BLOOD WORK: JOHNNY BLAZE - THE GHOST RIDER

THE GHOST RIDER - JOHNNY BLAZE

VOLUME ONE

PART SIX

- Notes on the previous posts -

Welcome back fellow riders! This is it! This is the moment we've all been waiting for! It's the final chapter, the last run, the epic finale to this volume! Are you ready for one last ride in our chronicling of Johnny Blaze's original run as Ghost Rider?

Ghost Rider has long been one of our favorite literary characters. Since the character's epic revival in the 90s onward to today we've been fans! And 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the Johnny Blaze incarnation of Ghost Rider. This has inspired us to do something we've never done before: a complete read of every Johnny Blaze appearance from 1972 to the end of his initial run in 1983, not just his solo book but every guest appearance in other books as well. It's a complete Johnny Blaze read! And because we thought it would be fun, we've been documenting the whole journey!

Up to this point we've covered 118 different comic books featuring Johnny Blaze: 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. And in Part Four we went over Ghost Rider #51 thru #67, Defenders #96, Marvel Two-In-One #80, Marvel Graphic Novel #1, and Avengers #214 (for another 21 issues).

Part Five began the epic final run by Roger Stern, J.M. DeMatteis, Bob Budiansky, and Don Perlin. With Ghost Rider #68 the storytelling changed, incorporating new techniques and story devices. The comic book took on a whole new dynamic and the creative team began building towards a culmination. With far more to unpack in those issues, we only covered Ghost Rider #68 through #75 along with a guest appearance in Team America #11 for another 9 issues. After that, the post simply grew too large to keep going so we cut it off there.

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

GHOST RIDER - JOHNNY BLAZE: VOLUME ONE Part Four

GHOST RIDER - JOHNNY BLAZE: VOLUME ONE: Part Five

In Part Six we'll cover the last six issues, to the end with Ghost Rider #76 through #81. This is it. The epic finale! Join us for one last ride, won't you?

THE END OF THE GHOST RIDER

As we stated above, Ghost Rider #68 saw the arrival of a new creative team; writer Roger Stern paired with artist Bob Budiansky (who had contributed numerous covers for Ghost Rider by that point but never a full interior). Later issues would see writer J.M. DeMatteis take over for Roger Stern and veteran Ghost Rider artist Don Perlin contribute an issue or two to help out. This creative team set out to do something that had never been done with the series before.

Chris Claremont created a storytelling revolution within the industry during his legendary run on THE UNCANNY X-MEN. Perfecting a narrative structure that not only maintained a complete story in every issue, but also seeding a secondary plot (and sometimes a third too) that would come to fruition later. It was a beautiful evolution of longform storytelling yet possessing a complete story with every issue or two. This narrative approach spread across the writers room at Marvel Comics and beyond, Ghost Rider included.

Starting with Ghost Rider #68, Roger Stern and J.M. DeMatteis with artists Bob Budiansky and Don Perlin began an epic interconnected story running 14 issues that weaved several plots together into one grand arc (really it began in Ghost Rider #63 with the introduction of the Quentin Carnival). Re-presenting and deepening Johnny Blaze's origin, this section took a nomadic character like Johnny Blaze and gave him a home and a recurring supporting cast with the Quentin Carnival, a traveling show that was quite fitting for Blaze's transient nature. Secondary plots were seeded, building over this run, while paying off past threads long gestating in Ghost Rider's history. All the while subtly building up an ultimate nemesis. Working adeptly within the continuity (with one major exception), this creative team set out to not only explore Ghost Rider's mysterious origins, but to give the character a grand send off.

This is the end, folks. So few instances in Marvel Comics do readers receive a good and proper ending. And while this isn't a true ending to Johnny Blaze and the Ghost Rider, it is a clear and definitive ending to this volume and this story. An ending can make or break a story. A "bad" ending can potentially have a backwards effect too, diminishing the work that came before in ways. A lot rides on the ending to your story. Fortunately for us fans of Ghost Rider, this is an example of a great ending.

It's the final stretch! Without further delay... let's ride!

THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE GHOST RIDER

Ghost Rider #76 is one of the most significant issues in the entire series thus far and is the issue that drives home the major retcon hinted at in the previous issues: MEPHISTO. The issue opens with the demon lord Asmodeus making yet another appearance (much to my joy. I don't know why I like this character, but I do. I have a strange fascination with all of Marvel's great evil entities), crossing over into another infernal kingdom to treat with Mephisto. During the two demon lords conversation it is said that Mephisto is the one responsible for Johnny Blaze's merger with Ghost Rider (no longer Satan, Daimon Hellstrom's father). And Mephisto at last reveals Ghost Rider's true name: ZARATHOS.

Lord Asmodeus, still desiring to control GR for his own purposes, comes to Mephisto with a proposition: A Death Race across Hell with the dominion of Zarathos hanging in the balance. Ghost Rider will be set upon a course across Hell with a portal back to Earth at the end, beset along the way by demons and traps set in place by Asmodeus. If both Zarathos and Johnny Blaze can reach the portal together and escape Asmodeus' traps they will be freed from their bond to one another. If they fail, dominion over the Ghost Rider will transfer from Mephisto to Asmodeus. Mephisto, scheming secretly, agrees albeit under one small condition; a payment of sorts that Asmodeus will bequeath should GR and Johnny succeed. The deal is struck between the Hell Lords.

One night Johnny is suddenly ambushed by demons and dragged to Hell. There he comes face to face with Mephisto and Asmodeus, and Zarathos is forcibly drawn from Johnny's body by Mephisto's flaming sword (the same flaming sword Satan nearly killed Johnny with WAY back in Ghost Rider #2). The Hell Lords lay out the ground rules of the game, offering both Johnny and Zarathos freedom from each other should they succeed. Neither Johnny nor Zarathos believe Mephisto for a second, yet the two of them have no choice but to play along. The race across Hell tests them both, Zarathos and Johnny begrudgingly helping one another along the way. As they near the finish, Zarathos attempts to betray Johnny, but the two of them plunge through the portal together nonetheless. Just as they had guessed, Mephisto lied, and the two of them remain merged as they have been. Back in Hell, Mephisto demands Asmodeus uphold his payment for losing: his death (but this is comics and death is rarely permanent).

Ghost Rider #76 was a great issue, despite the massive retcon (I like Mephisto, but he's one of my least favorites of the Hell Lords. I enjoyed the story more when it was Marduk Kurios as the one responsible for Johnny becoming the Ghost Rider. I also liked how closely linked Ghost Rider and Daimon Hellstrom were as a result, but I digress). The race through Hell is epic and exciting and seeing both Zarathos and Johnny forced to help each other, momentarily finding an alliance and common ground, was masterful. A similar moment occurred earlier in the series during Ghost Rider #17 thru #19 to great effect as well. Ghost Rider #76 is one of the standout issues of the entire series. And the next issue is even better!

Ghost Rider #77 presents the history of Zarathos for the very first time! After relearning his true name and coming so close to freedom, Zarathos burns with fury inside of Johnny's mind. A voice mysteriously speaks to him inside Johnny's mindscape, a voice claiming to know of Zarathos' hidden past. Repressed memories from thousands upon thousands of years ago begin resurfacing as the voice speaks. In ages long ago, a tribe of humans descended into the infernal bowels of the Earth in search of power. There they discovered a giant ancient demon cast in stone. The tribal shaman, K'Nutu, imbued the stone with magic flames, resurrecting the demon, bringing Zarathos back to life. The tribe worshipped Zarathos as their god, paying him tribute in souls. Zarathos in turn led them on a conquest of the world, building a powerful empire. Zarathos' power grew with every worshiper he gained and every soul he consumed.

Sensing Zarathos' growing threat, Mephisto plotted against him, setting a diabolical plan into motion. As Zarathos prepared to smite a rival tribe and consume their souls, the prince of the rival tribe stepped forth defiantly. Standing upon the sacrificial pyramid before his entire nation of followers, Zarathos grabbed the rival prince to consume his soul. But Zarathos' flames had no effect. The prince revealed that he had no soul to burn, having sold it to Mephisto in order to save his princess and his people. Seeing their god's power challenged, Zarathos' entire tribe was suddenly filled with doubt. The wavering faith momentarily weakened Zarathos, diminishing his power. Mephisto suddenly appeared on Earth, striking down the weakened Zarathos. Mephisto claimed Zarathos' mystic lifeforce and enslaved the demon to his will. Over the millennia and centuries hence, Mephisto has used Zarathos as his puppet, binding him to various human hosts across the ages to do Mephisto's bidding on Earth.

Meanwhile, as Zarathos' memories are returning, Johnny receives a psychic message from Vincenzo, the believed dead magician from the Quentin Carnival, begging for Johnny to help him. Also, elsewhere at the same time, Roxanne makes a cameo again, growing another step closer to finding the Quentin Carnival. The psychic summons leads Johnny to a dilapidated mansion where he find a traumatized Vincenzo. Before he can mount a rescue, Renaldo and his army of freaks attack them. And back inside Johnny's mindscape, the mysterious voice speaking to Zarathos reveals themselves: NIGHTMARE - the lord of the Nightmare realm. And he has a plan to help Zarathos gain dominance over Johnny Blaze. Back in the real world, Johnny is strapped to a table surrounded by surgeons preparing to operate and transform him into another of Renaldo's freaks. Johnny decides to unleash Ghost Rider to deal with the villains. But Ghost Rider doesn't emerge!

The story continues in Ghost Rider #78 as Nightmare and Zarathos align to destroy Johnny Blaze. Nightmare reveals that the Ghost Rider inspires many bad dreams in those who lay eyes upon him. These bad dreams in turn feed Nightmare's power. If Nightmare can help Zarathos gain a stronger foothold in the waking world, Zarathos will wreak demonic havoc, inspiring more bad dreams to grow Nightmare's power.

Before surgery begins, Johnny is injected with anesthesia and put under. Now asleep, Johnny finds himself in the Nightmare realm. The lord of Nightmares disguises himself as Eliot Franklin and leads Johnny through his dreams, plaguing him with guilt over his actions as Ghost Rider. Nightmare succeeds and traps Johnny in an endless loop of guilt induced torture. Zarathos then emerges in the real world and lays waste to Renaldo and his freaks. For the moment it appears as though Nightmare and Zarathos have won. Johnny, now trapped in his personal hell, is visited by the spirit of Mona Simpson, his adoptive mother. She guides him out of his nightmare and helps him escape the Nightmare Realm. Johnny wrestles back power from Zarathos, takes over, and he and Vincenzo escape.

Ghost Rider #79 begins with Johnny and Vincenzo returning to the Quentin Carnival only to discover that the freaks have beaten them there! At last Renaldo's and Steel Wind's mysterious benefactor is revealed; F.M. Masters (is this a nod to F.W. Murnau?) or simply Freakmaster (looking strikingly similar to Truman Capote). Just as when Steel Wind arrived, for some reason Ralph Quentin has given Freakmaster nigh complete control over the carnival. We learn in this issue that Freakmaster, while not a freak himself, had parents who were carnival freaks that were mistreated and abused. The unfortunate life of his parents has been his main motivation behind all his actions until now. And it is revealed that Ralph Quentin was the one who mistreated Freakmaster's parents. Quentin's guilt overwhelms him and he concedes control of the carnival to Freakmaster.

Convinced there's more to Freakmaster, Johnny investigates further, discovering Freakmaster's true plans for the carnival: to surgically transform all of the Quentin Carnival members into freaks too. A host of hybrid human/motorcycle freaks appear and Johnny is forced to unleash GR. Zarathos makes short work of Freakmaster's man-cycle monsters. As Zarathos is closing in on Freakmaster to bathe him in soul-searing hellfire, Ralph Quentin comes forward expressing his guilt, offering his soul to be burned in Freakmaster's stead. Zarathos, in another genius moment by the writer, can't determine whom is indeed guilty. Rather than risk punishing the wrong person again, Zarathos willingly let's Johnny assume control. And as a cliffhanger, this issue ends with Roxanne finally arriving and reuniting with Johnny! This issue is the culmination of the "Freaks" plot thread and the last we see of these characters in this series.

In a note regarding GR's iconography; this issue also displays Ghost Rider once again wrapped in chains and then using the chain as a weapon! This is the third instance in which GR is shown with chains and the second instance of him using chains as a weapon. And if you really want to get nitpicky, this is the first time GR uses an actual chain as a weapon (the prior instance in Team America #11 was actually a motorcycle bike chain and not a regular sized chain). The more important piece however is the cover showcasing Ghost Rider gripping a chain, the first time the title character is depicted with, what would become, his iconic weapon on a comic book cover.

Ghost Rider #80 and #81 compose the epic two-part finale of the volume before its cancellation. Picking up immediately after the events of the previous issue, everyone at the Quentin Carnival are still reeling from the incident with Freakmaster when Roxanne confronts Johnny. Roxanne has traveled across the country in search of help, help that only the Ghost Rider can give. She asks Johnny to come with her back to the midwestern town of Holly where she believes the souls of all of the residents are in jeopardy. After saying his goodbyes, Johnny sorrowfully bids his friends farewell to go with Roxanne. His former sweetheart tells him that she's been living with her relatives since her memory returned (*the Orb erased her memory back in GR #28). After a day's ride and a sleepless night, they arrive in Holly where Roxanne introduces Johnny to her Uncle Paul, Aunt Ida, and cousin Charlie along with Pastor Ethan Domblue - the Sin-Eater.

During the time Roxanne has stayed in the town of Holly, she has witnessed Pastor Domblue's power to seemingly rid the residents of their sins. But once the Pastor has consumed their sins they're now longer the same, the life having left their eyes and their personalities gone. Roxanne suspects something supernatural at work and seeks Ghost Rider's aid, not Johnny's. As Johnny meets with Pastor Domblue he is invited to attend church and witness the miracle first hand. Later that night Pastor Domblue meets with a silhouetted figure. Bowing in subservience, Domblue assures the mysterious figure that Johnny will attend the next church service. At the Sunday service Johnny accompanies Roxanne and sees firsthand the Sin-Eater's power. Zarathos warns Johnny of the evil at work, but Johnny refuses to release the Ghost Rider. Instead, Johnny wonders if this Pastor's power could free him from Zarathos. With a fool's hope, Johnny steps towards the altar to have his sins removed. Sinister tentacles slither from the altar to take his soul. Weakened by Sin-Eater, Zarathos is able to force the transformation and save Johnny's life.

As Ghost Rider rises so too does the mysterious man controlling Pastor Domblue: Centurious - the Soulless Man! Centurious reveals that this entire plot was designed by him to lure Ghost Rider there. Ghost Rider deduces that Centurious and Sin-Eater were stealing the souls of the townsfolk via the Crystal of Souls, strengthening Centurious' power. The two engage in a furious battle, Centurious quickly proving to be the dominant power over Ghost Rider. Severely weakened, Zarathos retreats within Johnny Blaze, defeated. Having bested Ghost Rider, Centurious at last reveals his true identity. Thousands of years ago Centurious sold his soul to Mephisto in order save his princess from a demon's wrath. It was Centurious who shook the faith of Zarathos' followers those millennia ago that resulted in Zarathos' enslavement to Mephisto. It was Zarathos' hellfire during their pervious battle that returned Centurious' dusty memories to the forefront, having felt Zarathos' hellfire once before all those years ago. Ever since their last encounter Centurious has plotted Zarathos' demise.

Though Centurious sold his soul to save his princess, in losing his soul he lost his ability to love, and ultimately lost the opportunity to be with his princess. Over these thousands of years Centurious has slowly descended into soulless emotionless evil. Back in the present, the soulless followers grab Roxanne and Centurious places Johnny in the same predicament that he himself was in all those millennia ago: to offer his soul in order to save Roxanne's. Without hesitation Johnny concedes. Issue #80 ends with Johnny's soul being sucked out into Centurious' Crystal of Souls. Simply put, this issue is incredible, packed full of story, action, and brilliant plotting. Revealing Centurious' connection to Zarathos was masterful, the setup for Johnny losing his soul poetic and genius. In case you couldn't tell, I loved this issue.

Ghost Rider #81, the final issue, begins with Centurious basking in victory over his reviled arch nemesis, leaving Roxanne with a soulless and doll-like Johnny Blaze to tend to. Zarathos, after recovering his strength, returns without any resistance or restraints. With Johnny's soul and willpower gone, Zarathos is completely unbound, fully powered, and frothing at the mouth for vengeance. Delighted at finally being free, he spares Roxanne and leaves in search of Centurious. With no other options, Roxanne follows. In the center of town an explosive battle rages as Zarathos thoroughly trounces Centurious. Suddenly Zarathos begins losing his power though, feeling weak, while Centurious rises seemingly unharmed from the battering he endured. Centurious then reveals that this was the final stage of his plan, his ultimate revenge. The Soulless Man feigned weakness during the battle to bolster Zarathos' ego to the height of arrogance knowing full well that, separated from Johnny Blaze, Zarathos would wither and die. Spelling it out for Zarathos as clear and as condescendingly as possible, Centurious then utterly defeats the Ghost Rider, believing to have finally vanquished the demon once and for all.

After Centurious and his followers leave, Zarathos stumbles out of the rubble, barely clinging to life. Roxanne pleads with him that he needs to be reunited with Johnny in order to live. With virtually no power left to stand, Zarathos refuses and falls unconscious. Roxanne loads him up on her motorcycle and drives off after Centurious. Ahead of them, Centurious reveals his plan to consume the countless souls of the ignorant masses. This revelation causes Pastor Domblue to regret joining forces with this madman. The Soulless Man casts the Pastor aside like trash and clutches the Crystal of Souls. Roxanne and Zarathos then arrive. Feebly Zarathos approaches, barely able to stand. Amused by how pathetic his great enemy now appears, Centurious allows Zarathos to come near. Using the last of his strength, with one sudden strike, Zarathos cleaves the Crystal of Souls in half. The countless souls inside are set free and Centurious is instead sucked within the Crystal both body and soul. The Crystal then reseals trapping the Soulless Man inside. Consumed with insatiable vengeance, Zarathos pounds on the crystal, feeling cheated of his revenge against Centurious.

Zarathos finds his power and life force strengthening with the return of Johnny Blaze's soul. Johnny tries to pull Zarathos back inside, but the demon resists him tooth and nail. The two vie for dominance of the body, Johnny soon gaining the upper hand. Nearby, Pastor Domblue crawls towards the Crystal of Souls, saying he can pull Zarathos inside the Crystal to get his revenge on Centurious. As Zarathos and Johnny struggle, Roxanne calls out to him, begging Johnny to stop resisting. Shocked by her words, Johnny submits, allowing Zarathos to reemerge. Pastor Domblue invokes the power of the Crystal one last time to pull Zarathos' essence into the Crystal. Johnny awakes in Roxanne's arms at last truly free of the Ghost Rider. Seeing the residents of Holly's souls restored, Johnny and Roxanne ride off together in the sunset. The Crystal of Souls is left unguarded, falling into a fissure in the earth, into the clutches of Mephisto who delights in watching Zarathos and Centurious tear each other apart for all eternity.

A masterful issue and an incredible ending for Johnny Blaze and the Ghost Rider. In this issue, when Zarathos rises free and unbound it seems as though the Ghost Rider will finally lay waste to Centurious. The twist of Zarathos dying by being separated from Johnny was a great call back to GR #43 and #44 when Johnny and Zarathos were separated by Azaziah - the Crimson Mage; a truly fantastic use of continuity, proving once again that the creative team here had done their research thoroughly. In Johnny Blaze's very first appearance it is Roxanne who saves him from being taken by the devil. In beautiful symmetry Roxanne once again saves him from a devil, albeit a different one, fulfilling her role as Johnny's guardian angel.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Showcasing some of the strongest issues in the entire series, these last six issues deliver huge reveals and grand crescendos, paying off stories both recently told and plots from years ago. The antagonism between Johnny and Zarathos has never been better realized, and that is largely due to finally being shown Zarathos' backstory. We're finally shown a glimpse of who Zarathos was, what he once had, and who he lost it all to. These revelations about Zarathos' past inform these last few issues greatly and lend the story gravity and stakes. Issue #77 may be my favorite issue among the entire volume. In this one issue alone, a grand epic mythology was born and Zarathos was transformed from a nebulous nameless demon into an ancient demonic power that rivaled Mephisto.

We know Johnny so well by this point, the only character left unexplored was the demon inside him. And I do love the name Zarathos. I don't care for the retcon of Mephisto being the demon lord who bound Johnny and Zarathos together though. Not only is it the only major glaring continuity error, but it also further distances Ghost Rider from Daimon Hellstrom. The two horror heroes were so closely linked at the beginning of the volume, their journeys paralleling one another and coming to each other's aid at various times too. In the Defenders story The Six-Fingered Hand, written also by J.M. DeMatteis a few years earlier, nearly all of Marvel's devils are present and Mephisto is shown as a lesser devil next to Daimon's father, Satan.

The decision to retcon Mephisto as the demon lord behind Ghost Rider feels like an editorial move. There was a strong push for Mephisto at this particular time in Marvel Comics, elevating the character's status as Marvel's preeminent devil, and the only satanic figure prominently featured in Marvel comics from 1981 to 1989, making 39 comic book appearances in that time (almost as many total career appearances of Satannish, more than the total career appearances of Satan a.k.a. Marduk Kurios, and far beyond Thog, Null the Living Darkness, Dweller in Darkness, and Asmodeus combined). Taking the numbers into account, the editorial push for Mephisto seems clear. Even when the other devils returned in the 90s, Mephisto remained, and still reigns, as Marvel's supreme devil. Hell, he even has his own mini series titled Mephisto VS.

Another element further elevating the story was creating an ancient rival for Zarathos; the soulless man, Centurious, lent the story all the more gravitas. This entire volume of Ghost Rider, from Marvel Spotlight #5 to Ghost Rider #81, is rather anemic on great villains outside of Satan himself. The rogues gallery for this volume, while each fun and enjoyable in their own ways, is rather lacking.

Centurious, channeling Christopher Lee with a little of Dorian Gray mixed in, finally gives Ghost Rider a worthy adversary to battle with (likening him to Christopher Lee or at least to a Dracula-archetype was a nice touch too).

On top of that, there are many horror references seeded throughout, from literary horror to film. These little easter eggs made this last section all the more fun to read!

Ultimately, this final run of Ghost Rider, from issue #68 through #81, lived up to its legendary reputation, especially when weighed against the previous 67 issues, guest appearances, and tie-ins. Better still, these last six issues amounted to one incredible finale. How many times have we seen a story begin strong, but fizzle out by the end? Too many. But this story ended strong.

Overall, having gone through this entire volume and all adjacent stories featuring Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider, this has resulted in giving me a newfound appreciation for the character. There are over a dozen Ghost Riders nowadays and, if I'm being honest, Johnny Blaze was never my favorite. But to be fair, I never gave Johnny his proper due until now. What Marvel did with the character beginning in the 2000s always created resentment towards Johnny Blaze rather than admiration, essentially borrowing Danny Ketch's design, characteristics, and best story beats, in essence stealing everything from Danny rather than relying on his own character. Seeing Johnny Blaze here, as he truly is, has elevated the character in my eyes and given me a new level of respect for him (check out my post of my Top Ten Favorite Ghost Riders as I've updated it, Johnny climbing the ranks!)

This entire binge read was a real joy and I loved every minute of it! The book struggles to find its footing at the beginning, starts honing in on what works around issue #24, and finds its niche at issue #36. Staying consistent, now with a clear identity, the series maintained solid quality up through the end with the unrivaled height of the run being issue #68 to the finale!

There is a part of me that doesn't want to stop, to just roll onward into the next volume of Ghost Rider... and why not? Maybe we will and document it here as well! But before we dive into that even bigger run (with hundreds more issues featuring Ghost Rider as a guest star on top of the solo title) we've got at least one more post to wrap up this run! A post filled with bonus material and top ten lists dedicated this volume! Be on the look out for that next!

But before we go, let's run down the...

KEY MOMENTS FOR THIS SECTION

1) RECONTEXTURALIZING THE ORIGIN

*GHOST RIDER #68 is a superior retelling of Johnny Blaze's origin story*

*Johnny's turning to satanism is further explained*

*New emphasis is placed on Johnny Blaze's relationship with his foster mother, Mona Simpson*

*Ghost Rider's true name is revealed: Zarathos (Ghost Rider #76)*

*Zarathos' backstory is revealed (Ghost Rider #77)*

*Mephisto is retconned as the devil who created Ghost Rider (Ghost Rider #76)*

2) CONSISTENT POWER SET

*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)*

*Zarathos' power grows with the faith of worshippers (revealed in Ghost Rider #77)*

3) MAJOR ENEMIES

*Renaldo and the Freaks (Ghost Rider #77, #78, & #79)*

*Freakmaster (Ghost Rider #79)*

*Mephisto (Ghost Rider #76 & #77)*

*Asmodeus (Ghost Rider #76)*

*Centurious - The Soulless Man (Ghost Rider #77, #80, & #81)*

*Nightmare (Ghost Rider #77 & #78)*

*Sin-Eater - Pastor Ethan Domblue (Ghost Rider #80 & #81)*

4) ALLIES

*The Quentin Carnival: Ralph Quentin, Red Fowler, Cynthia Randolph, Corky Franklin, Eliot Franklin, Madame Olga, Vincenzo - The Magician*

*Roxanne Simpson (Ghost Rider #77, #79, #80, & #81)*

*K'Nutu - tribal shaman and priest of Zarathos' from ancient times (Ghost Rider #77)*

5) 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)*

*first instance of Ghost Rider using a chain as a weapon (Team America #11)*

*first instance of Ghost Rider depicted with a chain on a comic cover (Ghost Rider #79)*

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

JOHNNY BLAZE - GHOST RIDER: PART FOUR

JOHNNY BLAZE - GHOST RIDER: PART FIVE

Just one more post to go!