Issue(s): Ghost Rider #31
Cover Date: Nov 92
Title: "The conclusion"
Credits:
Howard Mackie - Writer
Andy Kubert - Penciler
Joe Kubert - Inker
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
Lilith has gone back to the carcass of the leviathan that she escaped from in Spirits of Vengeance #1. She's going to use it as a focal point to open a rift to summon all of her Lilin children.

Note that she was originally held captive by Atlantean sorcerers.

Meatmarket is also revived, thanks to another Lilin named Doc (who appeared briefly in Darkholders #1).

I noted throughout this series that Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider were supposed to be collecting allies for their fight against Lilith, but all they were really doing was going around to, i guess, confirm that they existed. It turns out that it's ok, though, because Dr. Strange just teleports all of them to Greenland to fight Lilith now.

Howard Mackie does his best with the script to depict what the art doesn't show, which is that the Nightstalkers should want to kill Morbius. No, Blaze doesn't look like he's getting in between them. Kubert just happened to draw him standing there.

It's a hodge-podge bunch of characters to fight Lilith and her demons. Dr. Strange will later say that the key factor is that there are nine of them. But since this is Ghost Rider's book, the main focus is on the fact that Lilith gives form to Danny Ketch's spirit.

I mean, really. What are Victoria Montesi and Sam Buchanan going to do against demons.

Ok. that. Somebody got whale-boned.

The fight is kind of messy...

...but i have to admit the idea that Lilith is opening a portal in her own body to let her children through, and then Ghost Rider forces her through the portal, is pretty crazy cool.

Dr. Strange teleports most of the heroes back home when it's all over, leaving only Morbius and the Ghost Riders around when he finally shows up in person. He tells them that he'll eventually make it clear to the rest of them what was going on, "but not yet". Strange then prepares to re-merge Danny with Ghost Rider.

At the very end, we see that Lilith has survived. She devours Nakota for strength.

Geez. All that for nothing.

I actually liked this. It's a definitely a big dumb crossover, more designed to introduce the new books than anything else. But i'm a sucker for a big dumb crossover, and i like that Marvel was doing something different with books like the Nightstalkers and the Darkhold Redeemers. And it was a good way to keep Ghost Rider busy for a while (his title has been dangerously close to being directionless). And Lilin has potential, although all of her Lilin seem like throwaway characters. Overall, it certainly wasn't a great or even good crossover, but it was fun.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This is the sixth and final part of Rise of the Midnight Sons. Ghost Rider #32 occurs immediately after this for Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, and Dr. Strange (Morbius must get teleported home between issues).

References:

• This issue begins with Lilith looking at the corpse of Meatmarket, who was killed in Nightstalkers #1.
  
• Lilith killed two scientists while freeing herself in Spirits of Vengeance #1.
  
• Morbius bites Fang and tastes his blood, and learns that it was Fang's blood that caused him to mutate in Morbius #1.

Crossover: Rise of the Midnight Sons

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Rise of the Midnight Sons TPB

I knew Joe Kubert inked this from the one scan of Blackout screaming before even checking the credits.

Personally, I think that this final chapter of that crossover was rubbish. The heroes get teleported in by Strange, they brawl with the Lilin a little, then GR does... something to her and it's decided that she's destroyed. So everybody gets sent home. But then, Lilith's back. Did Strange not notice that?

And Andy Kubert's storytelling is horrible here.