Issue(s): Spirits of Vengeance #15
Cover Date: Oct 93
Title: "Trials by fire!"
Credits:
Howard Mackie - Writer
Mike Manley - Penciler
Tom Palmer - Inker
James Felder - Assistant Editor
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
Ghost Rider takes Johnny Blaze to the cabin of Quinn McIntyre, where the surviving members of Blaze's carnival are staying. Blaze is injured and is leaking hellfire. Quinn patches him up, turning him into Cable/the Terminator.

Johnny, what have they done to you?!

It's also confirmed that the hellfire has always been in him, not the shotgun he uses.

While Quinn is busy with that, Vengeance shows up at the cabin again.

Ghost Rider and Blaze's carnival friends hold off Vengeance until Blaze comes out. Blaze blasts Vengeance, causing him to revert to human form.

It's here that they learn that Vengeance is really Michael Badilino, the police officer that used to hunt Ghost Rider. They leave him knocked out in the snow and go off to hunt Centurious again.

After they leave, Caretaker shows up to collect Badilino. Meanwhile, Centurious melts down Ghost Rider's chain, turning it into armor for his arms.

I get that it was kind of limiting for one half of the cast of this book to just be a normal guy. But turning Johnny Blaze, circus stunt motorcyclist, into a cyborg is a weird move. And it's not like Marvel didn't already have 30 guys that look like this running around (including another Midnight Son, Frank Drake, which is just as weird).

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - "upgrade" for Johnny Blaze

Chronological Placement Considerations: This is part four of Road to Vengeance. Part five is in Ghost Rider #43.

References:

• Johnny Blaze became Ghost Rider in Marvel Spotlight #5.
  
• He left Centurious trapped in a gem with Zarathos in Ghost Rider #80-81.
  
• He met up with Danny Ketch, the current Ghost Rider, circa Ghost Rider #14.
  
• Quinn teleported Vengeance away in Spirits of Vengeance #12. He had to fight his way through a group of monks before he could return.
  
• When he arrives and fights the carnival folks, Vengeance is concerned about Miranda, who hurt him in Spirits of Vengeance #10.

Crossover: Road to Vengeance: The Missing Link

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A