ENRIQUÉ MONTOYA ENRIQUÉ MONTOYA
Identity/Class: Human (19th
century "Old West" era);
Spanish citizen (see comments)
Occupation: Archeologist
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: El
Aguila (Paco Montoya), Phantom
Rider (Carter Slade), unidentified former professor;
possibly Quetzalcoatl
Enemies: El Ojo and his gang
Known Relatives: Paco Montoya (el
Aguila; cousin);
David Montoya (descendent), Rosario Montoya (David's
wife), Alejandro (el
Aguila), Pedro, Conchita, and Rosita Montoya (children of David
and Rosario), Diego (Alejandro's cousin)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
he was last shown to be active in La Boca del Dios ("the Mouth of
God"),
Mexico
First Appearance: Original
Ghost Rider#15/2 (September, 1993)
Powers/Abilities: Enriqué has no superhuman abilities.
He is an experienced archeologist and is versed in Aztec mythology.
He carries a handgun in a belt holster, and he is reasonably skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'10" - 6')History:
(Original Ghost Rider#15/2 (fb) - BTS) - Enriqué Montoya was
college classmates with Carter Slade.
During their summer breaks, they went on digs together, unearthing old clay pots and the like.
Considering himself the star pupil, Enriqué was surprised when their professor gave his notes on Aztec lore to Carter.
(Original Ghost Rider#15/2 (fb) - BTS) - Becoming the Spanish hero el Aguila, Paco Montoya (Enriqué's cousin) posed as a lazy, unfocused man to prevent others from suspecting his dual identity.
(Original Ghost Rider#15/2 (fb) - BTS) - Seeking to discover the lost Temple of the Aztec/Teteoh God Quetzalcoatl in La Boca del Dios, archeologist Enriqué Montoya was forced to hire desperados to help with the excavations, as none of the natives would come into the area for fear of Quetzacoatl's curse. Among those hired was el Ojo and a few other of his loyal bandits.
(Original
Ghost Rider#15/2 (fb) - BTS) - Paco father instructed Paco to
accompany Enriqué,to Boca del Dios on a mission to explore the
lost Temple of Quetzalcoatl in the hopes that some hard work might cure
Paco of his "lazy, good-for-nothing ways."
(Original Ghost Rider#15/2 (fb) - BTS) - Having little success in finding the temple, Enriqué sent for Carter Slade to help with the exploration. Learning this, el Ojo sent one of his men to "ambush the gringo."
Perhaps expecting to be ambushed, Carter Slade changed into his Phantom Rider costume before approaching the camp, and he used his black cape to feign being headless and scare el Ojo's man into fleeing.
As el Aguila, Paco observed this conflict and had intended to get involved if needed.
(Original Ghost Rider#15/2) <1872; see comments>- Carter arrived at the camp and greeted Enriqué, noting that the setup was much more impressive than the digs they had done together in the past. Admitting that they had not had much success finding the lost temple, Enriqué noted that he was sure that there luck would change now that Carter was there. Carter asked if Enriqué was not counting more on their professor's Aztec notes, and Enriqué reiterated his surprise that the professor had not given those notes to his star pupil. Joking that modesty had always been Enriqué's best quality, Carter asked that they get started, as he only had a month before he had to get back to his teaching job.
As Paco exited his tent, having seemingly just awakened from a late sleep, Enriqué introduced him to Carter and asked him why he joined the expedition if he was going to keep such hours. Paco reminded him why his father had sent him there. Enriqué then explained to Carter how he had had to hire desperados as the locals would not enter to valley, and Carter asked if the dangerous-looking men could be trusted.
(Original Ghost Rider#15/2) - Meanwhile, el Ojo's agent returned and reported the confrontation to el Ojo, who voiced his plans to kill Enriqué and Carter after they had discovered the treasure in the temple.
(Original Ghost Rider#16/2)
- Carter noted that texts reported that the temple had many
devices powered by a running river and that the only river in sight ran
into the side of a mountain, meaning that the temple was likely on the
other side (meaning Enriqué and his men had been digging in the wrong
place). After Carter suggested that they could likely find some sort of
catch or lever, Paco soon found such a
mask with the face of Quetzalcoatl, which he turned, opening a secret
passage, as Enriqué watched with excitement.
When Paco approached the temple, Enriqué and Carter stopped him, and Enriqué warned that temples like this were often loaded with dangerous traps and only someone with Enriqué's training could hope to get through alive. Enriqué then instructed everyone to follow his lead and step only where he stepped, but nonetheless, they soon encountered fiery projections, swinging blades, and spikes projecting from the ground. After Enriqué exclaimed that they were trapped, el Ojo told his associates that these fools didn't know what they were doing and they should kill them, take whatever treasure they could, and get out with their lives. As Carter and Paco fought against the others, el Ojo aimed his gun at Carter, but Enriqué Montoya punched him back, causing his shot to miss and accusing el Ojo of betraying the faith he had put in him. Carter then rushed to find a place to change into the Phantom Rider, only to fall through a trap door.
(Original Ghost Rider#17/2 (fb) - BTS) - Escaping traps, Carter exited the temple and changed into his costume.
(Original Ghost Rider#17/2 (fb) - BTS) - With el Ojo holding him and Paco at gunpoint, Enriqué navigated an escape from the traps, leading Paco, el Ojo, and his men back out of the temple.
(Original Ghost Rider#17/2) - Outside the temple, el Ojo noted that while their cowardly friend had escaped, he and his would hunt him down as they were finished with the Montoyas. El Ojo then thanked Enriqué for having navigated the deadly traps, and told him he would take el Ojo's gratitude with him to the grave.
Having suspended himself from a tree so as to appear to be flying, the Phantom Rider warned the "mortals" to lay down their weapons and release their captives or suffer the fury of the undead guardian of Quetzalcoatl. Paco and Enriqué took advantage of the distraction to flee into the jungle, with Paco intending to return as el Aguila.
(Original Ghost Rider#17/2 - BTS) - As the sun began to rise, and el Ojo spotted the rope suspending the Phantom Rider from a tree, after which he led his men to attack the Phantom Rider with shovels, beating him into unconsciousness.
(Original Ghost Rider#18/2 (fb) - BTS) - El Ojo bound the unconscious Phantom Rider and left locked inside a wooden shack with one of his men sitting watch.
(Original Ghost Rider#18/2 (fb) - BTS) - From a hiding place up on the hill, Paco and Enriqué watched as the banditos drank heavily and celebrated for hours their victory over their attacker, whom they wrongly believed to have been el Aguila.
(Original Ghost Rider#18/2) - Observing the bandits, Enriqué lamented that he had hoped Carter would have returned with reinforcements, but that there had been no sign of him. Paco predicted that the bandits would soon turn their focus to the town and people of La Boca Del Dios. When Enriqué decided that he could stand no more waiting and he prepared to intervene to prevent the banditos from looting the treasure of the ancients, Paco used a trick taught to him by the "wandering Chinaman" to knock Enriqué out with a blow to the back of the neck to prevent him from endangering himself. Considering that Enriqué would sleep for hours, Paco prepared to go into action as el Aguila.
(Original Ghost Rider#18/2 - BTS) - After the dazed and weakened Phantom Rider escaped el Ojo's captivity, el Aguila joined up with him.
(Original Ghost Rider#19/2) - As Aguila and the Phantom Rider took down a number of el Ojo's men, the nearby volcano, Mount Diablo, began to erupt...perhaps from the explosives...perhaps from the wrath of the gods...
(Original Ghost Rider#20/2 - BTS) - After el Ojo committed suicide after being condemned by the Phantom Rider, el Aguila and the Phantom Rider fled the temple before it was covered in lava.
(Original Ghost Rider#20/2) - Paco and Carter met up with Enriqué, and Carter told him that he had gone for help after first escaping the temple, but due to darkness and unfamiliarty with the terroritory, he was unable to accomplish anything. Paco told Enriqué that after his collapse, Paco went for help and eventually found Carter. Enriqué mocked Paco's typical behavior of avoiding the conflict, and Carter noted that something had spooked el Ojo's men into fleeing into the hills. Enriqué surmised that the volcano had been the cause and that the entire temple and its treasures and histories were forever lost.
Telling Enriqué that perhaps that was as it should be, for there were some secrets the gods must forever keep to themselves, Carter departed, bidding both Montoyas "Adios, mis amigos! Till we meet again!"
Comments: Created by Dan Slott and Dick & Rich Ayers.
The modern day el Aguila was from Madrid, Spain, but I don't think Paco or Enriqué's home was named. However, Dan Slott confirmed that both Paco & Enriqué were from Spain.
Dan Slott further confirms the date of this adventure as 1872, as well as the fact that Paco is the ancestor of Alejandro. I might guess 4-6 generations between Paco and Alejando, but the sliding time scale keeps on a-rollin'. Nearly sixteen years have passed since the story was printed, adding nearly an additional generation in there...
This profile was completed 02/13/2022, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Enriqué Montoya should be distinguished from
his relatives listed above, as well as from:
But he has no known connections to:
Appearances:
Original Ghost Rider#15/2 (September, 1993) - Dan Slott (writer), Dick and Rich Ayers (artists), Evan
Skolnick (editor)
Original Ghost Rider#16/2 (October, 1993) - Dan Slott (writer), Dick and Rich Ayers (artists), Evan
Skolnick (editor)
Original Ghost Rider#17/2 (November, 1993) - Tom Brevoort & Mike Kanterovich
(plot/script), Dan Slott (plot assist), Dick
and Rich Ayers (artists), Evan Skolnick (editor)
Original Ghost Rider#18/2 (December, 1993) - Tom Brevoort & Mike Kanterovich
(plot/script), Dan Slott (plot assist), Dick
and Rich Ayers (artists), Evan Skolnick (editor)
Original Ghost Rider#19/2 - 20/2 (January-February,
1994) - Tom Brevoort
& Mike Kanterovich (plot/script), Dan Slott
(plot assist), Dick and Rich Ayers (artists), Evan Skolnick
(editor)
First posted: 09/13/2026
Last updated: 02/13/2022
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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