Ghost Rider (1973) # 34

“The Boy Who Lived Forever!”

Cover Date: February 1979

On Sale Date: November 1978

Scripter/Co-Plotter: Roger McKenzie

Artist/Co-Plotter: Don Perlin

Letterer: Jim Novak

Colorist: Bob Sharen

Editor: Roger Stern

Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Johnny Blaze finds himself the prisoner of a child in a glass dome, a powerful boy who holds his own father under his control with the threat of death. When the boy’s father contemplates escape the child reveals the reanimated corpse of his mother to torment his father. Shocked by what he’s witnessing, Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider, breaks his bonds, and sets the mother’s corpse on fire. When Ghost Rider destroys the woman’s body the child goes berserk, creating a psychic hurricane within the metal corridors of the hovercraft. Ghost Rider nearly reaches the child, threating to burst the dome that keeps him alive, but is finally knocked unconscious by the boy’s power. The hovercraft retreats into a mountain stronghold created by the boy.

Later, an amnesiac Blaze finds himself in chains alongside the boy’s father Jonathan Beame, who thanks him for freeing his poor wife Anna from their son’s power. He tells the story of his son Nathan’s birth and the power that he already possessed; when the townspeople came to their home fearing the “demon child” they killed Anna, and in response the infant Nathan transformed them all into monsters. Using his power to keep his father and the corpse of his mother alive, Nathan was forced to seal himself away due to his weakened physical body. Jonathan strikes Blaze, shocking him into transforming into the Ghost Rider and returning his memory. Ghost Rider finds Woody Guthrie, the old prospector that accidently claimed some of Nathan’s power, transformed into a tree-like creature. Nathan arrives to gloat, but Woody uses the last of his power to find oil within the massive ship, causing it burst up like a geyser. Ghost Rider sets the oil aflame with his hellfire, which causes the mountain base to explode. Only the Ghost Rider survives, and as he rides away he fails to notice the desiccated corpse of Jonathan Beame, having finally died without his son’s power to keep him alive.

Nightmare fuel!

THE ROADMAP

This issue’s flashback features a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo appearance by Professor X and Cyclops of the X-Men, who Nathan used his power to hide from out of fear of discovery due to him being born a mutant.

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 34 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

Toy Story took a dark turn.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 33

“…Whom a Child Would Destroy!”

Cover Date: December 1978

On Sale Date: September 1978

Writer: Roger McKenzie

Artist: Don Perlin

Letterer: Diana Albers

Colorist: F. Mouly

Editor: Roger Stern

Editor-In-Chief: Jim Shooter

Cover Artist: Bob Budiansky

Stranded in a deserted ghost town in the middle of nowhere, Johnny Blaze succumbs to self-pity and transforms into the Ghost Rider. After setting fire to the town, he’s attacked by an invisible force controlled by an old prospector named Woody Guthers, who believed the Ghost Rider was after him. Blaze calms down and transforms back into his human form before joining Woody for a drink. The old man claims that he found his “power” by stealing it by accident several weeks before. Suddenly the shack begins to shake and the roof collapses along with the rest of the town’s buildings. When they free themselves from the remnants, Blaze and Woody see a massive steel hovercraft coming toward them. Six masked motorcycle riders emerge from a hatch on the belly of the ship, having come to capture Woody for their master. Johnny transforms into the Ghost Rider and sets the bikers aflame with his hellfire, only to discover that they are robots with the brains of men contained within glass domes. The dark riders capture Woody and take aboard the ship, so the Ghost Rider follows them inside. He immediately succumbs to a trap when the floor opens up beneath his motorcycle, plunging him into darkness. When Johnny wakes up, he’s the prisoner of an evil looking child sitting inside a clear bubble while the boy’s father and a captive Woody watch helplessly. 

Legit freaky!

CHAIN REACTION
To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 33 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) # 32

“The Price!”

Cover Date: October 1978

On Sale Date: July 1978

Writer: Roger McKenzie

Artist: Don Perlin

Inker: Rick Bryant

Letterer: Diana Albers

Colorist: F. Mouly

Editor: Roger Stern

Editor-In-Chief: Jim Shooter

Cover Artist: Bob Layton

In the abandoned ghost town of Last Chance, Nevada, the Ghost Rider has been strung up on a fiery gallows by the Bounty Hunter. The gallows transform into a hellish creature who tries to take Blaze for itself, but the Bounty Hunter refuses to let the Ghost Rider go. The two men team up and drive the monster away, but the Bounty Hunter turns on Blaze after their victory. He tells Johnny that he was a man named Haskill that was a bounty hunter known for shooting wanted me in the back and killing them in their sleep to collect their rewards. When one bounty turned sour and left him dead, Haskill awakened before the Devil in Hell, who transformed him into a flaming skulled hunter tasked to bring the Devil fifty souls of his choosing. Blaze is the last bounty Haskill has to collect and once he has, he’ll be free forever. However, three of the Devil’s minions arrive, stating that the deadline has passed and Haskill’s agreement has been broken. Ghost Rider and Bounty Hunter fight back against the demons, victims of Haskill that had been dragged to Hell, and are quickly overwhelmed. Realizing his hellfire is unable to harm the creatures, Ghost Rider transforms back into Johnny Blaze, whose humanity repels the demons. The demons escape, taking Haskill with them as they return to Hell, leaving Johnny alone in the ghost town.

Does that make Haskill a sort of Ghost Rider himself?

THE ROADMAP

The Bounty Hunter began his pursuit of Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider (1973) # 29.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 30 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) # 31

“Demon’s Rage”

Cover Date: August 1979

On Sale Date: May 1979

Writer: Roger McKenzie

Artist: Don Perlin

Inker: Bob Layton

Letterer: J. Genovese

Colorist: Beveridge

Editor: Jim Shooter

Cover Artist: Bob Layton

While Doctor Strange battles Dormammu within the mind of the Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze finds himself inhabiting Strange’s body, face to face with his demonic alter ego. While the Ghost Rider is nearly mindless, lashing out at Blaze and Clea with all his hellish fury, Strange and Dormammu continue their war within the demon’s mind. Blaze, seeing the opportunity to pay the Ghost Rider back for all the misery he’s had to endure, takes on the demon in a physical fight that serves to interrupt the battle on the astral plane. Doctor Strange is able to exorcise Dormammu from the Ghost Rider’s mind, returning Blaze and himself to their rightful bodies. Their victory is short-lived, however, as a newcomer addresses them from the shattered window above. The Bounty Hunter has arrived to capture Johnny Blaze, who transforms into the Ghost Rider and creates his fiery motorcycle. The Ghost Rider leads the Bounty Hunter on a race through the streets of New York City, but is eventually overcome in a dead-end alley. Blaze lays unconscious while the Bounty Hunter stands over him, holding the wanted poster and stating that “nobody escapes the Bounty Hunter”.

Doc Strange apparently fights for the MMA.

THE ROADMAP

The Bounty Hunter has been on the Ghost Rider’s trail since Ghost Rider (1973) # 29.

Doctor Strange will meet the Ghost Rider again in The Defenders (1971) # 96.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 31 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

That's some phonetic accent there, Bounty Hunter.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 30

"The Mage and the Monster!"

Cover Date: June 1978

On Sale Date: March 1978

Writer: Roger McKenzie
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: Jim Mooney
Letterer: J. Genovese
Colorist: M. Beveridge
Editor: Jim Shooter

Having been manipulated by Dormammu, the Ghost Rider attacks Doctor Strange in his Sanctum Sanctorum.  Believing that Strange had already tried to kill him, unaware that Dormammu was responsible, Johnny Blaze is determined to murder Doctor Strange.  Fighting for his life, Strange opens a flaming pit beneath the Ghost Rider, but not even that stops Blaze's attack.  Meanwhile, Strange's apprentice Clea senses the danger and flies back toward the Sanctum, which has been sealed off from the outside world by a mystical barrier.  Clea passes through the barrier and arrives just in time to stop the Ghost Rider from killing the unconscious Strange.

Outside, two police officers confront a man on a horse in an alley, but they quickly back off when they see his face.  The mysterious bounty hunter holds up a wanted poster for Johnny Blaze that reads "Wanted: Dead or Alive".  Back inside the Sanctum, Strange releases his astral form and enters the Ghost Rider's mind, where he finds the soul of Johnny Blaze and learns his origin from his memories.  Dormammu appears to confront Strange, who sends Blaze's soul away to protect it.  Johnny wakes up inside the body of Dr. Strange, who is about to be attacked yet again by the now soulless Ghost Rider.

Ghost Rider ALWAYS beats Dr. Strange in fights.

THE ROADMAP

The Bounty Hunter will locate Blaze in Ghost Rider (1973) # 31 and his origin will be revealed in Ghost Rider (1973) # 32.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 30 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

Nice perspective in this panel!

Ghost Rider (1973) # 29

"Deadly Pawn!"

Cover Date: April 1978

On Sale Date:  January 1978

Writer: Roger McKenzie
Artist: Don Perlin
Inker: "N.Y. Tribe" (Owen McCarron, Tony DeZuniga, & Alfredo Alcala)
Letterer: Gaspar Saldino, Peter Iro, & Jean Simek
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Archie Goodwin

Desperate to prove himself as the world's greatest stunt rider, and to forget that he has lost Roxanne Simpson for good, Johnny Blaze attempts to jump over a massive gorge in front of a large audience as the Ghost Rider.  When he makes the jump, however, he disappears and finds himself blacking out as he is transformed back into his human form.  When he awakens, he's being held captive by Dr. Strange, who swears to kill Blaze.  Johnny transforms into the Ghost Rider to fight back against Strange, unaware that the battle is being observed by Strange's enemy Dormammu.  After a brief period lost in darkness, Ghost Rider busts his way out of Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, only to find a twisted and transformed New York City.  On the street, Dr. Strange commands his demonic servants to ready the screaming Roxanne for death by burning her at the stake.  The Ghost Rider flies into a rage and destroys the demons, freeing Roxanne as he speeds away.  Roxanne herself then transforms into a demon, which allows Dr. Strange to get the upper hand.  Meanwhile, a shadowy bounty hunter on horseback guns down his target in an alley, then produces a new wanted poster with Johnny Blaze's face that states "Wanted Dead or Alive".

Back in the twisted New York, Ghost Rider and Dr. Strange continue their battle, with Strange acting very out of character.  Dormammu continues to observe, pontificating about how this "Dr. Strange" is actually just a magical construct created by him to drive the Ghost Rider into a demonic rage.  When the battle causes the construct Strange to flee, Blaze gives chase on his hellfire cycle.  Dormammu comments that the Ghost Rider's demonic side is now fully in control and he teleports him back to the real New York City right in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum.  The Ghost Rider busts through the wall of the Sanctum, ready to kill a very surprised Dr. Strange, who has no idea why this demon has come to destroy him.

Wreaking the vengeance of Hell, you say?

THE ROADMAP

The Bounty Hunter will locate Blaze in Ghost Rider (1973) # 31 and his origin will be revealed in Ghost Rider (1973) # 32.

Johnny believes Roxanne to be back in Los Angeles, where he left her with her new boyfriend Roger Cross in Ghost Rider (1973) # 26.  He is unaware that Roxanne followed him when he left L.A. and was hypnotized into an amnesiac state by the Orb in Ghost Rider (1973) # 28.  Johnny and Roxanne will not see one another again until Ghost Rider (1973) # 79.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 29 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

Damn you, Strange! DAMN YOU!

Ghost Rider (1973) # 28

"Evil Is the Orb!"

Cover Date: February 1978

On Sale Date: November 1977

Writer: Roger McKenzie
Artists: Don Perlin & Tom Sutton
Inker: Pablo Marcos
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Phil Rachelson
Editor: Archie Goodwin

Cover Artist: Ernie Chan

Following his run-in with the Manticore, the Ghost Rider has been riding through the desert for hours. Exhausted, he's unable to keep his flame-cycle solid beneath him, and he takes a hard fall onto the ground, reverting back to his Blaze form after losing consciousness. A while later, a driver comes across Johnny's body in the road, and after waking him up gives him a ride. Eventually, after accepting rides from several different people, Blaze arrives in the nearest town. Roxanne Simpson arrives in the same town around the same time, searching for Johnny, and comes across Brahma Bill, who tells Roxanne that he's never seen Johnny before when he had actually met him only a few days prior. After Roxanne shoots down Bill's advances and rides off, he notices a strange biker riding through the streets.

Across town, Johnny tests out a new bike at a neighborhood motorcycle shop. He fails to notice Roxanne at the gas station across the street, and as she runs after him and shouts his name, she is grabbed from behind by an unknown person. The attacker tells Roxanne to look at him, and her eyes glaze over. As she wanders down the street, her memories erased, the stranger laughs maniacally. Completely unaware of what's happened, Johnny purchases the bike and heads over to a supply store, where he buys camping equipment for his trip across the desert. Brahma sees Blaze as he leaves town, and after a moment of thought about stealing Roxanne for himself, he decides that Johnny is probably headed for trouble and will need his help...so he follows Blaze out into the desert. Hours later, Johnny encounters a cycle gang that are under the thrall of an unknown force, all repeating that they must kill Blaze. Before Johnny can transform into the Ghost Rider, he's hit in the back of the head by a heavy chain, knocking him to the ground. As he loses consciousness, he sees Brahma Bill among the bikers.

When Johnny awakens, he finds his old enemy the Orb standing over him, determined to finally kill Blaze once and for all. Tying the helpless Johnny to the back of his bike, the Orb proceeds to drag him down the highway, the pain being too much for Johnny to concentrate on becoming the Ghost Rider. Suddenly, a gunshot breaks the chain holding Johnny, who sees Brahma riding past him, firing at the biker gang. Bill tells him that he decided to tag along with the bikers after spotting them, and that he'll keep them busy until Blaze can get back to his bike. Bill then gets a shock when he sees Blaze transform into the Ghost Rider and immediately take off after the Orb. The villain's laser blasts fail to stop the demon biker, and Blaze tackles him off his bike. While the Ghost Rider defeats his mindless slaves, the Orb again attempts to blast his foe with his laser and manages to bury him under a landslide of rocks. When the Orb begins to gloat that his victory was too easy, the Rider explodes with hellfire, removing the rocks and frying the villain with the soul-searing flame. His helmet lost, the Orb commands his minions to take him away, unable to fight after being hit by the hellfire. Johnny returns to his normal form, exhausted, and Bill helps him to his feet...neither men noticing the Orb's discarded helmet laying behind them. Johnny asks Bill to ride east with him, but Brahma says that he has a woman waiting for him back in town. Johnny and his friend part ways, and when Bill returns to town he finds the amnesiac Roxanne and tells her that the two of them are old sweethearts.

Bye, Roxy!

THE ROADMAP

The Orb last appeared in Ghost Rider (1973) # 15.

The forgotten helmet of the Orb, which is foreshadowed as being important to an upcoming story, is left as a dangling subplot when writer Roger McKenzie leaves the book. When the Orb returns in Ghost Rider (1973) # 54, he has a new helmet modeled after the one lost in this issue.

Brahma Bill met Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider (1973) # 27.

This is the last appearance of Roxanne Simpson for quite a long time until she finally makes a return to the series in Ghost Rider (1973) # 75.

CHAIN REACTION

To read my review of Ghost Rider (1973) # 28 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

That moment you realize you made a big mistake.