest the Phantom Rider, Sheriff Brown looks over his list of suspects before settling on Carter Slade; he has nights free from teaching so he could be the vigilante. Suddenly, Phantom Rider appears and they chase him into the cemetery where several Phantom Riders convince the Sheriff that Carter is innocent. Sheriff Brown leaves and Jamie Jacobs reveals William knows Carter's secret and gives Carter Cletus' journal.

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 9

"Shake Hands With Satan!"

Cover Date: March 1993; Publication Date: January 1993

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

 

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.

 

"Who is the Phantom Rider?, Part 2"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dave Sharpe; Colorist: Mike Worley; Editor: Evan Skolnick

Father Fulton fails to talk the Phantom Rider out of quitting. Sheriff Brown tells Jamie Jacobs and William that they're entitled to the reward on Angus O'Donnel. Jamie notices Cletus' journal in the sheriff's office and steals it, so the sheriff doesn't find out who the Phantom Rider is. Doc Peters announces that Angus wasn't murdered; he died of fright. Jamie and William go to the Phantom Rider's secret Cave to tell him he's not a killer, but he's not there.

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 8

"A Woman Possessed!"

Cover Date: February 1993; Publication Date: December 1992

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

 

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.

 

"Who is the Phantom Rider?, Part 1"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dave Sharpe; Colorist: Mike Worley; Editor: Evan Skolnick

Phantom Rider uses his cloak to vanish and escape. Sheriff Brown examines Angus O'Donnel's corpse and finds evidence that Phantom Rider is a man and not an actual specter. Phantom Rider goes to the church and tells Father Fulton that he accidentally killed a man and can no longer be the Phantom Rider.

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 7

"Season of the Witch-Woman!"

Cover Date: January 1993; Publication Date: November 1992

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

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, Jennifer entered the room, her satanic candle lit. She opens the window and calls for her master, offering Linda as a bride. When she receives no sign of Satan's arrival, Jennifer assumes that he has rejected her gift. When she looks at Linda, however, she sees 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 decides that she will join her roommate for one of her group's rituals. The two dress in exotic outfits and then cover up in large robes, so as not to draw attention to themselves on the way to the sabbat. Jennifer assures Linda that it's all pretend, easing her nervousness. They arrive at a large house and descend into the crypt-like basement, where Linda is shocked to see dozens of women with flaming torches surrounding a large altar. Jennifer and the other women surround the frightened girl and drag her to the altar, tying her down as they chant. Jennifer calls 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 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.

"The Hangin' of Angus O'Donnel!, Part 2"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dick Ayers; Colorist: Mike Worley; Editor: Evan Skolnick 

Floyd and Red free Angus from his execution, but as they escape Phantom Rider follows and terrifies them. Sheriff Brown, his deputy Hollis, Jamie Jacobs, and William leave to follow Angus but are surprised to find Phantom Rider has hung Angus. Sheriff Brown vows to bring Phantom Rider to justice.

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 6

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

Cover Date: December 1992; On Sale Date: October 1992

Writer: Gary Friedrich; Artist: Tom Sutton; Inker: Jim Mooney; Letterer: John Costanza; Colorist: Stan Goldberg; Editor: Roy Thomas; Cover Artist: Mark Pacella

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!

"The Hangin' of Angus O'Donnel!, Part 1"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dick Ayers; Colorist: Mike Worley; Editor: Evan Skolnick 

Sheriff Brown takes the dead mailman to the undertaker, who gives the sheriff the previous undertaker Cletus' journal. William wakes up in Carter Slade's home; Jamie Jacobs tells him that Phantom Rider asked Carter to watch over him. The two youths go into Bison Bend to witness Angus' hanging, but Floyd and Red shoot the hangman's noose and Angus escapes.

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 5

"The Snakes Crawl at Night"

Cover Date: November 1992; On Sale Date: September 1992

 

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

 

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's 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.

 

"End of the Line, Part 2"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dick Ayers; Colorist: Mike Worley; Editor: Evan Skolnick

Phantom Rider uses his ventriloquism to make Angus O'Donnel think the dead mailman is haunting him. Angus shoots the mailman's corpse and Phantom Rider rescues William as the train pulls in to Bison Bend. Sheriff Brown arrests the terrified Angus.

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 4

"...The Hordes of Hell!"

Cover Date: October 1992; On Sale Date: August 1992

 

Writer: Gary Friedrich; Artist: Mike Ploog & Jim Mooney; Inker: Jim Mooney; Letterer: Shelly Leferman; Colorist: Not Credited; Editor: Roy Thomas; Cover Artist: Joe Quesada

 

With Roxanne still strapped to the sacrificial alter, the Ghost Rider is confronted by the crazed Crash Simpson, who holds the flaming sword of Satan and is more than willing to use it. Johnny frees Roxanne and begs her to run, but she refuses to leave the man she loves and her father alone to fight to the death. Satan commands Crash to strike, but the man cannot while his daughter is endangered. Enraged, Satan waves his hand and takes both Crash and the Ghost Rider down with him to Hell. With Roxanne no loner in the equation, Crash attacks Blaze, attempting to kill him with the flaming sword. Johnny pleads with Crash to turn against the demon, and finally his words get through to his step-father, who saves Blaze from a tentacle creature. Crash takes the wounded Blaze and runs into the depths of Hell, but the two are attacked by a large demon. Crash strikes the monster with the sword, but is crushed by the falling monster. Johnny picks him and begins to walk, determined to make it out of Hell with Crash's soul. Blaze is approached by a mysterious cloaked figure, who offers to send Crash onto his final reward and Blaze back to Earth. Johnny gives his step-father over, and seconds later awakens back in the crypt in his human form, an amnesiac Roxanne fawning over him. Johnny feigns ignorance about what happened, and the two return to Madison Square Garden.

 

Several hours later, Johnny arrives in Arizona, and is picked up from the airport by a local Native American named Sam Silvercloud, who is supposed to take the stunt-rider to Copperhead Canyon. Instead, Sam pulls a gun on Blaze, telling him that he won't allow the biker to jump the Canyon. If he makes the jump, then the canyon will never be returned to the Indians that are trying to get it back. Silvercloud abandons Blaze in the desert, but not before Johnny is able to retrieve his cycle from the back of the truck. The next morning, Johnny arrives at the Canyon Rodeo grounds and speaks with the rodeo manager, who explains that the local Indians are in an uproar because of a medicine man named Snake-Dance. As they speak, Silvercloud sabotages Blaze's cycle.

 

That evening, Johnny rides out into the desert toward the Canyon, and while in transit undergoes the transformation into the Ghost Rider. When he makes it to the rim of the canyon, he is attacked by several Native American warriors. After quickly defeating them, Blaze is confronted by Snake-Dance himself, who mystically summons snakes to attack the Rider. Johnny makes it to his bike as the shaman transforms into a giant serpent and gives chase. Realizing the only avenue of escape is to jump the canyon, Blaze takes flight. At that moment, Sam Silvercloud's earlier sabotage causes the Ghost Rider's bike to explode, sending him into a free fall toward the bottom of the canyon.

"End of the Line, Part 1"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dick Ayers; Colorist: Mike Worley; Editor: Evan Skolnick 

Angus O'Donnel and his men hijack a train. When the Phantom Rider approaches, Floyd and Red jump off the train. William startles Angus, who accidently kills the train's mailman. Phantom Rider attacks and Angus takes young William hostage.

The Original Ghost Rider (1992) # 3

"Die, Die, My Daughter!"

Cover Date: September 1992; On Sale Date: July 1992

 

Writer: Gary Friedrich; Artist: Mike Ploog; Inker: Frank Monte; Letterer: Herb Cooper; Editor: Roy Thomas; Cover Artist: Andy Kubert

In the dressing room at Madison Square Garden, Curly (the deceased Crash Simpson reincarnated in a different body) prepares to kill his unconscious daughter with a large knife. Suddenly, Satan appears and tells his servant that Roxanne must be sacrificed in his temple, and only then will Crash regain his rightful body. Curly hides Roxanne in a large barrel and wheels her outside, where he catches a cab.

 

Elsewhere, the Ghost Rider tears down a deserted highway on his motorcycle, attempting to collect his thoughts. He is quickly spotted by a parked police car, who give chase after Blaze. Johnny weighs his options of either stopping and letting the police see him or running. He decides to try and escape, and speeds off into the night. After a harrowing chase, Blaze realizes that he won't easily lose the officers. He races toward a destroyed bridge, which he jumps on his cycle. The police, unable to pursue, state their disbelief at what they just witnessed. Later, the Ghost Rider seeks refuge in a cemetery, where he decides to stop and rest. Meanwhile, Curly arrives at the temple, where he tells his satanic followers to prepare a black mass. He takes Roxanne into the basement and lays her on a large altar, where she will be sacrificed at midnight.

 

Having fallen asleep in the cemetery, Blaze is awaken at dawn by his transformation back into his human form. Realizing what time it is, he races back to Madison Square Garden, where he is scheduled to perform another cycle show. An hour before the show, Johnny is told by his road manager, Bart Slade, that Roxanne has been missing since the night before. Blaze flies into a rage, threatening Bart that if he doesn't find Roxanne soon, he'll be fired. An hour later, at the start of the show, Johnny apologizes to Slade, unaware that the manager has plans to steal Roxanne away from him. After the show, Slade tells Blaze that one of the guards saw a curly-haired individual leaving the locker rooms the night before. Johnny realizes that it was Curly who took Roxanne, and decides to go find him as soon as it gets dark.

 

That night, the Ghost Rider busts into the hangout of Satan's Servants, Curly's cycle gang. The demonic biker traps the hoodlums in a ring of fire and commands that they tell him where to find Curly. They tell him that he hangs out at a strange church a few blocks away. At that moment, Curly and his followers prepare the altar for the black mass. They bring out Roxanne, who is dressed in ceremonial garb, and chain her to the altar. Curly snaps his fingers, and Roxanne awakens from her trance. As Curly begins to bear down on her with a large knife, Johnny rides down the stairs of the church on his motorcycle, melting the knife with a blast of hellfire. The cult members quickly scatter, but Johnny is quickly stopped in tracks by the appearance of Satan, who tells Johnny that only the death of his servant can stop her sacrifice. Both Blaze and Curly agree to a duel, but Satan then reveals his pawn's true form, that of Crash Simpson, and gives him a weapon: the flaming blade of Hell itself. Roxanne screams for Johnny not to hurt her father, but as Blaze says: "Either he dies -- or we do!"

 

"Secrets From Beyond the Grave"

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Dick Ayers; Letterer: Dick Ayers; Colorist: Ariane Lenshoek; Editor: Evan Skolnick

Cletus Brown digs his own grave until the Phantom Rider stops him. Cletus explains that he only has a few months to live and asks Phantom Rider what it's like to be dead. Phantom Rider reveals he's not actually a phantom and demonstrates his tricks to prove it. He tells Cletus to spend his last days with his family.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 99

"Fallen Spirits"

Cover Date: February 1992; On Sale Date: December 1991

Writer: Dan Slott; Artist: Jimmy Palmiotti; Letterer: Steve Dutro; Colorist: Fred Mendez; Editor: Terry Kavanagh; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Sam Keith

Falling to the ground after being overwhelmed by the army of D'Sprytes, the Ghost Rider watches as his motorcycle hits the pavement. With only seconds to spare, he releases his chain, catching it on a streetlight, and swings himself into a fruit stand. The D'Sprytes make their way to the street while the Rider digs himself free of debris. Catching a few of them in his hands, he is unable to keep from being attacked by the rest. On the sidelines of the battle watch a group of pedestrians who see the Rider fighting with an invisible enemy. Suddenly, the crowd turns violent, each person under the thrall of a D'Spryte. Jack Weaver, the homeless man who first saw the demons, tries to convince the crowd that their being manipulated, but the enthralled crowd ignore him, calling him "just a bum".

 

The crowd then turns on the Ghost Rider hurtling bricks and other things at him. The D'Sprytes know that the Rider will not harm an innocent, and plan on using the pedestrians to kill him. The ground then begins to rumble, and the Rider's bike busts from the hole it had made in the pavement after the fall. Riding around him in a circle, the bike is used to create a shield from the mob, allowing the Ghost Rider to form a plan. Spinning his chain, he releases it as a hail of sharp metal links, each one hitting a D'Spryte before reforming as the chain in his hand. With each D'Spryte dead, the crowd comes to their senses, unable to recall what had happened. Knowing he is no longer needed, the Ghost Rider rides into an alley and transforms back into Dan. Before he rides home, he sees Jack Weaver sitting back on the sidewalk. He asks Jack if he'd like someone to talk to, to which Weaver replies "yeah...that'd be nice".

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) # 98

"D'Spryte Times, D'Spryte Measures"

Cover Date: March 1992

On Sale Date: January 1992

Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Jimmy Palmiotti
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Fred Mendez
Editor: Terry Kavanagh
Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco

Cover Artist: Sam Keith

On a snowy winter night in New York City, a homeless man named Jack Weaver sits on the sidewalk and appears to have a conversation with himself. Unseen by everybody but Weaver, however, is a small demon sitting on his shoulder talking with him. The demon points out to Jack that the man coming toward them will give at least a dime. When Weaver asks him for any spare change, the man spits in his change can and tells him to get a job. The demon tells Jack that all he has to do is say the word and he'll "get 'im good". After a moment of goading, Weaver gives in and asks the demon to get the man back for him.

 

Half a block away, Dan Ketch rides through the streets, thinking about all the things going on in the Ghost Rider's life. Ahead of him he sees a crowd of people all looking up at a man on the ledge threating to jump. The man - the same one that refused to give money to Weaver - is being coerced by the small demon into jumping because he's a "horrid, pathetic little man". Seeing this, Dan thinks that the Ghost Rider could get the man down safely. But, since the Rider will only come out when innocent blood has been spilt, Dan buts his own palm with a knife and slaps it down on his mystical motorcycle's gas cap. To his surprise, nothing happens. Dan continues to furiously slap his bloody hand against the gas cap, desperate to make the transformation. On the ledge, however, the demon has successfully convinced the man that he should commit suicide. Under the demon's influence, the man jumps from the building to his death...causing a splatter of blood to land in the snow next to Dan. Because of this, the transformation finally triggers and Dan transforms into the Ghost Rider. The Rider makes his way to the ledge, where the small demon is laughing hysterically. Ghost Rider grabs the demon in his hand and declares that vengeance must be served. The demon tells him that he is D'Spryte, a servant of D'Spayre. "Wherever there is a broken will where pleas are voiced into the ether, there will be a D'Spryte," he tells the Rider, "my kind is legion". Ghost Rider hears a flapping noise behind him, and when he turns he sees thousands more D'Sprytes heading toward him. Overwhelming him, the vigilante tries to fight back, but the ledge beneath him crumbles, causing him and his motorcycle to fall to the ground below.