JOHNNY BLAZE - THE GHOST RIDER - VOLUME ONE (Part 6)

 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!

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 

TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER HERO TEAMS

Art by Bob Budiansky, depicting Johnny Blaze's Ghost Rider with mystic chains (Danny Ketch Ghost Rider's signature weapon)!

JOHNNY BLAZE - THE GHOST RIDER - VOLUME ONE (Part 5)

 THE GHOST RIDER - JOHNNY BLAZE

VOLUME ONE

PART FIVE

- Notes on the previous posts -

Greetings, my fellow flame-heads! Welcome to another leg of our journey through the original Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider saga! This time we're beginning the final stretch! Ghost Rider #68 is the start of the final arc and that's exactly where we're starting today! Are you ready to begin this renown chapter in 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 109 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).

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

For Part Five we will be looking at Ghost Rider #68 thru #75, and Team America #11. With only nine issues covered here, this is by far the fewest number of issues covered by any of our posts. But that doesn't mean this post is any shorter. These issues here come with a lot of content, the beginning of a mapped out and detailed story in the works unlike any other in the series thus far. The Chris Claremont school of writing is on full display in this section. Meaning what exactly? That this is a Ghost Rider story unlike any other!

THE LAST RIDE

This is the first half of the legendary run of this volume, folks. Everything the story has been building toward starts coming together here. Not only that, but perhaps many significant revelations are made within this section, both to Johnny Blaze's origin as well as that of the Ghost Rider himself. And the funny thing is that this run isn't written by a single writer nor illustrated by one specific artist, but a group of creators, their collected works forming something greater than the sum of its parts. 

Needless to say, this section here is a big reason why we read the issues before it. Like the ouroboros though, these issues would not carry the incredible weight that they do if not for the immense work that built to this moment. The creators of this section owe much to the creators who came before them, for without them, there'd be no Ghost Rider and no fertile ground from which this great ending would spring. And likewise, the earlier issues we covered would feel less if not for such a strong ending.

And it is an ending... well, the first half of the ending anyway!

I wanted to get the whole finale in this one post, but it turned out to be far larger than any post I had done before. In our infinite wisdom, we decided to break the post in two. Here's the first half of the epic final run!

Now that I've built this up to a point where it can't possibly live up to the hype...

...let's ride!

THE CURSE OF THE GHOST RIDER

The previous issue, Ghost Rider #67 by J.M. DeMatteis and a trio of artists, was one of the best issues in the series. It proved to be the start of an incredible "one-two" punch as this next issue maybe one of the greatest of all! 

Ghost Rider #68 features a new creative team, writer Roger Stern and artist Bob Budiansky. Artist Bob Budiansky isn't new to the book however. Beginning with issue #33, Budiansky contributed dynamic covers for nearly every issue onto the end of the volume. Issue #68 marks the first fully illustrated interior by Budiansky for a Ghost Rider book. There have been some great looking issues of Ghost Rider in the past, but the book has never looked better, in my opinion, than it does in Bob Budiansky's hands. One of the premiere aspects of this final run is Budiansky's art. And while he doesn't fully illustrate every issue in this section, his work makes up the majority of these last fourteen issues.

This is writer Roger Stern's first time writing the character and he immediately showcases the character brilliantly, maybe the best any writer ever has. The issue opens with Johnny entering a massive cathedral during a raging thunderstorm. He seems distressed, the growing influence of the Ghost Rider weighing heavily upon his conscience. Though not one for religion, he nonetheless asks the priest for confession. In the confessional booth, Johnny recounts his tragic tale to the priest. For the first time since issue #10, we're retold Johnny Blaze's origin story, only this time in greater detail (even going a little ways to explain one of my weird nitpicks with the origin too). A greater emphasis is placed on Mona Simpson, Johnny's foster mother. Johnny reveals his deep love for her, Mona's death effecting him more than the others. After her death he was understandably messed up and "went off in all sorts of weird directions." Taking an interest in the occult, he began studying occult rituals, perhaps in an attempt to contact Mona as he was still having difficulty dealing with her death. Ultimately growing disgusted and disturbed by what he was researching, he stopped his studies, but never threw away the books.

One key aspect of Johnny's origin that I poked fun at was how casually he seemed to turn to the Devil for help, as though every human being knows how to contact Satan and readily thinks to ask for the dark lord's help in times of need. This issue, while not necessarily changing his origin or retconning anything, provides further context and a deeper understanding for Johnny's decision. Exploring more fully Johnny's relationship with his foster mother, Mona, was a great gateway for this. And later, when the threat of losing his foster father looms near, those occult books tempted him to finally go through it. Johnny explains how he "felt twisted inside" after his deal with the Devil. Johnny recounts the slow build of Ghost Rider's power and influence to the point where he is no longer sure he can control GR anymore.

Once finished with his harrowing tale, Johnny begins another story, one about a priest he'd come across only hours earlier. The priest had been fatally injured, his clothes stolen, and of how the gold objects in the sanctuary might be tempting items for theft. Then a fiery skeletal hand smashes through the confessional window grasping for the murderer in priest's clothes (Johnny knew this whole time that he was talking with a murderer in priests clothes, so he's been deviously building up fear within the murderer, a nice touch). Desperate and scared, the murderer runs for his life from Ghost Rider, the chase leading out into the rain swept night where, beside the train tracks, Ghost Rider sears the man's soul with hellfire, laughing demonically as he deals out his infernal vengeance.

This one issue tells the reader everything they need to know about Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider, and the kind of world he lives in. This one story perfectly encapsulates the best aspects of Ghost Rider while simultaneously introducing him to potential new readers and providing more details for longtime readers to chew on as well. Noteworthy here is the usage of GR's iconic phrase "Spirit of Vengeance." Roger Stern is the first writer aside from Jim Shooter to use that phrase and it will continue to be used, albeit sparingly, in the following issues. Coupled with Budiansky's amazing artwork, if you only ever read one Ghost Rider comic book in your life... this is the one to read.

Ghost Rider #69 finally brings us back to the Quentin Carnival after spending two issues away. Roger Stern and Bob Budiansky continue together on this issue, building further upon the Quentin Carnival setting and the supporting cast that was introduced in GR #63. Red Fowler continues being a close friend of Johnny's while we get to know more about the owner of the carnival, Ralph Quentin, and even the carnival's star clown, Corky Franklin. Cynthia Randolph too, the reporter for Woman Magazine, continues to be a regular supporting cast member as well. There's a sexual tension between Cynthia and Johnny, the tell tale signs of a possible romance in the works. 

Issue #70, also by Stern and Budiansky explores one of the most fascinating aspects of carny life: FREAKS. Instantly recalling Tod Browning's immortal 1932 classic film, Freaks, this issue introduces us to another member of the Quentin Carnival; Jeremy, a hulking malformed man, with more humanity than most of us. Jeremy is pursued by the villainous Renaldo, working for a mysterious benefactor, on a mission to collect a menagerie of human freaks. Ghost Rider fights off the freaks and unleashes his hellfire upon Renaldo. But when Johnny's persona returns and rescues Jeremy from Renaldo's freaks, Jeremy's reaction is not what he expects. There's an unexpected and touching ending to this issue, though it is not the end for Renaldo and his freaks. In this issue we're also introduced to Eliot Franklin, Corky the clown's son.

Ghost Rider #71 sees a break in Roger Stern and Bob Budiansky's collaboration as writer J.M. DeMatteis and artist Don Perlin return to the book. Madame Olga returns too making contact with NULL - THE LIVING DARKNESS, one of the ultimate dark entities in the Marvel Universe. Following its defeat in Defenders #103, Null possesses the body of a man named Adam Henderson and continues spreading death to whomever it meets. There's a character within this issue by the name of Pastor Matheson (which I couldn't help but wonder if the name was a reference to prolific science fiction/horror writer Richard Matheson?) who is confronted by Null, challenging what the pastor stands for. The pastor maintains his faith and risks his life to save Adam's wife, Maureen, while Ghost Rider takes on Null. Seeing his wife nearly killed gives Adam the strength to fight Null's possession, making it vulnerable for GR to strike the decisive blow. It's another strong issue that, despite being from a different creative team, fits nicely among the other issues. The arc of Adam Henderson, the man possessed by Null, parallels Johnny's own experience with Ghost Rider and foreshadows what is to come for Johnny and Ghost Rider.

Stern and Budiansky return for #72 and #73 in a two-part story focusing on the Quentin Carnival. It's carnival vs carnival as Eliot Franklin's secret is revealed: he's the clown from the CIRCUS OF CRIME. Continuing an ongoing subplot from Michael Fleisher's run, Johnny has kept Ghost Rider bottled up for weeks now, refusing to let him loose. GR, growing in power, makes contact with Johnny through his dreams. GR demands Johnny set him free but Johnny no longer trusts GR to do the right thing, referencing the events of Avengers #214 as evidence. GR grows even more furious with Johnny. Meanwhile, disaster hits the Quentin Carnival as a series of mysterious accidents, thefts, and vandalism assail them. The troubles escalate to a tent fire which nearly kills Corky Franklin, Eliot's father, and places him in the hospital. Reluctantly Johnny lets out GR to dive into the raging inferno and save Corky's life. The culprits responsible for the attacks are the Circus of Crime! After Corky is hospitalized, Eliot takes off through the woods. Johnny follows him to the Circus of Crime's encampment in the forest. To Johnny's shock, he discovers that Eliot is the clown in the Circus of Crime! 

Johnny is quickly discovered and captured while Eliot leads the Circus of Crime back to the Quentin Carnival to take over. Eliot double crosses his old compatriots and leads the Quentin Carnival against the Circus of Crime. Even reporter Cynthia Randolph gets into the action as the battle heats up. In some awesome imagery by Bob Budiansky, Johnny transforms into GR to escape his bonds. He isn't in his usual leathers so we're treated to a rare sight of Ghost Rider in a tore up t-shirt showing more of his fiery skeleton. GR hightails it to the carnival to exact his hellish vengeance finding the cruelest of the Circus of Crime, the Fire-Eater, battling against Eliot. GR, believing Eliot to be in league with the Circus of Crime, burns his soul with hellfire. Red Fowler arrives and tells GR that Eliot is innocent. Realizing that he delivered vengeance to an innocent, Ghost Rider is shaken in his resolve and willingly lets Johnny back out. The ending was a genius move by Roger Stern that had yet to be done in the series, adding layers of gray to what had been a black and white concept of guilty versus innocent. Sadly, this is the last issue written by Roger Stern. He didn't contribute many issues, but issues he did pen were fantastic!

A noteworthy continuity error occurs here in issue #73. Ghost Rider, while trapped within Johnny's body, curses Mephisto for binding him within a human host. Recalling the early issues of Ghost Rider, it was Satan, not Mephisto, who bound Ghost Rider to Johnny Blaze. Some of you may ask, "Isn't Mephisto Marvel's Satan?" Mephisto is certainly Marvel's preeminent satanic figure, but he is NOT Satan in the Marvel comics universe. Marduk Kurios is the demon who went by the name Satan for many years in the Marvel comics universe. Marduk Kurios is the father of Daimon Hellstrom and clearly the figure whom Ghost Rider battled in those early issues of the series. This is made even more clear in the pages of Defenders #99 and #100 where Satan and Mephisto are together alongside Marvel's other major devils, Satannish and Thog. Ghost Rider blaming Mephisto instead of Satan is a major continuity error here, foreshadowing a major retcon coming in the near future.

J.M. DeMatteis and Bob Budiansky join forces for issue #74. Feeling responsible for Eliot's traumatized state at the hands of Ghost Rider, Johnny takes off on his bike. Veering off the road by accident, Johnny crashes his bike in the wilderness. There he meets a kindly old man who helps him recuperate. A ghostly fog arises, a terrifying figure walking within its ethereal mists. The old man who helped Johnny reluctantly leaves with the mysterious figure in one of the most eerie and atmospheric scenes in the entire series. Leaving a trail of dead plants in their wake, Johnny follows them to a withered and overgrown old plantation home deep in the Louisiana wilderness. Inside Johnny meets the mysterious figure, an imposing man calling himself CENTURIOUS. Surrounded by a host of people, all glass-eyed and doll-like, Centurious reveals that he has taken all of their souls and they now exist only to serve his whims. Internally Ghost Rider warns Johnny of the incredible evil he senses from this man. Johnny still refuses to let GR out until Centurious starts to steal Johnny's soul.

His resolve weakened, Johnny can no longer keep Ghost Rider back. GR emerges and begins waging his vengeance! Centurious sends his thralls to attack. GR bathes them in his soul-searing hellfire to no effect, realizing they have no souls to burn! Centurious flees to another room, retrieving a mysterious artifact called the Crystal of Souls, but is unable to reach it as Ghost Rider interrupts him. An epic battle ensues and Ghost Rider quickly realizes how powerful Centurious really is. GR covers Centurious in hellfire and thousands of souls come flooding out of the villain, all of the souls that had been consumed. Centurious himself laughs, revealing that he himself has no soul for GR to burn. Both Ghost Rider and Centurious are barely able to stand by the battle's end as the plantation home comes burning down around them. Reverting back to Johnny, Johnny escapes as everyone else inside burns in the inferno.

J.M. DeMatteis and Bob Budiansky prove to be every bit as good of a match-up as Roger Stern and Budiansky, as this issue was one of the best yet. The transition from Roger Stern to J.M. DeMatteis feels pretty seamless, DeMatteis proving to be a worthy successor as he will become the sole writer for the series from now on, weaving in Roger Stern's plots expertly with his own. Issue #74 and the battle with Centurious will prove to be quite significant for the future. This issue, to me, evoked thoughts of the horror movie TOURIST TRAP married with a little bit of HAMMER HORROR (which I both unabashedly love). Centurious himself looks and feels like an homage to Christopher Lee, which again, is absolutely wonderful!

Next comes, in what is becoming an increasingly rare occasion, is Ghost Rider making a guest appearance in another book: TEAM AMERICA #11. This is a fun little issue with little bearing on GR's story though there are a few elements of note here: 1) Jim Shooter once again gets the opportunity to writer Ghost Rider here! Shooter knows exactly how best to showcase GR and does not disappoint here. 2) Ghost Rider alludes to Mephisto here, which reinforces the coming retcon of Mephisto as the demon who bound Ghost Rider to Johnny Blaze. And 3) Ghost Rider, for the first time ever, wields a chain as a weapon! Leave it to Jim Shooter to add another essential piece of Ghost Rider iconography.

Issue #75 sees J.M. DeMatteis continue Roger Stern's Freaks plot from issue #70. A beautiful and mysterious female stunt rider named STEEL WIND is hired for the Quentin Carnival. And Johnny Blaze is fired! The entire carnival is in an uproar over the sudden change and Steel Wind begins enforcing new restrictions, displaying more power than she should have over the entire carnival. A new key member of the Quentin Carnival is introduced here; Vincenzo - The Magician. Vincenzo begins suspecting that Steel Wind has some dirt on Ralph Quentin, but doesn't know what. While spying on Steel Wind, he unwittingly stumbles upon her undressing, discovering she's part machine! Steel Wind menacingly stalks towards the magician and Vincenzo is never heard from again. Johnny, also suspecting something is wrong, returns and challenges Steel Wind to a race. During the race she attempts to murder Johnny, forcing the Ghost Rider to take over. Exposed for the duplicitous and murderous fiend that she is, GR defeats Steel Wind and essentially renders her comatose with his hellfire. In an epilogue sequence we are shown that Steel Wind was another Freak of Renaldo's and we are given our first shadowy glimpse of Renaldo's benefactor; the FREAKMASTER.

Issue #75 also contains a brief interlude where we're shown an unidentified woman searching for Johnny Blaze across the Midwest. From reading this entire run this character can only be one person (or rather there is an obvious identity to this character): Roxanne Simpson, Johnny's long lost love. Clearly seeding an event to come, the prospect of Roxanne finally coming back, for me, generated a lot of excitement in this issue. In those early issues Roxanne was both literally and figuratively Johnny's guardian angel with the power to repel demonic influences. For the last twenty to thirty issues the demonic half of the Ghost Rider has been growing stronger, Johnny now terrified of unleashing GR for fear of what he might do. This plot thread is building to a head. The return of Roxanne portends huge events on the rise. And it also clearly demonstrates how thoroughly well this creative team knows their Ghost Rider lore and characters.

'Phew!' There was a lot to unpack in these issues and we indulged ourselves a bit longer here as a result! The following issues are even more loaded, but we promise the next post will bring Johnny Blaze's original Ghost Rider saga to a close!

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*

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)*

3) MAJOR ENEMIES

*Renaldo and his Freaks (Ghost Rider #70 & #75)* 

*Null - The Living Darkness (Ghost Rider #71)*

*The Circus of Crime (Ghost Rider #72 & #73)*

*Centurious - The Soulless Man (Ghost Rider #74)*

*Steel Wind (Ghost Rider #75)*

*Freakmaster -cameo only- (Ghost Rider #75)*

4) MINOR ENEMIES

*Phony Priest (Ghost Rider #68)*

*Harry Donovan (Ghost Rider #69)*

5) ALLIES & GUEST APPEARANCES

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

*Roxanne Simpson -cameo only- (Ghost Rider #75)*

*Team America (Team America #11)*

6) 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)*

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

and be on the look out for Part Six 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 

TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER HERO TEAMS

Artwork by the great Bob Budiansky

You know what this section is missing? The Orb! This is the first section of this Ghost Rider volume not to feature an appearance by the Orb. Shame, it's a missed opportunity for sure.

JOHNNY BLAZE - THE GHOST RIDER - VOLUME ONE (Part 4)

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 
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TOP TEN MARVEL SUPERNATURAL HEROES
TOP TEN MARVEL HEROES YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF