Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
| 1975-03-01 00:03:15 |
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Ghost Rider #11
Issue(s): Ghost Rider #11
Cover Date: Apr 75
Title: "The desolation run!"
Credits:
Tony Isabella - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
George Roussos & John Tartaglione - Inker
Review/plot:
Apparently there's a dispute over the writing credits for this issue. The credits box says it was written by Tony Isabella, but Essential Ghost Rider credits Steve Gerber. The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Creators therefore lists both. While i'm no expert at this sort of thing, it does read like a Gerber plot. However, based on Mark and Anthony's comments below, i've removed Gerber from the credits.
Ghost Rider participates in a night time motorcycle race across the desert. (Blaze "forgets" that the race takes place at night, and he's embarrassed when he turns into the Ghost Rider, but the other contestants assume he's just wearing a mask. Which, as i've said before, means that he must look really lame.)
The story takes the time to introduce the assorted cast of interesting characters taking part in the race. Then, the demon Inferno riles up the Hulk...
...who happens to be in the race's path.
Ghost Rider, along with the other racers, fight the Hulk, and they actually manage to beat him, which i'll "allow" due to the Ghost Rider's mystical powers (it's said that his fire burns up all the oxygen around the Hulk's head; when people write in to ask why the Human Torch never tried that, the reply is that Ghost Rider's hellfire might have magical properties that make it possible).
Johnny realizes this is the first time that he's used his powers to help others, and he decides that it feels good.
It's been a nice evolution of Johnny into a more traditional super-hero role.
Quality Rating: C-
Historical Significance Rating: 1
Chronological Placement Considerations: A footnote says that the Hulk's appearance here takes place during Hulk #184 ("Note for continuity freaks: The awesome events you are about to witness occur between page 6, panel 2, of Hulk #184, and page 10, panel 3, of that same issue. So there! -- Len & Tony"). This should take place before the Ghost Rider's appearance in Marvel Two-In-One #8 according to the sequence of events described in Ghost Rider #12-13.
References:
- Johnny Blaze has been missing from the cycle scene due to the events of Ghost Rider #6-9. Johnny is taking the place of the Stunt-Master, who was injured during that arc.
Crossover: N/A
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: Original Ghost Rider #18
| Previous: Giant-Size Spider-Man #4 | Up: Main 1975 / Box 9 / EiC Upheaval | Next: Hulk #184-186 |
Comments
This story was scheduled for GR#10, but delayed for unknown reasons and replaced by a reprint of Ghost Rider's origin story.
In all the interviews with Tony Isabella about Ghost Rider, he's never mentioned any involvement by Gerber.
When Tony Isabella was asked in Comic Book Artist 13 if he remembers the reason for the reprint he replies ...
Tony : All too well. Sal Buscema had done very tight layouts from my plot for " The Desolation Run. " I had scripted the issue and it had been lettered. That's where the problems started. The finisher was supposed to be Bill Draut.
He goes on to say that " ... we never received a single page of finished art from him. Worse, he didn't return any of the penciled and lettered pages either. "
An attempt to retrieve the pages from Draut's residence in Hell's Kitchen with Scott Edelman failed. " When Draut refused to answer his door, we returned to Marvel empty-handed. I figured a reprint issue was a small price to pay for my and Scott's lives."
Tony mentions Gerber earlier in the interview as the inspiration for " The Friend " but nothing in conjunction with this issue.
I've removed Gerber from the credits. It's possible the Essential trade just made a mistake. Thanks.
Before Jim Shooter interfered with Isabella's final story, Tony stated he was going to bring back Johnny Blaze's mother, as well as the Friend to explain Ghost Rider's entire life.
I have been researching the life of Bill Draut, a distant cousin, who is mentioned in this blog post. I have seen several references like this to Bill's apparent difficulties with meeting deadlines and delivering on projects later in his life. Does anyone have any additional biographical information on this artist?
Another strange thing about this issue: on page 4, the first two panels appear to be out of order.
Inferno inexplicably disappears after this issue.
