Ghost Rider (1973) # 12

"Phantom of the Killer Skies"

Cover Date: June 1975; On Sale Date: March 1975

Writer: Tony Isabella; Artist: Frank Robbins; Inkers: Frank Giacoia & Mike Esposito; Letterer: K. Mantlo; Colorist: J. Cohen; Editor: Len Wein; Cover Artist: Gil Kane

Traveling through the Arizona desert, the Ghost Rider comes across an old man that's raving about somebody tormenting him. Johnny grabs the guy and roars off on his bike, just as a World War I biplane strafes the area with machine gun fire. Blaze manages to find cover between two rock outcroppings, but is shocked when the plane pass right through the stone. The Rider pulls the old man into a small cave, just as the sun begins to rise. With the dawn, Johnny transforms back into his normal form, and notices that the ghost plane has disappeared as well. The old man, Hermann Von Reitberger, tells Johnny that he was a German airfighter during WWI, and his greatest enemy was a mystery flyer named the Phantom Eagle. During combat, Reitberger shot down his opponent's plane, but before he died, the Phantom declared that he would stalk him as a ghost until he had his revenge. He'd been tormenting Reitberger ever since, all the way to America. Johnny offers to give the old man a lift to a nearby hanger owned by his grandson, Joel.

That evening, Joel tells Blaze that the Phantom Eagle was actually a German named Karl Kaufman who fought in the war under an alias in order to protect his parents that still lived in Germany. Moments later, the Phantom flies through the hangar, only to land on the other side of the runway. The sun sets just in time, as Johnny's transformation into the Ghost Rider is triggered. He rides out to the Eagle's plane, where the ghost tells him that Reitberger is a liar. On the night of his death, Kaufman had attempted to smuggle his parents out of the country. As they boarded the fighter plane, Reitberger saw them from the sky and mercilessly strafed them, murder both Kaufman and his parents.

Reitberger jumps in Joel's restored biplane, determined to kill the Eagle once and for all. The Eagle takes to the skies, despite the Ghost Rider's attempts to stop him. A brief firefight takes place, but eventually Reitberger's plane is shot down and crashes into the hangar, killing him instantly. With Reitberger dead, the Eagle flies away into the night, his spirit finally able to rest. Johnny looks on, thinking to himself "I hope he has bad dreams."

Ghost Rider (1973) # 11

"The Desolation Run"

Cover Date: April 1975; On Sale Date: January 1975

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

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

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

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

Ghost Rider (1973) # 9

"The Hell-Bound Hero!"

Cover Date: December 1974; On Sale Date: September 1974

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

 

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

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

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

Ghost Rider (1973) # 8

"Satan Himself!"

Cover Date: October 1974; On Sale Date: July 1974

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

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

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

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

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

Ghost Rider (1973) # 7

“…And Lose His Own Soul!”

Cover Date: August 1974; On Sale Date: May 1974

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

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

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

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

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

Ghost Rider (1973) # 6

“Zodiac II”

Cover Date: June 1974; On Sale Date: March 1974

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

Late at night in San Francisco, an armored truck drives across a bridge on way to its destination. Inside, the drivers discuss how surprised they were when they learned their boss, Cornelius Van Lunt, was actually the villain Taurus of the Zodiac, unaware that they are being watched by a strange man that's hanging from the bridge's suspension cables. The man, dressed as a lion, drops down onto the top of the truck and proceeds to rip a large hole in the ceiling, the noise enough to force the drivers to pull over. They circle around to the back of the truck, but are attacked by the man, who is actually Leo of the Zodiac. The strangest thing, as the drivers say before they're knocked unconscious, is that the real Leo is still in jail with the rest of his group. Grabbing the money in the back of the truck, Leo signals to the pilot of his helicopter, Slifer, to come pick him up.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Johnny Blaze goes to see Attorney General Barnett, who is waiting for him with both his son, Dave, and Roxanne Simpson. Congratulating him on the excellent job he did against Roulette, Barnett tells him that he has another assignment ready. Blaze refuses to do any more dirty work for him, and a fight nearly breaks out between him and Dave. Before Johnny can walk out, however, Dave pulls a gun on him and forces him to sit and listen. Barnett tells him that they need his help to stop the Zodiac, to which Johnny replies that the villains were put in jail weeks ago. The Attorney General explains that four different Zodiac members, Leo, Libra, Gemini, and Sagittarius, have struck San Francisco in the past 24 hours, each committing crimes directed against their leader, Cornelius Van Lunt. What makes the crimes so bizarre is the fact that none of the Zodiac have escaped and are all still in jail. Blaze again refuses to help, and he and Roxanne leave.

That evening, at sunset, Johnny stands in the center of an outdoor arena. As expected, his nightly curse activates and he transforms into the Ghost Rider. Roxanne emerges and embraces her lover, asking if they'll ever beat Satan's power. Blaze answers that by saying the only thing they can do at the moment is try and get their cycle show back on its feet. Straddling a motorcycle, Johnny takes off in an attempt to try and create some new stunts. He does get far, as a a mysterious gunman takes aim and shoots at his bike, causing him to wreck. Emerging from the crash unharmed, the Ghost Rider finds Dave Barnett, who is pointing a gun at him. Blaze simply points his finger at the gun, and a stream of hellfire melts it out of Barnett's hands. Realizing that Johnny truly does have supernatural powers, Dave grabs Roxanne by the throat in order to force the Ghost Rider to help him defeat the Zodiac. The Attorney General arrives, having followed his son, and implores him to let the girl go. Using Roxanne as a shield, Dave drags her into the shadows. Mr. Barnett tells Johnny that his son has suffered a nervous breakdown due to his being captured by the Zodiac two years prior when he was an FBI agent. They tortured him, and when he broke he told them all about the defenses of New York City, allowing the villains to capture the city for a brief time.

Suddenly, a spotlight at the top of the arena is turned on, shining directly on Blaze and Barnett. Though they can't see him, they hear Dave's voice behind the light, telling them that either Johnny helps against the Zodiac or Roxanne dies. Creating his hellfire cycle, Johnny rides straight up the stands toward the light, but when he gets to the top he finds Dave is gone. A lasso is then thrown over him, trapping his arms. On the other end of the rope, Dave begins to pull him backward, but a burst of hellfire frees the Ghost Rider. A fight between the two men breaks out, and the outmatched Barnett finds himself hoisted into the air by Blaze, who is prepared to throw him down to his death. Roxanne appears in the spotlight below, however, and begs Johnny not to hurt him now that she's safe. Blaze lets the other man down, only to find that his mind has completely snapped. Feeling sympathy for Dave, Johnny finally agrees to hunt down the Zodiac for him.

Back in San Francisco, a bank is attacked by a motorcycle riding Taurus, who demands to be taken to Cornelius Van Lunt's safety deposit box. The bank manager, despite being utterly confused by the fact that Van Lunt and Taurus are supposed to be the same person, tells the villain that the vault is on a time lock and that it won't open until the next morning. Touching a button his bike, Taurus blasts the door with an energy beam, completely disintegrating it. In the vault, Taurus grabs a bunch of documents that contain incriminating evidence, enough to put Van Lunt away for life. As he rides out of the bank, he is confronted by the Ghost Rider.

The Champions (1975) # 7

"The Man Who Created the Black Widow!"

Cover Date: August 1976

On Sale Date: May 1976

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

Cover Artist: Rich Buckler

A missile is shot into the headquarters of the Champions, directly into the room with Iceman, Hercules, and their publicist Richard Fenster.  Iceman is able to direct the missile via an ice tunnel into Hercules' arms, where it is caught harmlessly.  They give the missile to Ivan Petrovitch, who Black Widow claims can take the device apart to find out who sent it.  Across the street, a person from the Widow's past is watching and planning a confrontation.  

Meanwhile, Angel and Johnny Blaze are at the hospital where the recovering villain, Rampage, is being held.  Sensing danger, Blaze transforms into the Ghost Rider in time to see Rampage being rescued by two other villains, Darkstar and the Griffin.  The escape attempt is successful, with Angel and Ghost Rider both being defeated by Darkstar.  Back at their building, Hercules, Iceman, and Fenster are unaware that they are being watched by an intruder.  They find a young boy who asks them to help after sneaking inside, and his appearance allows the intruder - actually Ivan's son - to escape unseen.  Ivan and Black Widow finish examining the missile and find a black pearl inside, which Widow recognizes immediately.  She goes to a nearby rooftop and is confronted by a Russian man named Bruskin, who had been her superior during her time as a Soviet spy.  Before he can tell her why he has contacted her, he is attacked from behind by another Russian villain, the Titanium Man.

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.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 18

"The Salvation Run!"

Cover Date: June 1976

On Sale Date: March 1976

Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Frank Robbins
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Karen Mantlo
Colorist: Phil Rache
Editor: Marv Wolfman

Cover Artist: Rich Buckler

Johnny Blaze finds himself riding through a desolate landscape beside Crash and Roxanne Simpson, reliving the motorcycle jump that caused Crash's death.  Blaze is confronted by the Challenger, who reminds him that he must finish the race he has created if he wants to save the soul of Katy Milner.  Blaze continues on the race and comes to Copperhead Canyon, but when he tries to jump the canyon his motorcycle explodes beneath him, just as it did when he attempted the jump in the past.  Meanwhile, Daimon Hellstrom stands guard over Katy Milner's comatose body in the hospital, where she has been joined by her friends.

Johnny manages to save himself from falling to his death, but the Challenger mocks him for being unable to finish the race without his motorcycle.  Blaze concentrates and creates a motorcycle out of hellfire, an ability he had believed to have lost.  He continues on and finds the "Friend" that saved him from Satan crucified upon a cross by a collection of the Ghost Rider's worst foes: the Orb, the Trapster, Snake Dance, Aquarius, and the Miracle Man.  He fights his way through the villains and brings the "Friend" down from the cross, only for him to die in Johnny's arms.  Blaze is then attacked by a collection of heroes he had previously been allied with, including the Thing, Angel, Iceman, Hercules, and Spider-Man, who traps him in a giant web.  Johnny is approached by the Black Widow, who transforms him back into his human form and bites his throat with venomous fangs, leaving him to die on the web.  Elsewhere, back on Earth, the Stuntmaster talks to the man he's working for to kidnap Karen Page, her own father Death's Head.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 17

"Prelude to a Private Armageddon"

Cover Date: April 1976

On Sale Date: January 1976

Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Frank Robbins
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Ray Holloway
Colorist: Janice Cohen
Editor: Marv Wolfman

Cover Artist: Rich Buckler

Following a busy weekend with the Champions, Johnny Blaze returns to Delazny Studios to learn that production on the Stuntmaster television show has been halted due to stuntwoman Katy Milner's hospitalization.  Johnny calls Wendy and Richard Pini, who tell him to get to the hospital as soon as he's able.  When Johnny goes into Katy's room he transforms into the Ghost Rider and finds the young woman possessed by a demon.  He's unable to help Katy and finds himself thrown out of the room with his friends and her doctor, who suggests calling the exorcist Daimon Hellstrom for assistance.  Johnny makes a phone call to Hellstrom, who Blaze also knows as the Son of Satan, and he agrees to help.  While waiting, Johnny thinks about how much he misses Roxanne Simpson, while elsewhere Karen Page decides that she's going to act on her feelings for Johnny.  Meanwhile, studio accountant Cosgrove discovers something sinister in Karen's records pertaining to the million dollar bounty on her head.

Back at the hospital, Hellstrom arrives and Blaze takes him to Katy's room, transforming into the Ghost Rider along the way.  When they reach her room however, they discover it transformed into a large, hellish landscape.  When Hellstrom begins the exorcism, the demons possessing Katy leave her body and attack, calling themselves Legion.  Ghost Rider and Hellstrom destroy the demons, but find that Katy is now comatose in her bed with an invisible force field surrounding her.  They are confronted by the Challenger, who claims not to be a servant of Satan but an arbiter of balance, there to weigh Johnny's soul against the life of Katy Milner.  He creates a portal to another dimension and conjures Blaze's skull cycle, demanding he ride through the deadliest race course ever devised.  Despite Hellstrom's warning that this could cost Blaze his life, Johnny tells him it's what he must do to save the girl's life and rides through the portal.

The Champions (1975) # 3

"Assault On Olympus"

Cover Date: February 1976

On Sale Date: November 1975

Writers: Tony Isabella & Bill Mantlo
Artist: George Tuska
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Karen Mantlo
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Marv Wolfman

Cover Artist: Rich Buckler

Following Pluto's kidnapping of Hercules and Venus to Olympus, the Black Widow, Angel, and Iceman are lounging on the beach contemplating their next move.  They're visited by Johnny Blaze, who reminds them of the ice mountain that Iceman formed over one of the portals to Olympus and was never closed, which could gain them access to Olympus.

In Olympus, Zeus is forced to stand aside while Pluto arranges the weddings of Hercules and Venus to Hippolyta and Ares.  The Huntsman, Pluto's enforcer, walks out toward the mountain of ice, which explodes with hellfire as the Champions burst through.  While Black Widow and Iceman stay behind to fight the Huntsman and his mutant horde, Angel and Ghost Rider go to stop the weddings.  While the heroes make short work of the Huntsman, Ares, and Hippolyta, they are unable to stand against the power of Pluto.  Ghost Rider moves past Pluto and addresses Zeus, calling him out for abandoning Hercules and falling for Pluto's trickery.  Realizing his mistake, Zeus sends Pluto running back to Hades and gives Hercules his blessing to return to Earth with his mortal comrades.  The heroes enter the portal back to Earth, each of them wondering what is going to happen next.

Ghost Rider (1973) # 15

"Vengeance On the Ventura Freeway!"

Cover Date: December 1975

On Sale Date: September 1975

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

Cover Artist: Sal Buscema

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

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

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

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

The Champions (1975) # 2

"Whom the Gods Would Join..."

Cover Date: December 1975
On Sale Date: September 1975

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

Cover Artist: Dave Cockrum

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

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

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

The Champions (1975) # 1

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

Cover Date: October 1975
 On Sale Date: July 1975

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

Cover Artist: Gil Kane

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

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

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

Ghost Rider (1973) # 14

"A Specter Stalks the Soundstage!"

Cover Date: October 1975

On Sale Date: July 1975

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

Cover Artist: Ron Wilson

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

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

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

Ghost Rider (1973) # 13

"You've Got a Second Chance, Johnny Blaze!"

Cover Date: August 1975

On Sale Date: May 1975

Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: George Tuska
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Irv Watanabe
Colorist: T. Vartanoff
Editor: Len Wein

Following the departure of the Phantom Eagle, the Ghost Rider is left with the mourning grandson of the Eagle's last victim. Joel sees the Ghost Rider's flaming skull, but before he can freak out Blaze transforms back into his normal body. This confuses Johnny, who's used to turning into the Ghost Rider every night, all night. He thinks back to his recent ordeals and believes that he's finally freed himself from Satan's influence and that his curse is over. Realizing that he's broke, Johnny decides to go to Hollywood to take the Stunt-Master up on his job offer.

Two days later, Blaze arrives in the Los Angeles television studio that houses the Stunt-Master TV show. He finds the Stunt-Master, who introduces him to director Coot Collier, stunt-woman Katy Milner, and the show's co-star Karen Page. Blaze is hired on the spot as the new stunt-man, but before any filming could start Karen is grabbed by the Trapster on his flying disc. The Trapster mentions that there's a million dollar bounty on Karen's head, and he means to collect.

Blaze gives chase on his motorcycle, but to his surprise he transforms into the Ghost Rider. He chases the Trapster to a studio back lot filled with prop replicas of famous landmarks, where he forces the villain to crash his flying vehicle. Trapster immediately goes on the attack against the Ghost Rider, throwing every weapon he can against the demon, while Karen recognizes the Ghost Rider as being Johnny. Blaze weathers the assault, but Trapster gets the upper hand with his gravity intensifier weapon. Johnny lets loose one last blast of hellfire, which strikes Trapster's anti-gravity disc on his chest, causing the villain to fly away uncontrollably. Blaze turns back to normal once the Trapster is gone, leading him to believe that he's now turning into Ghost Rider whenever there's danger around. Johnny frees Karen from the paste that's holding her captive, and she gives him a reward kiss for saving her.