Issue(s): Ghost Rider #37
Cover Date: Aug 79
Title: "Night of the flame cycles!"
Credits:
Michael Fleisher - Writer
Don Perlin - Penciler
Don Perlin - Inker
Roger Stern - Editor

Review/plot:
Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider may be becoming more and more distinct lately, but Ghost Rider is still nice enough to let Johnny know when there's something going on that may be of interest to him.

This issue turns out to be a way to revisit the elements of Ghost Rider's origin. It turns out that at every circus featuring a motorcycle act, there is a demon or something lurking around waiting for a tragic accident that will convince some kid to sell his soul.

Luckily Johnny Blaze knows how that story goes and he's there to stop it from going down this time.

Ghost Rider then seeks vengeance on behalf of the kid, and that requires him to interrogate pimps...

...break up fancy dinner parties...

...and perform awesome motorcycle stunts on the high dive board.

The kid was dissuaded from getting involved in black magic, but the Ghost Rider also has to dissuade him from seeking vengeance.

These stories may not have any impact to the larger Marvel universe, but they're more successful as horror/vengeance stories than the majority of Marvel's mid-70s horror output.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: It's said that "two weeks" pass during the course of this story, during which time the motorcycle parents are buried.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Essential Ghost Rider vol. 2