Comics Corner: Marvel Spotlight 5

Title: Marvel Spotlight

Issue Number:5

Release Date:September 1977

Highlights

• First appearance of Ghost Rider / Johnny Blaze, Crash Simpson, Roxanne Simpson (Blaze) and Zarathos
• Death of Crash Simpson
• Origin of Ghost Rider

Low Points

• Sloppy writing
• Issue is just a long origin story 
• Disappointing and somewhat boring

Oddities

• Johnny promises Roxanne's dying mother that he will never ride in stunt shows again, and five years later, everyone says he's a coward for not getting back on a bike
• Johnny Blaze isn't willing to ride a motorcycle in Crash Simpson's show because of a vow he made, but he'll gladly sell his soul to Satan to save Crash Simpson's life from a disease
• Seconds after Crash Simpson wrecks his bike attempting a world record jump, Johnny Blaze jumps on a bike and succeeds in the stunt - So you don't care about the guy that just died?
• Roxanne suspects that Johnny made a deal with the devil. How? She wasn't there, it's not discussed, it simply makes no sense that she just guessed this
• Roxanne tells Johnny that as long as she stays with him, the devil won't be able to take him - Then she completely abandons him the following night...So, you know, he turns into Ghost Rider

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Ghost Rider (Toy Biz)

Ghost Rider
Toy Biz
1995-1996

Ghost Rider has gone through several character transitions since his first appearance in Marvel Spotlight #5 where he was portrayed as a Western gunslinger - Later changed to the name Phantom Rider. The most familiar iteration of the character is that of stunt driver Johnny Blaze - Thanks in part to the portrayal of the character by Nicholas Cage in 2007 Marvel film. However, with that said, the most common physical rendition of the character in comic books is that based on the Danny Ketch persona.

Toy Biz's 1995 to 1996 line seems to be a conglomeration of the Blaze (1972 - 1983) and Ketch (1990 - 1998) eras of Ghost Rider combined into one. It has the look and style of the Ketch comic books, yet utilizes Johnny Blaze, AKA Blaze as The Rider.

The series offered a lot of fantastic pieces for Ghost Rider fans, and also broadened the already massive collection of Marvel based toy from Toy Biz during this particular time. Since they were done in the same style and size, they also transition nicely into other series for further play.

SERIES 1

 Blackout*Blaze*Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider II*Skinner*Vengeance

 SERIES 2

Blaze (Armored)*Ghost Rider (Exploding)*Ghost Rider (Original)

Outcast*Zarathos

 FLAMIN' STUNT CYCLES

Blaze's Dark Cycle*Ghost Rider's Ghost Fire Cycle*Vengeance's Steel Skeleton Cycle

CYCLES AND RIDERS



Blaze*Vengeance

Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider continues to change periodically both in style and persona. The character enjoyed a brief revival in popularity in 2011 when the Spirit of Vengeance consumed the body of Alejandra. Her character was soon replaced once again with Johnny Blaze.

***UPDATE***

Since 2014, The Rider inhabits the body of Robbie Reyes, a young Latino who drives a classic muscle car as opposed to the traditional motorcycle.

Join us next time when we take a look at The Walking Dead!

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