Warning! Spoilers ahead for Ghost Rider #5
In the latest issue of Marvel Comics' Wolverine arrives to give Johnny Blaze a hand, proving that the Spirit of Vengeance and Weapon X need to have more team-ups. While Ghost Rider believed he no longer had any friends or allies in the Marvel Universe, Logan epically proves him wrong by saving his life in this new issue. Likewise, the new comic also highlights a key element both heroes share.
Previously in Marvel's new Ghost Rider series from Benjamin Percy and Cory Smith, Johnny Blaze escaped a fantasy prison after suffering a mysterious (and supernatural) head injury. While he's still connected to the Spirit of Vengeance, their bond is very unstable with Johnny hardly being able to what he's done after transforming into the Ghost Rider. Traveling the back roads and small towns that hardly ever get visited across America, Ghost Rider has fought several supernatural entities all while being hunted by the CIA's paranormal division.
Now, the new Ghost Rider #5 sees Johnny entering the Hell's Backbone Rally, a biker race said to be held by Devil himself who will grant one wish to the winner. However, Ghost Rider isn't the only notable entrant. A large collection of heroes and villains have arrived with their own bikes including Black Widow, Moon Knight, Blade, Doctor Doom, Dracula, Rhino, Kraven the Hunter, and many more. While Ghost Rider has teamed up with many of these heroes in the past, Johnny couldn't care less about them now seeing as how no one showed up to help him when he was in need. However, Wolverine proves that Blaze still has friends by saving Johnny's life from the terrors of this supernatural track.
While Ghost Rider is certainly grateful for the assistance (especially with some sort of creature emerging from his head wound), the important thing to note from this issue is the core drive Wolverine and Blaze both share. As Ghost Rider says, they've each "been to hell and back", a reference to both of their equally dark pasts that are full of trauma and plenty of blood. As such, how could they ever up the opportunity to erase some of the chains they carry? It truly does show how much Wolverine and Ghost Rider are alike, proving that the brothers in arms should have far more team-ups than they currently do (like when they were part of the best version of the Fantastic Four).
While it does seem as though Ghost Rider and Wolverine's adventure has only just begun, the end of the issue reveals that Hell's Backbone was the work of Blackheart, a major demon and effectively the son of Mephisto. It's also suggested that Blackheart is responsible for entrapping Ghost Rider and all of his current torment. As such, here's hoping Ghost Rider's surprise team-up with Wolverine will be enough to resist the Son of the Devil in the issues to come. Ghost Rider #5 is on sale now.
