Issue(s): Ghost Rider #59
Cover Date: Aug 81
Title: "Moon over dark water!"
Credits:
Michael Fleisher - Writer
Jack Sparling - Penciler
Don Perlin - Inker
David Anthony Kraft - Editor

Review/plot:
Moondark is back, and this time he's teaming up with the Water Wizard! Not excited? Look, guys, this is the best we can do. Ghost Rider just hasn't fought that many super-villains. I guess we could bring back Paste Pot Pete, but would that really be better? There's also the villains that Ghost Rider fought with the Champions, and i guess a Swarm appearance could be pretty cool, but for the most part the Champions didn't really have a great set of villains either and they aren't really suited for Ghost Rider on a solo outing. I suppose we could bring in some Marvel villains that Ghost Rider had never fought before, but i am sure that Marvel was trying to thread the needle of bringing in super-villains for a little more mainstream appeal without alienating long time fans of the book, and using villains Ghost Rider already fought is a good way to justify things.

Ghost Rider comes blazing into Chicago, terrorizing the police...

...and then he encounters Water Wizard. At first it almost seemed like Water Wizard was protecting his city ("you've finally dared venture into my domain"), which seemed like a cool angle.

But Water Wizard is definitely talking about "vengeance".

And in any event, Ghost Rider is completely unimpressed.

It's at this point that Water Wizard is contacted by Moondark.

Moondark is speaking from the Netherworld, specifically a portion populated by Satanas.

To cement their alliance, Moondark gives Water Wizard some new threads. Not a new costume, just literally threads to sew up Water Wizard's existing one.

Meanwhile, Johnny Blaze gets picked on by some bikers, ostensibly because he failed to win his title back from Flagg Fargo last issue. Which, it's not like Blaze lost. He was winning, but then the contest got cancelled when Flagg got shot by the Enforcer.

Johnny takes care of the biker without transforming into Ghost Rider.

A little later, Water Wizard, his powers enhanced by Moondark, attacks.

Water Wizard has Ghost Rider on the ropes, but Moondark can't help but come up from the Netherworld to gloat.

And that gives Ghost Rider the opportunity to blast him.

That causes Water Wizard to lose control of his water monster. Ghost Rider rescues him only so he can blast him with hellfire himself.

This is the first of a few scattered issues drawn by Golden Ager Jack Sparling, with regular artist Don Perlin relegated to inks (or maybe Finishes; the credits just credit both for "art"). The art comes across as rough and kind of primitive. I do kind of like the idea of Moondark as a mystical villain that can take "ordinary" super-villains whose powers wouldn't normally stand up to the Ghost Rider demon and upgrade them, but someone ought to have an actual motivation here. Moondark wisely never shows his face again after this, but Water Wizard will be back soon.

Quality Rating: D+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Johnny Blaze's aborted contest with Flagg Fargo is said to have happened "last week".

References:

• Ghost Rider and Water Wizard last fought in Ghost Rider #23-24.
  
• Ghost Rider defeated Moondark in Ghost Rider #56, forcing him to flee to the Netherworld.
  
• Moondark lost his soul in Marvel Team-Up #91, so he has to be extra careful about losing his body.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Essential Ghost Rider vol. 3

"To cement their alliance, Moondark gives Water Wizard some new threads. Not a new costume, just literally threads to sew up Water Wizard's existing one."

That's too bad, 'cause if there is anyone in need of a better costume it's the Water Wizard!

I must admit to not digging the tux-and-turban look for ol' Moondark here. It's like Alice Cooper done up as DC Golden Age hero Sargon the Sorcerer surrounded by rejected models from a Monster Magnet video. As far as the villains GR faces, perhaps another round with the Orb would have generated more interest.