Team America (1982) # 11

“Challenges!”

Cover Date: April 1983
On Sale Date: January 1983

Plot: Jim Shooter
Script: Tom DeFalco
Artist; Dave Simons
Inker: David Weiss
Letterer: Rick Parker
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Editor: Jim Shooter
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Dave Simons

During a race at an Oklahoma motorway, the members of Team America – Honcho, El Lobo, Cowboy, and R.U. Reddy – finish with El Lobo winning the race. They’re soon joined by Wrench and Georgianna, but the tensions within the team quickly drive them apart, with El Lobo striking out on his own. While on his solo ride, El Lobo sees a billboard advertising the Quentin Carnival and recognizes Johnny Blaze as once being a champion stunt rider. Later, El Lobo pulls up beside an elderly couple and their daughter, Mary-Michelle, who jumps out of their car and onto the back of El Lobo’s motorcycle before he rides away.

Later, El Lobo and Mary-Michelle are joined at the Quentin Carnival by the rest of Team America just in time to watch the cycle stunt show featuring Johnny Blaze and Red Fowler. They are unaware that they’re being surveilled by Mary-Michelle’s parents, the Winderfields, who are secretly Hydra sleeper agents. They report back to their director, Elsie, who tells her subordinate Halstan about Team America, specifically the mysterious Black Marauder who appears whenever the team is around. Elsie then receives a communication from the Supreme Hydra, who orders that Team America is to be eliminated “visibly and spectacularly”. Back at the carnival, Team America meet Blaze and Fowler and afterward Johnny feels the Ghost Rider straining to emerge. Later that night, the Black Marauder emerges with his motorcycle from Team America’s trailer and rides out into the desert, where he’s confronted by the Ghost Rider. Before Zarathos can attack the Marauder, Johnny Blaze is able to regain control and tells the silent biker to leave while he can. Meanwhile, Mary-Michelle packs her things and leaves her parents, despite their angry protests.

The next morning at the Lakebed Speedway, Team America prepare for the race. Hydra’s forces are there in disguise and both Johnny and Red are attending as spectators. Once the race starts, Johnny loses control and becomes the Ghost Rider, who roars onto the track demanding the Black Marauder to appear. The Marauder arrives, surprising all of Team America, and the racetrack descends into chaos. Hydra attacks as well, signaled by the Winderfields, while Ghost Rider and Black Marauder continue their battle. When the Marauder turns away from the Ghost Rider to rescue El Lobo, Zarathos realizes that it is not his duty to punish the innocent, only the guilty. He turns his attentions toward Hydra, melting their tanks with hellfire and causing their forces to flee. Ghost Rider departs, followed by Red Fowler, leaving Team America to find the unmasked Black Marauder amongst the wreckage.

Avengers (1963) # 214

"Three Angels Fallen!"

Cover Date: December 1981
On Sale Date: September 1981

Writer: Jim Shooter
Artist: Bob Hall
Inker: Dan Green
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Jim Salicrup
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter

Cover Artist: Bob Hall

In the basement of Avengers Mansion, Captain America undergoes a rigorous training session as he attempts to process the recent court-martial of his fellow Avenger, Yellowjacket. While the Captain punishes his body, Tigra and Jarvis, the Avengers' butler, discuss the events that led to Hank Pym's dishonorable discharge from the team, with Jarvis sticking up for Pym despite the mistakes the man has made. Elsewhere in New York, Thor and Iron Man meet in their civilian guises to discuss the mental state of Pym, each of them wanting to help their former teammate as much as they can. At that moment, Pym's wife and fellow Avenger, the Wasp, sits at her home and works on fashion designs, sunglasses covering up the swollen eye given to her by the mentally unbalanced Yellowjacket. Janet goes to the front room of her house to meet with the downtrodden Henry, who attempts to apologize to her for what he did. Janet tells Pym that she's filing for divorce, and Pym can only apologize again as he takes his leave.

Hours later in New Mexico, Johnny Blaze sits atop a rocky hillside overlooking a deserted stretch of road. The curse with which he lives has cost Blaze everything he's held dear, casting him out from society - and when a fancy sportscar zooms past him, all of his anger and frustration at life bubbles to the surface. As he rages against the unfairness of his situation while some rich playboy gets to have fun, Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider and demands vengeance, starting with the owner of the sports car. In the car, Warren Worthington III and Candy Southern are enjoying a late night cruise when they see the Ghost Rider approaching in the rearview mirror. Warren, who is also the winged mutant known as the Angel, tells Candy not to worry - he recognizes the Ghost Rider as a friend from their time together in the Champions a few years ago. But the Ghost Rider has changed since Worthington knew him, becoming more demonic and vengeful - as the couple discover when the Rider runs their car off the road and into a ditch. When the Ghost Rider returns to admire his handiwork, he challenges the Angel to a race across the desert, a challenge Worthington accepts to get Candy out of harms way. When they are far enough away, the Angel attacks the Ghost Rider, but this only causes the Rider to bathe Worthington in hellfire, causing him to fall screaming to the ground. Hours later, Southern sits in the hospital with the comatose Angel and speaks with Captain America on the phone. While she'd hoped to reach Worthington's old teammate, the Beast, Captain America tells her that while the Beast is no longer a member the Avengers will be there the next day to find the Ghost Rider.

The next day, Johnny Blaze has taken a job as a gas station attendant in Alkalai Flats, his guilt over what he did to Worthington causing him to stay in the town until his former friend wakes up from his coma. He's working when he hears the news: the Avengers have arrived in town. At the small airfield, the Avengers - Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and Tigra - arrive and talk with the town's mayor. While Tigra goes shopping for more appropriate (re: western) attire, Captain America acquires a motorcycle from a local mechanic. Meanwhile, while Blaze prepares to leave town before he's discovered, the mother of a young boy comes to him yelling for help: her son, who idolizes the Avengers, has climbed a water tower while playing superhero and is now about to fall to his death. Johnny decides to change into the Ghost Rider to save the boy, but the demon instead decides not to - for there is nothing to avenge if the child dies by his own hand. As the boy falls, he's caught by Iron Man.

A few miles away, the Ghost Rider is found by Captain America and Tigra, who chase after the demon on their own bike. After a harrowing chase into a canyon, Cap and Tigra turn a corner to find that it's a dead end - and while the Ghost Rider simply rides his flame cycle up the canyon wall, the Avengers collide hard with the rocks. As they try to recover their senses after the wreck, the Rider returns and fries both of them with hellfire. Following his teammates' screams, Iron Man encounters the Rider and tackles him off his bike, confident that his hellfire can't penetrate his armor. This is a mistake, he discovers, when the Rider blasts flame into the openings for his eyes and mouth, sending him crashing to the ground. Finally, Thor confronts the Ghost Rider and proves that the hellfire has no effect on the Asgardian. When Thor throws his hammer at the Rider, the demon jumps on his hellcycle and outraces Mjolnir, stopping only when the hammer's throw has spent and it moves to return to its owner's hand. Gripping the handle of the hammer, the Ghost Rider uses its momentum against Thor, knocking the Thunder God for a loop with his own weapon.

Soon, the visibly shaken Avengers regroup and try to come up with a plan to capture the Ghost Rider. Tigra is terrified of meeting the Rider again, the hellfire having scared her - but Captain America, himself even saying that he's never experienced anything so horrifying, convinces her to put aside her fear to help them. Eventually, the Avengers again attack the Rider, but this time they are more prepared for his power. While the heroes attempt to contain the demon, the battle is brought to a halt by a newcomer: the Angel, awakened from his coma but still injured. He tells Blaze that he has a theory about him: the more bitter and unhappy he is as Blaze, the more ruthless and violent the Ghost Rider becomes. Face to face with his innocent victim, Blaze manages to wrest control of his body from the Ghost Rider and collapses on the ground, asking everyone to just leave him alone. Now that the Ghost Rider is gone, Johnny Blaze has committed no crime...and the heroes walk away from him, hoping that Blaze will eventually accept their help.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 57

“Where Walks…the Apparition!”

Cover Date: June 1981
On Sale Date: March 1981

Writer: Michael Fleisher
Layouts: Jim Shooter
Artist: Don Perlin
Colorist: Rob Carosella
Letterer: Diana Albers
Editor: Dave Kraft
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

In preparation for his upcoming rematch with Flagg Fargo, Johnny Blaze has joined the Sonny Tremont Auto Show. He goes out for a dinner meal with Sonny, Nora, and Pete, who all work for the auto show, and Pete reminds them that it’s the night “Shocks” Marley is due to be executed. At the nearby prison, “Shocks” is escorted to the electric chair while wearing his stunt racing costume, which he claims was made for him by a voodoo priestess and will bring him back from death. Right before the executioner’s switch is thrown, he swears to come back as an apparition to exact revenge. When the electric chair comes to life, Marley becomes a ghostly entity and escapes from the prison. 

Back at the diner, Johnny asks to borrow Pete’s car to go check on some engine parts. While en route, Johnny is attacked by the Apparition, who believes that Pete is driving the car. With blasts of mystical energy Marley destroys the car, and only a quick transformation into the Ghost Rider saves Johnny’s life. As Marley departs, believing he’s killed Pete, he claims that “now two must die”. Johnny returns to the Tremont property and tells his three new friends what happened, shocking them all with the knowledge of Marley’s return. Pete flees in terror and Sonny fills Johnny in on their story. “Shocks” Marley was a stunt racer for the auto show and had an unrequited crush on Nora, who was dating another racer. “Shocks” sabotaged the other man’s brakes, causing him to die in an auto crash, and the testimony provided to the courts by Sonny and Pete gave Marley a death sentence. The Apparition appears above them and blasts at Sonny and Nora, with only the quick intervention of the Ghost Rider saving them. Weakened by the Ghost Rider’s hellfire, the Apparition departs, leaving Blaze behind to explain himself. Nora doesn’t care about the Ghost Rider and kisses Johnny passionately while Sonny leaves.

The next day at the Auto Show, Nora announces a stock car stunt being performed by Sonny. However, the car is instead being driven by Johnny in an attempt to flush out the Apparition. Marley indeed appears at the top of the ramp and blasts the car, thinking he’s killed Sonny. Johnny and Nora believe that Marley is no longer a threat now that his two victims are thought dead, and the two go to their trailers to get ready for a date. Blaze realizes that he overheard Marley say “two must die” after Pete was believed to be dead, and that Nora must be on Marley’s revenge list as well. He arrives too late at Nora’s trailer, finding her dead at the Apparition’s hands, and transforms into the Ghost Rider to exact vengeance. Using his hellfire to weaken the ghostly killer, the Ghost Rider finally disperses Marley’s spirit by running through him with his hellcycle. That leaves Johnny Blaze alone with Nora’s body to mourn yet another lost love.

Uncharacteristically self-sacrificing.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 57 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Ghost Rider (1973) # 27

"At the Mercy of the Manticore!"

Cover Date: December 1977

On Sale Date: September 1977

Writer: Jim Shooter
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: Dan Green
Letterer: Denise Wohl
Colorist: Francoise Mouly
Editor: Archie Goodwin

Cover Artist: Sal Buscema

Johnny Blaze rides through the desert alone, having left his life in Los Angeles behind him after having been exposed as the Ghost Rider to his friends and co-workers.  While on the road and pondering where to go, he runs across another biker named Brahma Bill that he strikes up a brief friendship with before they part ways.  Blaze stops at a service station to get his bike checked out, and is directed toward a local dude ranch for repairs.

At the dude ranch are Hawkeye and the Two-Gun Kid, who have been working their during a leave of absence from the Avengers.  Blaze arrives on his motorcycle, which the Kid immediately strikes up a fascination about and invites Johnny to stay at the ranch while he does his repairs.  The next day, while Blaze is giving the Kid motorcycle lessons, they notice something movement atop a large peak, though Two-Gun states that its impossible to climb.  That night, Johnny goes to the peak as the Ghost Rider and rides up to the top, where he finds tracks that resemble large paw prints.

At the ranch, Hawkeye has changed into his costume, pondering on whether he should return to the Avengers.  His room is attacked by a large cat-like creature that calls himself the Manticore, which knocks him unconscious and carries him away.  Ghost Rider arrives and frees Two-Gun from the wreckage of the room, and the cowboy is shaken by Blaze's appearance despite having met him once before with the Champions.  Ghost Rider swears to rescue Hawkeye and rides off, but Two-Gun decides to follow as well.  In a canyon far away, an injured Hawkeye is told by the Manticore that he works for Brand Industries, who needs a dead Avenger for a scheme.  Ghost Rider interrupts and battles the Manticore, but the fight is disrupted by Two-Gun Kid, who is riding Blaze's motorcycle.  Manticore grabs Two-Gun and threatens to kill him if Blaze doesn't surrender.  Blaze intimidates the Manticore by bluffing him with his demonic persona, allowing Hawkeye time to hit him with an electrical arrow, knocking him unconscious.  After Blaze transforms he realizes that Hawkeye and Two-Gun were just as spooked by his bluff as the villain and tries to assure him that he wasn't being serious.  He notes that the Ghost Rider is his curse and it will follow him no matter where he goes.

The character find of 1977: Brahma Bill!

THE ROADMAP

Hawkeye and Two-Gun Kid first met Ghost Rider in The Champions (1975) # 11.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 27 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Pretty soon, that rant won't be a bluff...

Ghost Rider (1973) # 26

"A Doom Named Dr. Druid!"

Cover Date: October 1977

On Sale Date: July 1977

Writer: Jim Shooter
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: Sam Grainger
Letterer: Denise Wohl
Colorist: Don Warfield
Editor: Archie Goodwin

Cover Artist: George Perez

A reckless Ghost Rider weaves through traffic on the Los Angeles freeway and is observed by a man in the back of a taxi.  After witnessing the Ghost Rider, the mysterious man tells the driver to take him to Delazny Studios.  Ghost Rider arrives at the home of Roger Cross and sees him kissing Roxanne Simpson through the window.  His first instinct is to kill Cross, but he's able to restrain himself and ride away before coming to a forest where he explodes in rage over Roxanne having fallen in love with another man.

The next day, Charles Delazny is visited by the man from the taxi, who identifies himself as Doctor Anthony Druid.  Delazny is hypnotized by Druid and his thoughts give information on Johnny Blaze, who Delazny does not believe to be an actual supernatural being.  Druid knows better and has come to destroy the obviously evil Ghost Rider.  Later, Blaze arrives at the Studio and goes to visit Karen Page, who he finds under the hypnotic spell of Doctor Druid.  When Blaze tries to leave Druid uses his mystical powers to bind him with electrical cords, taunting Johnny to release the Ghost Rider.  When a crowd emerges to watch, including Roxanne and Karen, Johnny finally gives into his anger and transforms into the Ghost Rider, unleashing a blast of hellfire.  Druid is unharmed and reveals his costume and cloak, while the crowd of people realize that the Ghost Rider isn't a special effect and Blaze is really a demon.  Ghost Rider creates his motorcycle and flees the studio, cursing himself for transforming in front of everyone.  Druid leaves to follow while Roxanne tells Roger that she has to help Johnny.

Ghost Rider travels to a nearby cemetery and rages at the fact that he can never return to his life at the studio.  Druid arrives and Ghost Rider attacks him, quickly getting the upper hand as he tells Druid that he can feel the compassion draining out of him when he transforms, a fact that frightens him.  He prepares to crush Druid with a tombstone but is able to stop himself at the last minute.  Druid recovers and uses a magic amulet to transform Ghost Rider back into Johnny Blaze then knocks Blaze unconscious.  Druid uses his mental abilities to read Blaze's mind and realizes that he's made a grave mistake, that Blaze isn't evil and in fact fought against Satan to regain his soul.  Druid leaves, humbled by his mistake.  Johnny wakes up alone and ponders what to do about his life.  Later, Roxanne and Roger arrive at Johnny's apartment and find that his belongings are gone.  Johnny is leaving Los Angeles and his life behind.

The very first "spirit of vengeance" reference!

THE ROADMAP

Ghost Rider last appeared in The Champions (1975) # 17, which was the last issue of that series.  A later flashback in Peter Parker: the Spectacular Spider-Man # 17 will show the aftermath of the Champions' final battle that resulted in Blaze quitting the team.

This issue confirms that the Enforcer was really the son of Charles L. Delazny, which was hinted at but not stated outright in Ghost Rider (1973) # 24.

This issue marks the last appearance of the Hollywood supporting cast in this series.  Johnny Blaze joined the Stuntmaster television show production team as a stuntman in Ghost Rider (1973) # 13.  After leaving Hollywood at the end of this issue Johnny won't have a supporting cast or consistent status quo until he joins the Quentin Carnival in Ghost Rider (1973) # 63.

Roxanne Simpson will appear again in Ghost Rider (1973) # 28.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 26 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

It's okay Johnny, I hate Dr. Druid too.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 25

"Menace Is a Man Called Malice!"

Cover Date: August 1977

On Sale Date: May 1977

Writer: Jim Shooter
Artist: Don Heck
Inker: Tony DeZuniga
Letterer: Denise Wohl
Colorist: Dan Warfield
Editor: Archie Goodwin

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Johnny Blaze, in his form of the Ghost Rider, conjures his motorcycle from pure hellfire in a darkened alleyway in Los Angeles. Despite the dizzying effect the effort of forming his bike causes him, Blaze knows that if he wastes any time than several lives may possibly be at stake. He rides out of the alley, startling the people on the street, and races toward the Hollywood Wax Museum, which is engulfed with an inferno of flames. Realizing that the fire department are fighting a losing battle with the blaze, the Ghost Rider races up the side of the building across the street and then jumps from its roof straight into the burning museum. Finding a woman trapped inside, the sight of the demon biker causes her to faint. When the fire fighters have given up all hope of any survivors, Blaze blasts through the wall and sets the woman down in front of them. He then jumps on his bike and races through the crowd, away from the building. As he leaves the scene, he spots a modified sports car racing away as well. Johnny doesn't give much thought to the car other than a hope that the cops will chase it instead of him.

Back in the same alley where he formed his cycle, Johnny returns to his human form and returns to his normal bike. Later, at Delazny Studios, Johnny notices that things are unusually quiet. When he enters the studio, he finds Karen Page, who leads him to a dressing room that contains the rest of the crew. On the television is a live news report from a local power plant that is surrounded by the police. The police spotlights land on a costumed figure atop the plant, a figure that identifies himself as Malice. When the cops begin to move closer to the building, the villain fires at the ground with a gun that causes an earthquake below their feet. Before they can regain their footing, he employs another device that causes their guns to fall to pieces and their cars to explode. As the cops run away, Malice tells the cameras to remember his name and to tell the newspapers that he was the one who burned down the wax museum as well. As everyone flees, Malice turns and fires his weapon at the power plant, causing it to explode and subsequently throws much of the city into darkness.

Later, after the Delazny crew have parted ways for the evening, Johnny rides home on his bike, lost in thoughts of Karen Page and Roxanne Simpson. Suddenly, a car runs a stop sign and barrels at him, not slowing down an inch. Only with the use of his skills as a stunt-rider does Blaze manage to keep from being hit. He gives chase to the car, but then suddenly realizes that its the same one he saw after the wax museum fire. Naturally, when he catches up to the car, he sees that the driver is none other than Malice, who is using his weaponry to rob a bank. The criminal robs the bank while Johnny stares, awestruck. Only after Malice has again sped off in his car does Blaze realize that he should have stopped him. Transforming into the Ghost Rider and hopping upon his flame cycle easily catches up to Malice's car. Blaze goes into his spook act, saying that the villain will "feel the aching horror of Hell", but then realizes that there's no possible way Malice could hear him. Pushing aside the thoughts of why he lapsed so easily into his hellspawn act, Blaze finds himself assailed by a barrage of missiles from the back of the villain's car. When all miss, Malice drives across a bridge and then blows it in two, with the Ghost Rider stuck on the opposite side. Thinking himself home free, Malice drives on.

Some time later, Malice finds that the Ghost Rider is somehow now standing in the road in front of him. With the car going at a speed of 80 MPH, Blaze stands stock-still and allows the vehicle to hit him head on, not fazing him in the slightest. When Malice crawls from the wreckage, the Ghost Rider tells him that his thirst for vengeance will not be denied and then fries him with a blast of hellfire. The flame burns deep into the villain's soul. The Ghost Rider then rides away, leaving the broken Malice stuck to the road in a pool of molten tar. 

Ghost Rider's actually starting to scare people!

THE ROADMAP

Ghost Rider last appeared in Marvel Team-Up (1972) # 58 and makes his next appearance in The Human Fly (1977) # 2.

This is the first issue in which the personality of the demon Zarathos begins to assert itself, though not through full control of the Ghost Rider. The name Zarathos is revealed in Ghost Rider (1973) # 76 and his origin is told in Ghost Rider (1973) # 77.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 25 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Shooter defines the effect of hellfire on the soul.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 24

"I, the Enforcer...!"

Cover Date: June 1977

On Sale Date: March 1977

Writer: Jim Shooter
Artist: Don Heck
Inker: Dan Green
Letterer: Denise Wohl
Colorist: Karen Klaczak
Editor: Archie Goodwin

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Movie producer Charles L. Delazny stands in front of his home looking over the unconscious body of Johnny Blaze.  Delazny is confronted by the Enforcer, who threatens Delazny's family to get the man to cooperate.  Taking a motorcycle belonging to Delazny's son, the Enforcer and his hired man Jim Galton tie Blaze to the bike and send it off edge of a cliff, hoping to make his death look like an accident.  Blaze wakes up and manages to transform into the Ghost Rider before he hits the ground, but the explosion convinces the Enforcer that Blaze has died.  He and Galton leave, not seeing the Ghost Rider emerge from the flames below the cliff.  Blaze creates his flame cycle and silently follows the Enforcer to his hidden lair.  Meanwhile, Roxanne Simpson is afraid for her life when she notices someone following her, only to discover that it's Roger Cross from the Stuntmaster show's special effects department.  Frustrated with Johnny, Roxanne agrees to go out with Roger and the two depart.

At his headquarters, the Enforcer talks with the Water Wizard about his plan to use Delazny in a money laundering scheme.  The Enforcer then turns on the elderly scientist that created the villain's disintegration ring, deciding to kill the man for knowing too much.  Ghost Rider arrives in time to save him and engages the Enforcer in battle.  The Water Wizard creates a giant water creature and commands it to attack, but it dissolves when Ghost Rider knocks the Water Wizard unconscious.  Ghost Rider defeats and unmasks the Enforcer, but does not recognize the college-aged young man under the mask.  When Galton attempts to hit Blaze from behind, the scientist in turn knocks out Galton, but then runs screaming from the Ghost Rider.  When Blaze makes his way back to Delazny Studios he fails to notice Roxanne and Roger walking in an embrace on a nearby beach.

Skeletal Ghost Rider for the win!

THE ROADMAP

Ghost Rider appears next in Marvel Team-Up (1972) # 58.

Ghost Rider will again encounter the Enforcer in Ghost Rider (1973) # 58 and Water Wizard in Ghost Rider (1973) # 59.

It is revealed in passing in Ghost Rider (1973) # 26 that the Enforcer is actually the son of Charles Delazny, but later writers will confuse matters by having the Enforcer take on the identity of Carson Collier, Jr., who appeared in Ghost Rider (1973) # 22.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 24 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

The mystery is...solved?

Ghost Rider (1973) # 23

"Wrath of the Water Wizard!"

Cover Date: April 1977

On Sale Date: January 1977

Writers: Gerry Conway & Jim Shooter
Artist: Don Heck
Inker: Don Newton
Letterer: Irv Watanabe
Colorist: Don Warfield
Editor: Archie Goodwin

Cover Artist: Jack Kirby

The Ghost Rider departs the company of his teammates in the Champions, but as he rides away the other heroes talk amongst themselves about how unsettled they are by him.  After a brief ride through Los Angeles, Ghost Rider stops in an alley and transforms back into Johnny Blaze, who is near exhaustion from the effort.  As he makes his way home, a nearby bank is attacked by a giant water monster, which is under the control of a rookie super-criminal called the Water Wizard.  The villain robs the bank and makes a safe getaway from the police, who watch the water monster melt into a puddle.

At his apartment, Blaze is confronted by Roxanne Simpson and the Stuntmaster, who are concerned about the odd behavior of their director Coot Collier.  Blaze dismisses their concerns, leaving Stuntmaster to storm off and Roxanne to openly ask if Johnny still has feelings for her.  At his hideout, the Water Wizard counts his stolen money with his helper, Mole, and recounts his origin story.  He was a Vietnam veteran who had to undergo an emergency laser operation on a boat during a lightning storm, and when lighting struck the ship it gave him the ability to control water.  The Enforcer addresses the two men and offers the Water Wizard one million dollars to kill the Ghost Rider, which the Wizard happily agrees to do.

During a taping of the Stuntmaster television show, Blaze is attacked by hands of water while performing a motorcycle stunt through a waterfall.  He is able to transform into the Ghost Rider to free himself, and sees the Water Wizard on a nearby scaffold, but the villain disappears.  Suspecting the involvement of the Enforcer, Blaze acts on his suspicions of studio owner Charles Delazny being involved and goes to the man's home in Hollywood.  He finds the Water Wizard waiting for him, who attacks with the water from a fountain and a pool.  Blaze manages to blast the Water Wizard with hellfire, then loses consciousness himself.  Delazny appears and stands over the unconscious Blaze, saying that coming there would cost him his life.

That show has killer special effects!

THE ROADMAP

Ghost Rider last appeared in The Champions (1975) # 15.

This issue has the first instance of Ghost Rider's hellfire being able to burn someone's soul without scalding their flesh, which will become the character's main power for the remainder of the series.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 23 see my book Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: 1972-1983!

Wheels On Fire: An Unofficial Guide to Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider From 1972-1983: Munn, Chris, Ishizaki, James, DeMatteis, J.M.: 9798702991832: Amazon.com: Books

Attacked by a swimming pool?

Ghost Rider (1973) # 19

"Resurrection"

Cover Date: August 1976

On Sale Date: May 1976

Writers: Tony Isabella & Jim Shooter (uncredited)
Artist: Frank Robbins
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: John Simek
Colorist: Don Warfield
Editor: Marv Wolfman

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Johnny Blaze has lost the race set up by the Challenger, who appears before him to cement his victory.  The Challenger states that Blaze's soul is owed to Hell, and it was Satan's plan to allow him "false hope" via the illusion of his mysterious "Friend" that seemingly saved him.  The Challenger transforms, revealing himself to be a demon in service to Satan, seemingly a doppelganger of his master.  The Challenger offers Blaze his hand, reveling in the man's defeat, and though he is in despair from learning that his "Friend" was a lie, Blaze rejects the demon.  The Challenger becomes furious, saying he will destroy Blaze for his insolence.  Blaze somehow transforms back into the Ghost Rider and blasts the Challenger off his feet with hellfire, then creates his hellfire motorcycle.  The Challenger creates volcanoes that erupt from the ground while Johnny rides through them, then a hurricane wind to blow the biker away.  The Challenger quickly gains the upper hand and threatens to destroy Blaze, but Johnny catches on to the demon's real ability.  He realizes that the Challenger couldn't really take his Ghost Rider powers away and is only as powerful as Blaze believes him to be.  No longer scared of the demon, Johnny attacks and eventually defeats the Challenger, who disappears in a cloud of smoke.  Johnny notices that he is still the Ghost Rider, and decides that even though he still has the power it doesn't mean his soul belongs to Satan.

Later, Johnny returns to the hospital and is greeted by Daimon Hellstrom, Coot Collier, and Wendy & Richard Pini, who have been waiting for him to return.  They show him that when Katy Milner woke up from her coma she transformed into another woman named Roxanne Simpson, who explained that a demon named Inferno transformed her into Katy and erased her memory.  Johnny embraces Roxanne, and a distraught Karen Page runs out holding back tears.  She runs straight into the Stuntmaster, who knocks her unconscious and takes her away.  When she wakes up, she is confronted by the villain Death's Head, who demands information from her.  Karen doesn't understand, because her father was the real Death's Head, and he's been dead for years.