Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Today, Ghost Rider guest-stars in--nope, nope, stop that!

It's his own reprint book! From 1993, the Original Ghost Rider #9, reprinting from 1973 Ghost Rider #2, "Shake Hands With Satan!" Written by Gary Friedrich, pencils by Jim Mooney, inks by Syd Shores. Reprint cover by Klaus Janson. 

Let's be honest, it's gonna be tough to live up to that title, isn't it? Especially since we begin with the Ghost Rider, the transformed Johnny Blaze, driving a pickup truck in the rain. After running off the road, his girl Roxanne Simpson recaps his predicament: on the run from the cops, Johnny may or may not turn back to human come daybreak, but he had been critically injured prior to his transformation, and might die in the middle of nowhere now. Only one thing for it: give up! Game over, Satan, I'm yours!
Well, now, who among us hasn't said that at one time or another...? Johnny has either finally cracked, wanting Satan to "end (my) wretched earthly life forever!" Or, more likely, can't stand to see Roxanne suffer or put her at risk. Satan himself doesn't show, though; instead Witch Woman comes for him. Not far away, her fiancé and mother have a houseguest that could help them, but instead insists on having his wrists bound with a "chain of ankhs" and locked in a room until morning. About ten minutes later (okay, not really, but it feels like it!) the guest demands to be freed, or the possessed Linda will die: ha, ha, psych! We only glimpse his yellow boots, but the Son of Satan beats feet out of this comic towards Marvel Spotlight #12.
Witch Woman thinks Roxanne may as well just surrender herself to Satan too, you know, as long as she's there. Johnny refuses for her, leading to a fight, interrupted by the arrival of cycle gang Big Daddy Dawson and his Ruthless Riders. Johnny is at a self-imposed disadvantage, not wanting to use his flame powers and expose himself as a pawn of Satan. Um, that ship's kinda already sailed, hasn't it? Worse, Witch Woman doesn't care about that, and just drags Johnny to hell, leaving Roxanne in the clutches of Big Daddy! I'm more concerned for her than Johnny right now, but he's swamped by demons, than about to have the "sacred sword of Satan" crammed into him, making him a prisoner forever! Except, someone arrives in the nick of time to help...but who? Maybe I could tell you if I ever read any of these in order, but you're on your own!

1 comment:

  1. Well I can't speak for anyone else, but I'VE certainly never said that, much less thought it. And even if you don't believe in that fucker, why risk the chance he really does exist right?

    Ok, maybe if it's that during that certain monthly cycle and a certain partner is acting SUPER bitchy, maybe I can see offering her up to him or something, haha.

    Ok, so Friedrich clearly packed A BUNCH of story into this one, but why is GR (Not Johnny) so damn weak here? (Besides for the sake of added drama)
    I'm guessing somehow since his host is REALLY hurting, it's likewise having a draining effect on his abilities as well? Am I on the right track with this line of reasoning?

    How nice of Friedrich to also give away one of Damien's kinks. Wonder how many times he had Pasty tight him up like that in the bedroom...

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