THE GHOST RIDER - JOHNNY BLAZE
VOLUME ONE
I have been reading and collecting comic books nearly all my life going way back to the late 80s and early 90s. And since the early 90s, Ghost Rider has been one of my favorites, if not my all-time favorite at times. If you know your comic publication chronology, in the 90s Marvel introduced a new Ghost Rider to readers named Danny Ketch. During this period Ghost Rider became immensely popular, to the point of being one of Marvel's then trinity of top sellers. There was no better or easier time to get into Ghost Rider (because he was everywhere!). Anyway, I formed a fierce attachment to that particular Ghost Rider, but learned that there was a prior Ghost Rider as well. After acquiring every issue and appearance of the 90s Ghost Rider, I made it my goal to collect all of the previous Ghost Rider appearances as well dating back to the 70s.
THE HISTORY
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Marvel super hero, Johnny Blaze: THE GHOST RIDER, who first appeared in 1972 in Marvel Spotlight #5. Typically referred to as "the original Ghost Rider," Johnny Blaze was the first character to marry the fiery skull with a motorcycle and adopting the name: Ghost Rider. The name of Johnny Blaze has since gone on to be synonymous with the character of Ghost Rider.
There was a Ghost Rider long before Johnny Blaze however and there was even a fiery skulled super hero long before that. The BLAZING SKULL was the first comic book super hero to feature a fiery skull, originally appearing in Mystic Comics #5 from March 1941. Then in 1949 in the issue of Tim Holt #11, a character named Ghost Rider debuted; a ghostly gunslinger in a western setting. Once the copyright on the Ghost Rider character lapsed, it was snatched up by Marvel Comics and restarted in 1967. The horror elements of the story were eschewed (due to the restraints of the Comic Code at the time) in favor of western action, however maintaining the same name and the design (and even the same artist, Dick Ayers!). The Marvel Comics western Ghost Rider (who's identity was that of Carter Slade) only lasted a mere seven issues before seeing cancellation.
And then came Johnny Blaze. From 1972 to 1983 Johnny Blaze was Marvel's Ghost Rider before receiving an official ending. In May of 1990 Marvel revealed a new Ghost Rider, not Johnny Blaze, though Johnny Blaze would take a central role in the new Ghost Rider's story. During the 2000s however Johnny Blaze would once again be saddled with the powers of the Ghost Rider, becoming the leading Ghost Rider once again (at least for another stint before passing it off to someone new). Since then there have been many other Ghost Riders, dozens more in fact, but only one has really stayed in the pop-culture consciousness as THE Ghost Rider: Johnny Blaze.
THE JOHNNY BLAZE RUN
What makes Johnny Blaze the definitive Ghost Rider?
I have recently embarked on a thorough deep dive of Johnny Blaze's original run as the Ghost Rider, guest spots and costarring books in all! Starting with his appearances in Marvel Spotlight, onto his on-going solo series, his costarring role in the team book THE CHAMPIONS, and his guest appearances in Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Two-In-One, and more! We've even included the obscure books like THE HUMAN FLY and TEAM AMERICA that he guest appeared in too!
We've read it all!
So, join us as we research, enjoy, and document our journey through the pages of Ghost Rider!
Here's our findings:
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT #5 THRU #12
The reality, in most cases, are that very few long-running iconic characters first appeared in the forms we recognize them as today. Like actual people in a way, many fictional characters go through a growth period where the creators themselves are trying to figure out exactly who these characters are, trying things, learning what works with audiences and what doesn't. It' takes time and hard work to create and shape an iconic character. Keeping this in mind, Ghost Rider follows a long line of classic characters who underwent such long-term development.
THE ORIGIN
The iconic origin story is in tact, even more tragic in fact. Abandoned by his mother, Johnny Blaze's father, Barton Blaze was a stunt driver in a carnival who lost his life during a motorcycle accident. Johnny is adopted by his father's partner and owner of the stunt show; Crash Simpson and his family. During Johnny's teen years he's involved in a motorcycle accident himself that claims the life of his adoptive mother who, on her death bed, makes Johnny promise never to ride a motorcycle again. Then, as an adult, he learns that his adoptive father, Crash Simpson, is diagnosed with cancer.
To save his adoptive father, Johnny turns to Satan for help. How Johnny arrives at the idea to sell his soul to Satan is never really explained yet he seems to have already had an interest in the occult as well as books and knowledge on satanic rituals (like you do) and, trying to honor his promise to his adoptive mother, agrees to sell his soul to Satan to cure Crash's cancer. The Devil cures Crash's cancer, but, in an ironic and horrible twist of fate, Crash dies shortly thereafter in a stunt accident. Satan arrives to claim Johnny's soul and transforms Johnny into his personal infernal emissary: The Ghost Rider. Imbued with satanic powers, Johnny refuses to give Satan his soul.
Since Johnny Blaze is still alive and refusing to willing relinquish his soul, Satan is yet unable to claim his soul. Thus begins Johnny's battle against Satan to keep his soul.
POWERS & ROGUES GALLERY
When the story begins Johnny Blaze's transformations into Ghost Rider happen every day at night fall. Like a classic Jekyll and Hyde, Johnny would only become the Ghost Rider at night whether he wanted to or not. And the only real power he had was to shoot fire from his hands similarly to the Human Torch. He doesn't have his "Skull-Cycle" or "Hell-Chopper" yet either, rather a simple stunt-cycle. Clad in his stunt-rider jumpsuit (not leather, spikes, and chains), the only thing physical aspect that changes is his skull. Even as Ghost Rider, he is still talking and acting and thinking like Johnny Blaze, so no dueling personalities at play... yet.
After Crash Simpson's death, Johnny and Roxanne become the owners of the traveling Stunt Show. So every night Johnny becomes the Ghost Rider he hides himself away to avoid being seen, wanting no one to know that he has become a monster. He even tries to disguises his voice by speaking in a different cadence and tone, the nearby characters describing it as spooky like "Bela Lugosi." Johnny calls it his "spook act" and even tries to play it off to others that the Ghost Rider is all a mask and special effects gimmick for the stunt show.
The running plotline through these initial issues of Marvel Spotlight revolve around the motorcycle stunt show, leaning into the popularity of actual stunt driver Evel Kinevel from the time. And of course, satanism and horror and running from the cops.
As for the antagonists, Satan becomes Johnny Blaze's initial adversary, plotting and scheming how to claim Johnny's soul. Satan is the big bad of the story. During those first few nights as Ghost Rider, Johnny battles a biker gang led by a red-headed man calling himself Curly. Curly turns out to be Crash Simpson in disguise, resurrected by Satan. If Crash can attain Johnny's soul then Crash will be free from eternal damnation in Hell. Crash is unable to take Johnny's soul because of Roxanne.
Johnny's only salvation from Satan's power is Roxanne, whose purity of soul and love for Johnny protects him from Satan's evil. In an insidious plot, Satan commands Crash to kill his own daughter in a ritual sacrifice surrounded by Satan's acolytes. Johnny arrives to save Rocky but is pulled into Hell along with Crash. Trapped in Hell, Johnny manages to get through to Crash, his adoptive father helping Johnny escape from Satan's grasp. A mysterious hooded figure offers to save Crash's soul and help Johnny escape from Hell.
These issues of Marvel Spotlight lean pretty hard on satanism, as you'd naturally assume, and lend these issues a level of darkness rarely seen in the Marvel universe. I really enjoyed these early issues for that fact alone. The next story arc sees Johnny and Roxanne taking the stunt show out west to an Apache reservation where Johnny will attempt to jump a canyon. There he encounters an Apache shaman called Snake Dance, who calls upon the snake spirits to battle Ghost Rider.
By this point it is believed that Johnny is still mortal, even as Ghost Rider, and can still be killed. In an effort to escape Snake Dance, Johnny jumps the canyon. His bike was sabotaged earlier and explodes in mid-jump, Johnny careening into the canyon gorge to his death. It is then revealed to us that, as the Ghost Rider, Johnny may be unkillable as he miraculously survives his fall. And just like that, Johnny's powers as the Ghost Rider grow a little more.
A new villain makes their appearance next: Linda Littletrees - The WITCH WOMAN. Snake Dance's daughter, Linda is another of Satan's acolytes, imbued with dark satanic powers. Linda Litteltrees is an innocent who was forcibly offered as a sacrifice to Satan by a group of female devil-worshippers. Instead of claiming her soul, Satan imbued her with power and later used her body as his vessel. Through Linda, Satan tries once again to attack Johnny and claim his soul, even managing to capture him and take Johnny back to Hell.
Enter: DAIMON HELLSTROM
In one of the best sections of the comic, Daimon Hellstrom makes his grand first appearance. Believing Linda Littletrees to be possessed, Linda's family hires an exorcist. A former monk, but still a man of God, Daimon Hellstrom arrives in Arizona only too late. Like Johnny Blaze's Jekyll and Hyde persona, when night falls Daimon transforms into the heir of Hell: THE SON OF SATAN!
Johnny Blaze is effectively doomed, trapped in Hell at the mercy of Satan. Daimon Hellstrom, riding a fiery chariot pulled by three demonic steeds, Amon, Set, and Hecate (in some incredible imagery) storms the gates of Hell. He forces Satan back and rescues Johnny and Linda. Carried in Daimon's chariot, they return to the Arizona desert where Daimon leaves them (to take over as the star of Marvel Spotlight before receiving his own solo series too).
Also worthy of note here is the first appearance of the actual "Hellcycle." After Daimon Hellstrom drops them off, Ghost Rider and the Witch Woman are stranded in the middle of nowhere. With the Witch Woman having greater mastery over the powers of Hell, she instructs Johnny on how to form whatever he wants out of hellfire. Urging him to focus, through Linda's guidance, Johnny forms a motorcycle out of pure hellfire. Thus a new ability of Ghost Rider's is born (a very handy ability too as Johnny trashes motorcycle after motorcycle throughout this run).
FROM MARVEL SPOTLIGHT TO GHOST RIDER #1
The climactic battle against Satan and the Witch Woman and the epic debut of Daimon Hellstrom marked the end of Ghost Rider's time in Marvel Spotlight, graduating to his own solo comic book series. Until now, writer Gary Friedrich had been the main architect of the narrative. The book balanced satanic/demonic themes and mysticism with midwest grassroots entertainment such as stunt shows, demolition derbies, and vehicular racing. It makes for an interesting juxtaposition, extreme darkness set against what has become today as "state-fair" entertainment.
The two esthetics actually go hand in hand better than one would think. Johnny Blaze's nomadic traveling show could be seen as a modern day gypsy camp, offering taboo and unusual entertainment to isolated and rural communities. The mysterious gypsy camp in horror settings is a classic trope, the gypsies possessing ancient arcane knowledge and being the source of curses. So, from a certain perspective, this makes sense.
Ghost Rider's first guest-spot occurs here, between issues #5 and #6 of his solo series, in Marvel Team-Up #15 where GR teams up with Spider-Man to battle Crash Simpson's jilted former partner in the stunt show: THE ORB (in his first appearance). Written by Len Wein, this is an essential issue for Ghost Rider in that it reveals more background to Crash Simpson and the stunt show that will come back into play in future Ghost Rider issues. Though this is technically Spider-Man's book, this story is more Ghost Rider's than Spidey's.
During these initial issues, aside from battling Satan and saving Roxanne again and again, there are police chases, turmoil with the staff at the stunt show, and a mortal gunshot wound, which is staved off by transforming into the Ghost Rider. Johnny, as a character, seems like an "every man" type. A man caught in a living nightmare, trying desperately to outrun the inevitable. Other than turning to Satan for help in that initial issue, most of his decisions seem like what anyone would do in that situation. One motif that began here and continues to recur throughout the series is how Johnny's incredible skills as a cyclist help him escape many situations. His incredible driving skills are as much a super power of his as are his Ghost Rider powers.
After Ghost Rider #4, writer Doug Moench is credited for issue #5 and back to Gary Friedrich for issue #6. Friedrich then leaves the book entirely and turns over the writing duties to Tony Isabella, who maintains a fairly lengthy run on the book until issue #20. At issue #9, after multiple battles with the demon, Silfer, Roxanne finally concedes to give into Satan if only to save Johnny's life and the soul of her father. A new character then appears, who's never named beyond the simple title of "a friend" (who looks an awful lot like Jesus Christ), intervenes to save them both. Roxanne, after almost losing to Satan, questions herself and leaves Johnny on her own journey of self-discovery. And Satan, at long last, gives up on pursuing Johnny (for the moment).
During Isabella's time on the book, he further develops Johnny's character and powers and issue #9 was a pivotal point. After issue #9, Roxanne is out of the picture, Johnny no longer has the stunt show, and is free from Satan... and possibly the Ghost Rider altogether. And more changes were to follow.
Also, Isabella gives Johnny a new style of speech and characterization; that of a modern day cowboy. Johnny speaks using southern or cowboy colloquialisms and even refers to himself as such. It's not much to my personal liking, but it did give him a distinctive voice and character among the other Marvel heroes. Also, there is a thematic through-line there given that the original Ghost Rider was a western hero. Making that thematic connection to the Carter Slade Ghost Rider (the western Ghost Rider) is subtle yet pretty ingenious, showing acknowledgement for the characters and creatives that came before.
In issue #11 Johnny has a rough encounter with the Incredible Hulk and, once again, nightfall triggers the transformation into Ghost Rider, revealing that Johnny is still the Ghost Rider. Over the next few issues Johnny discovers he still has all of his Ghost Rider powers as well. After the Hulk, Ghost Rider meets another classic Marvel hero; The Phantom Eagle from World War I (or rather, the ghost of the Phantom Eagle. That's right! It's a ghost rider versus a ghost pilot!).
And from here on out it is a bold new era for Johnny Blaze and his alter ego; THE GHOST RIDER! More on that in PART TWO!
Before we end though, let's go over some highlights:
The issues covered in this section are Marvel Spotlight #5 thru #12, Ghost Rider #1 thru 12, and Marvel Team-Up #15:
KEY MOMENTS FOR THIS SECTION
1) MARVEL SPOTLIGHT #5 August 1972 = Johnny Blaze's 1st appearance
*Transforms into Ghost Rider at sunset/night and back into Johnny Blaze every morning*
*Co-owner of the stunt show with Roxanne Simpson after the death of her father, Crash Simpson*
2) INITIAL POWER SET
*Expert driver and stunt cyclist (natural talent through hard training) revealed in Marvel Spotlight #5
*Can shoot hellfire from his hands (satanic power) revealed in Marvel Spotlight #5
*The purity/love of Roxanne protects Johnny from Satan's power revealed in Marvel Spotlight #5
*Unkillable as the Ghost Rider (satanic power) revealed in Marvel Spotlight #9
*Able to conjure a motorcycle from hellfire (satanic power) 1st occurs in Ghost Rider #3
3) MAJOR ENEMIES
*Satan (Marduk Kurios, the father Daimon Hellstrom, not Mephisto)
*The Witch Woman - Linda Littletrees (is freed from Satan's power and reforms)
*The Orb - Drake Shannon (former partner and co-owner of the stunt show with Crash Simpson)
*Inferno (real name: Silfer) - lesser demon and minion of Satan
MINOR ENEMIES
*Crash Simpson (reincarnated and manipulated by Satan)
*Snake Dance (Apache shaman)
*Roulette - human possessed by the demon, Silfer (tries to burn Las Vegas down)
*Aquarius (of the villain team ZODIAC) - also possessed by Silfer to gain enhanced powers
4) ALLIES & GUEST APPEARANCES =
*Daimon Hellstrom - the Son of Satan (1st appearance in Ghost Rider #1 September 1973)
*Stunt-Master - former Daredevil villain, now reformed hero
*The Friend - possibly God/Jesus Christ
*The Incredible Hulk - tricked into fighting GR by the demon Silfer
*The spirit of the Phantom Eagle (the ghost of the legendary hero) - World War I hero
This is only the tip of the iceberg, everyone! There is much more to come as we chronicle our journey through the original Johnny Blaze run as Ghost Rider!
Part Two coming soon!
We hope you enjoyed this post! And feel free to comment below!
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