Ghost Rider (1990 2nd Series) #34
"Victims of Our Past!" Written by Howard Mackie. Art by Bret Blevins and Al Williamson.
In Cypress Hills Cemetery Ghost Rider stops a man from murdering a woman, disabling him with the penance stare. The man, a serial killer, is left reeling as he experiences his victims agonies, but moments later is slain by a raggedly clothed ninja; a gang vandalizing the cemetery later suffers the same fate. Dan is at home reassuring his mother that his decision to move out is unrelated to his recently learning he was adopted, when he catches Linda Wei reporting the discovery of the gang's bodies. Scared Blackout may be back, Dan goes out hunting, passing by chance under an elevated train where the ninja is slaughtering his latest targets. Alerted by blood pouring down, Dan tries to change, but nothing happens
Dan rides up onto the tracks, and, as the train passes by Cypress Hill Cemetery, he jumps from his bike onto the train, watching the motorcycle fall to the cemetery below. Encountering a wounded commuter, Dan spontaneously transforms into Ghost Rider and he confronts the ninja, learning his opponent is the Deathwatch agent seemingly slain long before; as they fight, the ninja reveals he really serves another master, he promises is coming for Ghost Rider. The flaming-skulled hero punches the ninja off the train, which runs over the killer. Dan returns to the cemetery for his bike, and finds it held by the mysterious Caretaker; to Dan surprise, the Caretaker knows of his alter ego, and tells Dan that he is wrong to believe innocent blood needs to be spilled to trigger his transformation. Promising they will see more of one another in coming days, the Caretaker departs, leaving Dan desperate answer.
32 pages, FC. Cover price $1.75.
