Ghost Rider: Vengeance Unbound

GHOST RIDER # 55 (volume 1)

SYNOPSIS
While riding through the Nevada desert, the Ghost Rider chances across a formula racing car. Desiring a challenge, the demon races the car, eventually running it off the road. When GR returns to Las Vegas, he relinquishes control back to the exhausted Johnny Blaze. Wanting nothing but sleep, Johnny decides to cut through a casino to reach his hotel room.

At that moment, the casino patrons are attacked by the villain known as Tatterdemalion, whose toxic powers can dissolve cloth and paper. Also in the crowd, however, is one Jack Russell - the Werewolf by Night - who quickly transforms and attacks the criminal. A moment later, Russell begins to scream unexpectedly and then goes into a berserk rampage. Johnny sees this, promptly transforming into the Ghost Rider. The two fight, but eventually both tire and return to their human personas.

Later, Russell tells Blaze that he's been having trouble controlling the werewolf side of his persona, and he can't explain the bouts of frenzy that he's been experiencing. That night, Blaze performs his cycle show with Russell in the crowd. Suddenly, he turns into his wolf form and goes on yet another rampage, which the Ghost Rider is barely able to stop. The next day, John asks Gina if she can lock Jack inside her garage for the night, so he won't hurt anybody. In return, Gina asks Johnny to drive her race car in that day's rest, as the driver injured his arm during the previous encounter with the Ghost Rider. Before the race, Tatterdemalion decides to steal the race car. The Ghost Rider pursues, running the car off the road and leaving the villain for dead. Unseen by the demon, the criminal crawls away from the wreckage. The next day, Jack tells Blaze that he's heading back to LA. Moments later, Gina arrives and tells Blaze that due to her fear of the Ghost Rider, she can't see him anymore.

ANNOTATIONS
Jack Russell's search for the Tatterdemalion began in Marvel Team-Up # 93.

The Ghost Rider and the Werewolf met briefly in Marvel Premiere # 28.

Gina Langtree first appeared in Ghost Rider # 41 (vol. 1), and made her reappearance in Ghost Rider # 54 (vol. 1).

REVIEW
"Touch of Terror!" is one of those rare issues of the first Ghost Rider series that actually has a guest-star that connects it back to the larger Marvel Universe. In this case, it's Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night - another of my favorite comic characters!

It actually surprises me a bit that Ghost Rider didn't interact more with his Marvel horror brethren during the 1970s. Outside of the "Legion of Monsters" one-shot story, this issue here is one of the only times Johnny came across a fellow Marvel Monster. Werewolf by Night was actually Ghost Rider's predecessor in the old Marvel Spotlight title, though Jack had fallen on hard times and a cancelled series by this point in time. The two are a natural pair to team up, though, and it was a shame that it didn't happen more often. Both men were cursed with horrible alter egos that they were unable to control, plenty of story opportunities were there to explore their shared dynamic.

Mike Fleisher has turned out some really memorable stories during his run, but since the 50th issue it seemed like he was beginning to run out of steam. This issue picks things up considerably, though; whether that was due to the guest-star and rare appearance from an actual super-villain (the awesomely weird Tatterdemalion) or the fact that he actually utilizes something of a supporting cast and subplots is just a guess. I've really enjoyed seeing Gina Langtree back in the book, and when you think about it she's the closest thing to a recurring supporting character since Roxanne Simpson left the book 30 issues ago.

The most exciting part of this issue for me was seeing Don Perlin drawing the Werewolf again, as he was the artist on the original Werewolf by Night series after creator Mike Ploog departed (hey, there's another Werewolf/Ghost Rider connection!). Perlin's run on Ghost Rider was winding down at this point, but I like to think that getting to draw Jack Russell again might have invigorated him, causing him to kick his work up a notch. The art is certainly crisper and more full of energy and life than it had been in the few issues prior to this. Compare the artwork in issue # 52's "Sirens of Kronos" to this issue and you can see the improvement, especially in the action sequences. The chase and fiery crash of Tatterdemalion's stolen race car was particularly well drawn (I love the panel of Ghost Rider leaping from his bike onto the car).

I loved seeing Werewolf by Night back in action again, and I'm happy to see Fleisher and Perlin reinvigorated a bit. This upswing will continue for a few more issues, then unfortunately take a nose-dive right into the hard earth.

Grade: B-

VENGEANCE UNBOUND
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GHOST RIDER # 55 (volume 1) SYNOPSIS While riding through the Nevada desert, the Ghost Rider chances across a formula racing car. Desiring a challenge, the demon races the car, eventually running it off the road. When GR returns to Las Vegas, he relinquishes control back to the exhausted Johnny Blaze. Wanting nothing but sleep, Johnny decides to cut through a casino to reach his hotel room. At that moment, the casino patrons are attacked by the villain known as Tatterdemalion, whose toxic powers can dissolve cloth and paper. Also in the crowd, however, is one Jack Russell - the Werewolf by Night - who quickly transforms and attacks the criminal. A moment later, Russell begins to scream unexpectedly and then goes into a berserk rampage. Johnny sees this, promptly transforming into the Ghost Rider. The two fight, but eventually both tire and return to their human personas. Later, Russell tells Blaze that he's been having trouble controlling the werewolf side of his persona, and he can't explain the bouts of frenzy that he's been experiencing. That night, Blaze performs his cycle show with Russell in the crowd. Suddenly, he turns into his wolf form and goes on yet another rampage, which the Ghost Rider is barely able to stop. The next day, John asks Gina if she can lock Jack inside her garage for the night, so he won't hurt anybody. In return, Gina asks Johnny to drive her race car in that day's rest, as the driver injured his arm during the previous encounter with the Ghost Rider. Before the race, Tatterdemalion decides to steal the race car. The Ghost Rider pursues, running the car off the road and leaving the villain for dead. Unseen by the demon, the criminal crawls away from the wreckage. The next day, Jack tells Blaze that he's heading back to LA. Moments later, Gina arrives and tells Blaze that due to her fear of the Ghost Rider, she can't see him anymore. ANNOTATIONS Jack Russell's search for the Tatterdemalion began in Marvel Team-Up # 93. The Ghost Rider and the Werewolf met briefly in Marvel Premiere # 28. Gina Langtree first appeared in Ghost Rider # 41 (vol. 1), and made her reappearance in Ghost Rider # 54 (vol. 1). REVIEW "Touch of Terror!" is one of those rare issues of the first Ghost Rider series that actually has a guest-star that connects it back to the larger Marvel Universe. In this case, it's Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night - another of my favorite comic characters! It actually surprises me a bit that Ghost Rider didn't interact more with his Marvel horror brethren during the 1970s. Outside of the "Legion of Monsters" one-shot story, this issue here is one of the only times Johnny came across a fellow Marvel Monster. Werewolf by Night was actually Ghost Rider's predecessor in the old Marvel Spotlight title, though Jack had fallen on hard times and a cancelled series by this point in time. The two are a natural pair to team up, though, and it was a shame that it didn't happen more often. Both men were cursed with horrible alter egos that they were unable to control, plenty of story opportunities were there to explore their shared dynamic. Mike Fleisher has turned out some really memorable stories during his run, but since the 50th issue it seemed like he was beginning to run out of steam. This issue picks things up considerably, though; whether that was due to the guest-star and rare appearance from an actual super-villain (the awesomely weird Tatterdemalion) or the fact that he actually utilizes something of a supporting cast and subplots is just a guess. I've really enjoyed seeing Gina Langtree back in the book, and when you think about it she's the closest thing to a recurring supporting character since Roxanne Simpson left the book 30 issues ago. The most exciting part of this issue for me was seeing Don Perlin drawing the Werewolf again, as he was the artist on the original Werewolf by Night series after creator Mike Ploog departed (hey, there's another Werewolf/Ghost Rider connection!). Perlin's run on Ghost Rider was winding down at this point, but I like to think that getting to draw Jack Russell again might have invigorated him, causing him to kick his work up a notch. The art is certainly crisper and more full of energy and life than it had been in the few issues prior to this. Compare the artwork in issue # 52's "Sirens of Kronos" to this issue and you can see the improvement, especially in the action sequences. The chase and fiery crash of Tatterdemalion's stolen race car was particularly well drawn (I love the panel of Ghost Rider leaping from his bike onto the car). I loved seeing Werewolf by Night back in action again, and I'm happy to see Fleisher and Perlin reinvigorated a bit. This upswing will continue for a few more issues, then unfortunately take a nose-dive right into the hard earth. Grade: B-	Ghost Rider # 55 (volume 1) Published: April 1981 Original Price: $0.50 Cover: Bob Budiansky Title: "Touch of Terror!" Writer: Michael Fleisher Artist: Don Perlin Letterer: Diana Albers Colorist: Rob Carosella Editor: Denny O'Neil Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter