Issue(s): Ghost Rider #48
Cover Date: Apr 94
Title: "Under fire"
Credits:
Howard Mackie - Writer
Ron Garney - Penciler
Christopher Ivy - Inker
James Felder - Assistant Editor
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
Michael Badilino has been "interrogating" Dread for at least an hour, breaking his nose, shattering his jaw, etc.. Dread is said to be super-human and apparently has a healing factor, but even Badilino's police partners can't stand watching Badilino's abuse any more. And Dread hasn't given up any information on Mr. Hellgate. Captain Thomas Dolan sends Badilino out to talk to the press instead (luckily his fists don't seem bloodied). Peter Parker is among the press.

Mr. Hellgate sends Rak, a monster that Vengeance has fought before, to rescue Dread.

So it's Vengeance and Spider-Man against Dread and Rak.

An explosion caused by Dread' sticking his sword in Vengeance's chest stuns Vengeance and Spider-Man, but Rak insists that he and Dread flee instead of killing the heroes. But Spidey has put a tracer on the villains.

When they get to the warehouse where the villains are recuperating, we learn that Vengeance (indirectly) knows Hellgate.

As they fight again, Spider-Man has the usual conversation he has with every hero in the 90s.

Then we meet Hellgate.

Hellgate seemingly kills his minions for failing him, and then disappears. Vengeance says that the minions were actually already dead.

Instead of a lettercol, this issue has a survey which almost makes it sound like they hadn't already decided to bring Ghost Rider back.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - first Anton Hellgate

Chronological Placement Considerations: When Dread first sees Vengeance, he says that he owes him for "last night", meaning that last issue happened yesterday. Next issue takes place before Hulk #417.

References:

• Rak previously appeared in Ghost Rider #46.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A