Posted by Transformers Forever on August 24, 2006, 6:33 am, in reply to "thoughts on the new ghost rider"
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There was going to be an issue 94 that would (for the most part) have brought closure to the series. But comic book industry at the time was hurting badly and GR's popularity at the time was hurting thanks the horrible quasi-anime style art that was used in it for a time. the return of Tex and Saltares to the art near the end was good but it was also too late. Hence lack of support equals lack of orders for the book, hence the book wasnt printed. HOWEVER: Howard Mackie was writing Spiderman at the time and in issue 93 of that series (before it was rebooted as well) GR was restored on earth as the spirit of vengeance and was running amok, confused and wounded from something that happened to him in hell. Terrorists were going to blow up the city, GR sensed it and was trying to stop them when Spidey arrived to lend a hand. One last big bomb was going to go off, GR couldnt contain the blast in his weakened state when Dan Ketch who was last seen dead in ish 93 of GR's series, emerges from the crowd. GR states to him he is NOT Noble Kale and never was and implies that Mephisto was behind what happened to him. He and Dan merge again, GR contains the bomb and rides off. To my knowledge that was the last appearance of the Dan Ketch GR to this date. The events of Spiderman 93 pretty much negate the lost issue 94 of GR. HOW is Blaze GR again? Simple. Back in the 90's during the Dan Ketch series there was a special issue called Ghost Rider CROSSROADS. In it, Blackheart abducts Blaze and takes him to some spirit plane where the disembodied spirit of Zarathos was floating around. Blackheart remerged Blaze and Zarathos and Blaze was Zarathos/GR again and on a rampage. Dan was stuck in hell and stripped of his GR power at the time. Blackheart had also cited a supposed rule that only ONE GR can be active at any time. Dan escapes hell and reclaims his GR power and it was PRESUMED That Zarathos was removed from Blaze. However this was not the case. Blackheart's power had apparently suppressed and imprisoned Zarathos within Blaze. Then years later comes that AWFUL series Ghost Rider:Hammerlane, where Blaze becomes GR again with little to no explanation and the artwork was lousy. However per the Marvel Knights handbook that was recently printed, Blaze is supposed to be possessed by Zarathos again, and per that handbook Dan Ketch is STILL in possession of his own GR powers as well. I have yet to obtain the recent GR miniseries that Ennis has done, nor have i started collecting the current series but I shall do so soon. But as far as I know, Blaze is still channeling/possessed of Zarathos and NOT the spirit that Dan Ketch possessed. As to Blaze wearing the Ketch GR costume, well it is cooler then the old suit Blaze wore back in the old days and it IS the costume for the movie --Previous Message-- : loved the art, early days on the writing : though, id like to know why john blaze's GR : is going round in danny ketch's GR : costume.will danny be showing up in the new : series.that book kicked a$$ and is the : reason why alot of readers love GR.danny : gets no respect. : plus wants this i hear of a last issue being : finally produced.i had no idea there was a : missing issue. : cheers :