In 1992, a bunch of supernatural heroes from the Marvel Comics Universe ed forces to counter a powerful threat from a dark dimension. This threat and unexpected team-up are what constituted the famous Midnight Sons event.
Debuting with the crossover storyline Rise of the Midnight Sons, the adventure had far-reaching consequences on the Marvel continuity as the titular team came together in a few other storylines like Midnight Massacre and Siege of Darkness. With Midnight Sons alumni like Blade and Morbius making their cinematic debuts, fans can only wait for this event to become a live-action reality.
The Team Was Formed By Two Ghost Riders
In Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #28, it is revealed that the Ghost Rider Danny Ketch received nightmarish visions of Lilith. Referred to as the "Mother of all Demons," Lilith is an immortal sorceress who plans to take over the planet along with her demon children. Her ancient lineage and armies of rogue demons also make her one of the deadliest Ghost Rider villains.
As these children start hunting down other future of the team, Ketch comes together with the former Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze to create a force that can fight off Lilith. This team-up was important as it marked the first time past and present Ghost Riders ed forces to fight a common enemy. It also marked Blaze's return to prominence in 1990s Marvel Comics, where he would play a crucial role in maintaining the supernatural order of things.
Original Lineup Of The Team
Even though the Midnight Sons ensemble received several reinterpretations, the original lineup included the Spirits of Vengeance, a collective term for the Ghost Riders Danny Ketch, Johnny Blaze, and Michael Badilino. Other subgroups within Midnight Sons included the Nightstalkers and Darkhold Redeemers. Morbius, the Living Vampire was another addition to the team.
The Nightstalkers were a collective of vampire hunters like Blade (Eric Brooks), Hannibal King, and Frank Drake. The Darkhold Redeemers were a cult of dark magic practitioners like Victoria Montesi, Louise Hastings, and Modred the Mystic. When grouped together, the mystic powers of these heroes proved to be a considerable threat to the demonic forces.
Doctor Strange Played A Behind-The-Scenes Role
Comic book fans of Doctor Strange would know that he became an integral member of the Midnight Sons after the Siege of Darkness storyline. But he played a less direct role in the original event. As Strange has the power to look into the several possibilities of the future, he is convinced that 'uniting the Nine' is the right option to counter Lilith.
And his strategy does work in convincing a bunch of misfits to form one of Marvel's strongest superhero team rosters. By the final issue, he reveals that he could have gone against Lilith alone but his decision to stay in the background was conscious and necessary.
The Event Spawned The Nightstalkers And Morbius' Standalone Comics
While there were solo Ghost Rider and Blade comic book storylines before Midnight Sons, other received their own standalone comic series under the Midnight Sons imprint of Marvel, which greatly expanded the supernatural world that had been dormant since the 1970s.
Blade and his vampire-hunting peers went on to appear in their own series called Nightstalkers that ran for 18 issues. The first issue was a part of the Rise of the Midnight Sons event but the others began focusing on standalone adventures. The same was the case with Morbius, who starred in a 32-issue run called Morbius: The Living Vampire. This title is notable for being one of many many inspirations for the Morbius film starring Jared Leto.
Debut Of Marvel's First Openly-Lesbian Character
While focusing on the Darkhold Redeemers, the Midnight Sons arc also introduced Victoria Montesi. Coming from a long line of dark magicians, Lilith seeks to kill her. In a quest for survival and to use her skills for good, Montesi s occult professor Louise Hastings and Interpol agent Sam Buchanan to Ghost Rider's Midnight Sons. Her powers make more sense when she's revealed to be the daughter of the Elder God Chthon.
As seen in Rise of the Midnight Sons issue Darkhold: Page from the Book of Sins #1, Victoria Montesi was also Marvel's first openly-lesbian character. She set the stage for many other fan-favorite LGBTQIA+ characters in Marvel Comics to debut in subsequent ears. After the crossover ended, Montesi went on to appear in other issues of Darkhold before fading into obscurity.
The Creation Of The Darkhold Redeemers
Much like Morbius and the Nightstalkers, the Darkhold Redeemers also received their own comic book series following the events of Rise of the Midnight Sons. During Lilith's invasion, their efforts were of paramount importance as they used the best of their occult and supernatural powers.
Their name comes from the mystic scripture called Darkhold that can cause immense destruction if it falls in the wrong hands. The lifelong mission of each member of the Darkhold Redeemers is to protect the spellbook and recover its missing pages. The Darkhold would later be seen at the end of the Disney+ series WandaVision when the Scarlet Witch uses it to look for her missing sons.
The Creative Team Included Danny Ketch's Co-Creator
Rise of the Midnight Sons was the brainchild of writer Howard Mackie and artist Andrew Kubert. Dedicated Ghost Rider fans would recognize Mackie for also being the co-creator of Danny Ketch, spearheading various weird Ghost Rider comic book storylines in the 1990s.
Ketch was introduced in the debut issue of Ghost Rider Vol. 3. The third individual to take up the mantle of Ghost Rider, Ketch's allegiance lay with the Midnight Sons while also being an occasional member of the New Fantastic Four and the Secret Defenders.
Morbius' New Agreement
Morbius ed the Midnight Sons after a tragic incident that shook him to the core. When the Living Vampire was being poisoned by a doctor who betrayed him, one of Lilith's sons was also trying to do the same. Both plans fail as Morbius only mutates after this. When Morbius's ex-fiance plans to reveal the doctor's secret, she gets shot to death. This naturally enrages the vampire who goes on a bloodthirsty rampage.
Danny Ketch and Johnny Blaze cross his paths and attempt to calm him down. Eager to have a purpose in his life, he s the Midnight Sons but the Ghost Riders make him accept their conditions. Morbius agrees to spare innocent people and drink the blood of the guilty, thereby putting him on a heroic path that he continues to follow to this day.
Johnny Blaze's Family Connection
Johnny Blaze was initially very reluctant to the Midnight Sons despite Danny Ketch's nightmares. Considering Lilith's supernatural abilities, he was scared for his family. But when Lilith's minions attack him, his wife, and children in his own home, he is faced with no other option but to gear up for the worst scenarios.
If his worries weren't enough, Johnny's son Craig was even kidnapped by the children of Lilith. After rescuing the boy, Blaze was even more willing to engage in the Midnight Sons' operations. Blaze would continue to work with the Midnight Sons throughout the 1990s before being replaced by a new Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes, in 2014.