THE GHOST RIDER - JOHNNY BLAZE
VOLUME ONE
PART FOUR
- Notes on the previous posts -
Welcome skull-heads to the next chapter in the chronicling of Johnny Blaze's original run as Ghost Rider! Ghost Rider is one of our all-time favorite fictional characters and we've been collecting Ghost Rider comics since we were children. For the fun of it, we thought we'd do a 100% complete read of Johnny Blaze's appearances prior to the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider run of the 90s. And, because, we thought it would be fun to document it all, we started this series of posts. And it's been a blast!
From both a historian's perspective and out of pure entertainment, this has been quite the journey! Seeing the publication origins of the character, reading those early moments where the writers are still building the character, and coming across the iconic moments has been exciting and informative. If you're curious and a Ghost Rider fanatic like we are here at Blood Work, won't you join us for this deep dive into comic book history!
At this point we've covered well over half of this volume and are quickly approaching the epic finale (we won't finish in this post, but we'll come close)! To recap, in Part One we covered Marvel Spotlight #5 thru #12, Ghost Rider #1 thru #12, Marvel Team-Up #15, Marvel Two-In-One #8, and Avengers #118 (22 issues in total). In Part Two we covered Ghost Rider #13 thru #26, The Champions #1 thru #17 (including every Champions tie-in), and a bunch of cameos, guest appearances, and specials (41 issues and more if you include the Champions tie-in issues without GR in them). In Part Three we covered Ghost Rider #27 thru #50, and Marvel Team-Up #91. Combined it's around 88 comic books we've covered between these first three posts.
To get caught up on those previous posts, click the links below:
GHOST RIDER - JOHNNY BLAZE: VOLUME ONE Part One
GHOST RIDER - JOHNNY BLAZE: VOLUME ONE Part Two
GHOST RIDER - JOHNNY BLAZE: VOLUME ONE Part Three
In Part Four we'll be looking at Ghost Rider #51 thru #67, Defenders #96, Marvel Two-In-One #80, Marvel Graphic Novel #1, and Avengers #214 for another twenty-one issues! In this post we'll chronicle the end of this volume's longest running and most consistent creative team, the introduction of new villains, more essential Johnny Blaze iconography, and the continuing build-up towards this volume's epic final section (which will be covered in earnest in Part Five!).
Let's get started!
REVENGE OF THE DEMON LORDS
Michael Fleisher and Don Perlin continue their epic run on Ghost Rider! Issue #51 is a fun little story about a haunted highway and a ghost trucker. There's also a fun little back-up story featuring Carter Slade, the original Ghost Rider. Issue #52 sees GR battle against the fabled sirens of myth; Parthenope, Leucosia, and Ligea. After this comes the epic Defenders crossover: THE SIX-FINGERED HAND!
Defenders #92 thru #100, simply put, is one helluva epic! In what seems like an unrelated series of events, the Defenders have to repair the cosmic abstract, Eternity, from falling apart, stop their arch-nemesis Nebulon from taking over the earth, and solve the mystery of "The Six-Fingered Hand," a cabal of lesser demons spreading their power over the earth. This is a great story, one long enough and grand enough to warrant its own spotlight in a post. The story ultimately belongs to Daimon Hellstrom and Hellcat, proving an essential read for Daimon Hellstrom fans (whom is closely tied with Ghost Rider too). We'll keep this focused on Ghost Rider here though.
Ghost Rider guest appears in Defenders #96, Johnny Blaze working as a stage-hand for the metal musician Asmodeus Jones. The demon inside Johnny Blaze senses a demonic presence near Asmodeus Jones. The Defenders, also sensing dark forces around the musician, enlist GR's help in uncovering the source. Ghost Rider and Daimon Hellstrom are reunited for the first time since Ghost Rider #19 and GR (not Johnny) has nothing but contempt for Hellstrom (seemingly forgetting how Daimon helped free Roxanne from demonic possession. Continuity error perhaps? Sadly it is the first of a few continuity errors to come). Ghost Rider and the Defenders successfully draw out the demon from Asmodeus Jones and send it back to the netherworld. After that, Ghost Rider leaves and no longer participates in this story.
Issue #53 introduces the demon lord Asmodeus (one of the major Hell-Lords. Not to be confused with the aforementioned Asmodeus Jones or Dr. Charles Benton's alias Asmodeus). Seeking to gain control over Ghost Rider (specifically the demon inside Johnny Blaze), Asmodeus sends a powerful She-Witch named Tabicantra to cast a spell on Johnny Blaze. Once cast, the spell will trap Johnny inside the Ghost Rider permanently, leaving the demon in control and unbound. The spell has a small time-limit where it can be successful and Johnny needs to transform into GR multiple times during that period, eventually the transformation becoming permanent. Tabicantra deliberately places Johnny in situations that force him to change into Ghost Rider, but she starts falling in love with Johnny. When only one more transformation is needed, Tabicantra rebels against Asmodeus. The demon lord dispatches more demons to complete the spell before time runs out, but Tabicantra sacrifices her life to save Johnny. This is an excellent issue!
Issue #54 sees the return of The Orb, once more attempting to exact revenge on Johnny Blaze. After nearly being sniped by sharp-shooters, Johnny changes into Ghost Rider and loses control of the demon. In a fit of demonic rage, GR retaliates with lethal force, nearly killing the sharp-shooters. Then GR goes on a rampage setting fire to the nearby town. In what will become an important foreshadowing, Johnny begins to suspect that he's losing control over the Ghost Rider and fears what will happen when that day comes. Later, The Orb strikes again and faces a truly wrathful Ghost Rider. GR is about to kill The Orb when Johnny exerts control once again in time to save his life. This issue is an important read with what is to come.
Issue #55 feels like an issue from a different series or a least a spiritual successor to WEREWOLF BY NIGHT! Recognizing Werewolf from their meeting in Marvel Premiere #28, Johnny and Jack Russell finally have a proper introduction. Werewolf's old enemy, Tatterdemalion, surfaces in Las Vegas wreaking terror. Ghost Rider and Werewolf team-up to take him down. However, Jack begins losing control over the Werewolf and GR has to battle Tatterdemalion alone. Johnny and Jack realize they're more alike than they realized, both struggling against the monsters within them. Noteworthy here; Don Perlin illustrated several issues of Werewolf By Night's solo title prior to this, this issue reuniting the artist with the character.
Issue #56 is a follow-up to one of Ghost Rider's guest appearances in MARVEL TEAM-UP #91 featuring the return of the mad magician, Moondark. Seeking revenge on GR for having been defeated in Marvel Team-Up #91, Moondark attempts to steal Johnny's soul in order to offer it to his demonic masters. Moondark reveals how valuable Johnny's soul has become to the dark lords of the nether-realms. Moondark nearly succeeds until a new incarnation of the original Ghost Rider emerges. Hamilton Slade, descendant of Carter Slade, discovers the mystic costume of the original Ghost Rider, is imbued with its mystic powers, and becomes the new Ghost Rider (going by the moniker the Phantom Rider). With the intervention of the Phantom Rider, Johnny is saved and Moondark is defeated!
Issue #57 is similar to the plot of the Wes Craven film, SHOCKER; A criminal is executed in the electric chair and his ghost returns to terrorize the people who put him in prison. Only GR's hellfire can stop the ghost of "Shocks" Marley (yes, the badguy's name is Shocks). It's actually quite a fun issue. The next few issues see the return of more than a few familiar faces from GR's past. First we get a rematch between Flagg Fargo and Johnny Blaze for the stunt cycle title only to be interrupted by GR's old enemy The Enforcer (who hasn't been seen or heard from since GR #24). The next issue sees The Water Wizard (also not seen since GR #24) team with Moondark to try and take out GR through their combined power. They have Ghost Rider on the ropes only for their egos to get the better of them, sabotaging each other in the process. And from there Johnny makes a quick stop in Detroit in issue #60 to stop a gangster from blowing up the train station. There he battles Reverend Joshua, a man with an ancient amulet that grants him the power to destroy demons! If Marvel wanted, they could've developed Reverend Joshua into a really cool character.
Of noteworthy mention; Issue #60 marks the last regular issue illustrated by Don Perlin. This isn't Don Perlin's last issue with the series, but it marks the end of his consistent work on the series. Don Perlin, along with writer Michael Fleisher, contributed much to the series and finally gave the book long-term visual stability. His work helped define the most effective look for the character, displaying some of the finest skull imagery the series had seen thus far. His contribution to Ghost Rider history is immense!
DEMONIC INFLUENCE
Here we jump over to MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #80 for a guest appearance alongside the ever-loving blue-eyed Thing! This story sees both characters finding a kinship with one another, both characters struggling to come to terms with their monstrous personas. GR goes overboard dealing out punishment to some teenage car-thieves and the Thing tries to keep GR from crossing the line. Ghost Rider spouts one of my favorite lines in this issue, a line I wish was used more;
"Retribution is the Devil's work."
In Ghost Rider #61 and #62 the Water Wizard returns for a two part story that starts with GR breaking the villain out of a mental hospital in order for the Water Wizard to use his powers to save a small down from a crippling drought. After saving the small town, the Water Wizard escapes with a few sheiks and heads to Saudi Arabia. There, Ghost Rider teams up with the super hero, the Arabian Knight, to save the day. Then we come to the legendary MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #1 a.k.a. THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARVEL. What's Ghost Rider's role in this epic? Very very little. As Earth's heroes gather around Mar-Vell in his emotional final moments, Ghost Rider can be seen among them. It's a background cameo and nothing more. It's strange given that GR and Mar-Vell never met. But perhaps Johnny is there to support his friends and former teammates, the Champions, as they lose a loved one. The issue itself is powerful and resonate, but it has little bearing, if any at all, on GR's story other than that, well, he's there. But this creates another continuity error later, albeit a small one.
Next Ghost Rider guest stars in AVENGERS #214 written by Jim Shooter in his first time writing GR since GR #27 five years prior. The man still knows how to showcase Ghost Rider the best. This issue is dense and loaded with great content. It begins with the Avengers struggling with the recent expulsion of founding member Hank Pym after misconduct and the infamous striking of the Wasp. Meanwhile, Johnny Blaze, feeling sore about how the Ghost Rider has ruined his life, takes out his frustrating on a rich guy who seemingly has it all. "Why should THAT guy have it all, while I get nothing?!" Johnny's feelings are elevated to dangerous levels when he transforms into Ghost Rider. As GR rides up on the unsuspecting rich guy, it turns out to be his old partner from the Champions, Warren Worthington a.k.a. the Angel! Angel recognizes GR and thinks nothing of it. But Ghost Rider shows no signs of recognizing Warren and causes Warren to crash. After a surprise attack, GR puts Angel in a coma.
The Avengers are called and arrive in the small New Mexico town to investigate what happened to Angel. Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and Tigra begin their search for the Ghost Rider. Meanwhile, feeling guilty for hurting Warren, Johnny Blaze has taken up residence in the town while waiting for Warren to come out of his coma. The Avengers find him and Ghost Rider emerges. GR manages to take them down one at a time, even Iron Man and Thor! As the Avengers start to rally, Warren arrives, just awakened from his coma. Warren stops the fighting and confronts GR, and coaxes Johnny Blaze's persona back to the forefront. Johnny apologizes to Warren and is forced to admit how dangerous Ghost Rider is becoming. The Avengers leave, letting the two former Champions work it out between them. Seeing Ghost Rider making mistakes that hurt others close to him reminds Cap of Hank Pym's recent struggles. Cap leaves feeling hopeful that Hank Pym will one day return and make everything right.
Wow! What an issue! I've never been a Jim Shooter fanboy, but I'm starting to become one. He loaded this issue up with more plotlines, themes, character threads, and character beats than I've seen in a long while and brought it all together nicely. Not only did this issue build Ghost Rider up as a force capable of taking out the Avengers single-handed, but it also heavily played into GR's central subplot, that the demon inside of Johnny is growing more evil and influencing Johnny Blaze. And in this one issue Ghost Rider uses the phrase "Spirit of Vengeance" for the first time since Ghost Rider #26. GR uses the iconic phrase a half dozen times even! And the artwork by Bob Hall here is excellent as well, portraying GR in black leather (in another instance of proto-iconography) at one point. Even seeing Angel and GR together again tugged on some nostalgia for the Champions too. This is what a good guest appearance issue should be like! Given that I've droned on for three paragraphs about this one issue, it is needless to say that this issue is immensely significant to Ghost Rider and the series.
There's only one slight problem and it's one of those pesky continuity errors that I was alluding to earlier. Namely, how do the Avengers not know of Ghost Rider? They were all together at the deathbed of Captain Marvel. And surely GR's time with the Champions must've given them a dossier at least. To the Marvel editors credit, after nearly ten years the continuity had been pretty tight until Defenders #96 and Avengers #214. But a creative fan could come up with an explanation for some of these. Anyway, this issue is so good that this error doesn't take away from the experience all that much.
Back to GR's solo book, issue #63 is another significant issue, showcasing the first appearance of the Quentin Carnival, a central piece to Johnny Blaze's mythology, and the return of The Orb! Looking for work, Johnny comes across the Quentin Carnival and stages his own stunt-riding demonstration to earn a spot with the carnival. Meanwhile The Orb has amassed another group of soldiers and has reequipped himself with new deadly weaponry for the sole purpose of killing Ghost Rider. The subplot of Ghost Rider growing more out of control continues running throughout as well. With the foreknowledge of knowing where Johnny ends up, meeting the Quentin Carnival in this issue felt momentous. And seeing the Orb again builds further evidence to the Orb being one of Johnny's essential rogues.
Introduced in this issue are several members of the Quentin Carnival such as Ralph Quentin (the owner, a Buffalo Bill Cody type), Red Fowler (the carnival's current stunt-rider), Cynthia Randolph (a reporter for Woman Magazine, an in-universe periodical published by J. Jonah Jameson under the Daily Bugle's magazine division ((which first appeared in Ms. Marvel #1 from October 1976))), and Corky Franklin (the professional circus clown), all of whom will go on to become important and well-developed supporting cast members for the book on through to the final issues. More supporting cast members from the carnival will continue to trickle in with the following issues too.
Speaking of essential rogues, or characters I wish had become essential rogues, the demon lord Asmodeus returns in issue #64 with another attempt to make Ghost Rider his minion of destruction. This time Asmodeus succeeds in dragging GR to his hellish realm. What's interesting here is that Ghost Rider, despite being in the realm where Asmodeus' powers should be absolute, Ghost Rider completely overpowers the demon lord. This is another instance showcasing the Ghost Rider's growing power, laying the groundwork for significant revelations about the demon who is GR and what level of demon he is. It's also nice to see GR battling demons and hellish forces once again as such elements were perhaps the best aspects of the earlier issues of GR, and seldom seen after GR issue #19.
Issues #65 and #66 further develop the members of the Quentin Carnival and fleshing out the book's supporting cast. In issue #65 we really get to know the rival stunt rider, Red Fowler, a character who becomes a friend and confidant for Johnny in the coming issues. In issue #66 we meet the carnival's resident fortune teller and charlatan, Madam Olga. I particularly enjoyed issue #66 which saw Madam Olga purchase an antique candle containing the soul of a 15th century witch. Upon lighting the candle, Clothilde - the Wind Witch is freed and it takes all of the Ghost Rider's power to subdue her. Two areas of note concerning Clothilde: 1) Her origin story is a beat for beat homage to Barbara Steele's character in the Mario Bava classic, BLACK SUNDAY, including the spiked mask nailed to her face! 2) the mask and white color pallet for the character resembles a Ghost Rider villain from the 90s run; Pao Fu, one of Blackheart's evil Spirits of Vengeance.
Ghost Rider #66 marks the end of writer Michael Fleisher's tenure on the book. From Ghost Rider #36 through #66, Michael Fleisher delivered an unbroken 31 issue run, the longest of any one writer in this volume. He provided the most consistent depiction of the character and really honed in on what made the characters work best, both for the Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider personas. His tremendous contribution to the book cannot be understated.
J.M. DeMatteis takes over writing for Ghost Rider #67 and delivers one of the best scripts in the series. This issue is an atmospheric tale channeling the urban myth about a haunted highway during a rain-soaked stormy night. Expertly weaving themes of love, loss, and revenge into a heartfelt and eerie story with truth at its center. I could go on about this issue but it is one I highly recommend reading yourself. This issue has three different artists penciling the interior; Dave Simons, Don Perlin, and Tom Sutton. I'm not sure which artist contributed what pages, but the book looks a little underwhelming at first. However, by the end the artwork is superb, showcasing a brutal fight where Ghost Rider unleashes his hellborn vengeance and fury on four small-town bullies. Ghost Rider is particularly harsh here, but with purpose, illustrating the horror of all-consuming revenge. This issue is absolutely fantastic!
And issue #67 makes for a perfect place to end this section especially since we're on the eve of starting, what most consider to be, the defining run of the volume. And some have gone so far as to say this next section is the greatest collection of Ghost Rider literature of all time. So be sure to come back for Part Five, the final chapter of this epic volume!
But, before we go, let's run down the...
KEY MOMENTS FOR THIS SECTION
1) CONSISTENT POWERS (finally!)
*Expert stunt-driving skills (first revealed in Marvel Spotlight #5)*
*Transformations occur at will (first begun in Ghost Rider #22)*
*Can create a flaming motorcycle out of hellfire that can move at speeds in excess of 300 mph (first revealed in Ghost Rider #3)*
*Super-strength (first explicitly shown in Ghost Rider #25)*
*Nigh invulnerability (first revealed in Marvel Spotlight #9)*
*Soul searing hellfire (first explicitly stated in Ghost Rider #26)*
*Intense heat hellfire (first revealed in Marvel Spotlight #5)*
2) ICONOGRAPHY
*begins regularly describing himself as a deliverer of "Vengeance." (starts feeling like a catchphrase around Ghost Rider #36)*
*artists begin leaving out the eyes on GR's skull (beginning in Ghost Rider #37)*
*Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider are revealed to be two different entities (Ghost Rider #30)*
*Ghost Rider's (the demon inside Johnny Blaze) true personality is revealed, that of an evil demon longing for havoc and destruction (Ghost Rider #43)*
*Ghost Rider begins using the phrase "Spirit of Vengeance" again (Avengers #214)*
*first image of Ghost Rider with chains (Ghost Rider #28)*
3) MAJOR ENEMIES
*The Orb - Drake Shannon (Ghost Rider #54 and #63)*
*Asmodeus - the demon lord (Ghost Rider #53 and #64)*
*Tatterdemalion (Ghost Rider #55)*
*The Water Wizard (Ghost Rider #59, #61 and #62)*
*Reverend Joshua - the Destroyer of Demons (Ghost Rider #60)*
Flagg Fargo - rival stunt driver to Johnny Blaze (Ghost Rider #56, #57, #58, and #62)
*Moondark - The Mystic (Ghost Rider #56 and #59)*
4) MINOR ENEMIES
*The Sirens of Kronos: Parthenope, Ligea, Leucosia (Ghost Rider #52)*
*The Apparition (Ghost Rider #57)*
*Clothilde - The Wind Witch (Ghost Rider #66)*
*The Enforcer (Ghost Rider #58)*
*The Loan Shark (Ghost Rider #65)*
5) ALLIES - GUEST STARS
Werewolf By Night (Ghost Rider #55)
Hamilton Slade - the Phantom Rider (Ghost Rider #56)
The Defenders (Defenders #96)
The Thing (Marvel Two-In-One #80)
The Arabian Knight (Ghost Rider #62)
Iron Man, Tigra, Thor, Captain America, Angel (Avengers #214)
And this is where we'll leave you for now
Once again, in case you missed it, click here to get caught up with
JOHNNY BLAZE - GHOST RIDER: PART ONE
JOHNNY BLAZE - GHOST RIDER: PART TWO
JOHNNY BLAZE - GHOST RIDER: PART THREE
and be on the look out for Part Five coming soon!
And for more Ghost Rider related posts check out these others too!
TOP TEN GHOST RIDERS
TOP TEN GHOST RIDER VILLAINS
TOP TEN DOCTOR STRANGE VILLAINS
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPERNATURAL HEROES
TOP TEN MARVEL HEROES YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF
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