Type: Divergent Earth
Environment: Earth-like
Usual means of access: Presumably vibrational attunement
Dominant Life Form: Demons, humans
Significant Inhabitants: Johnny Blaze, Ghost Rider (Azaziah
Hornsby), Pope of the Catholic Church
Significant Locations: the Vatican in Italy
First Appearance: What If? I#28 (August, 1981)
History: (What If? I#28) - When the centuries-old Crimson Mage Azaziah
Hornsby separated
the demonic Ghost Rider from its human host, Johnny Blaze, Blaze discovered
that for either one to exist, they must be reunited. Blaze then attacked
Azaziah, attempting to destroy his mystic globe, the source of his power. Azaziah triumphed and upon knocking Blaze unconscious, recited an
incantation that allowed him to possess the body of the Ghost Rider. Using
the power of the Ghost Rider, Azaziah intended to control the "Pearl of
Christendom," also known as the Vatican. Azaziah soon embarked on a reign
of terror at the Vatican. When Johnny Blaze regained consciousness, he realized
what Azaziah was intending to do and set out to stop him. Blaze soon hijacked
a plane to Italy, as Azaziah/Ghost Rider burned his way into the room containing
the Pope himself. Arriving in Italy, Johnny Blaze saw that the Vatican had
become surrounded by hellfire created by Azaziah. He then stole a local's
motorcycle and used it to jump over the flames. Unfortunately, Blaze landed
on his leg, which also caused great pain to the Ghost Rider's leg, given
their supernatural connection. Sensing that Blaze was near, Azaziah managed
to capture Blaze and shackle him to the wall. As Azaziah summoned the mystical
Scimitar of Ra-Mon-Beth in his attempt to take the life of the Pope, Johnny
Blaze managed to break free of his shackles. Blaze quickly grabbed the Scimitar
and cut the Pope free. Transforming back into his Ghost Rider form, Azaziah
attacked Blaze, who stabbed Ghost Rider in the heart with the Scimitar of
Ra-Mon-Beth. As Azaziah died, his connection with the Ghost Rider also killed
Johnny Blaze in the process.
Comments: Created by Michael Fleisher and Tom Sutton.
This Earth diverged from the events in Ghost Rider II#43-44.
This Earth's core continuum designation was verified in Marvel Legacy: The 1980s Handbook.
Clarifications:
No known connection to
Formerly the Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze was separated from his demonic alter-ego
by the ancient mage Azaziah. He later attacked Azaziah, realizing that his
supernatural connection with the Ghost Rider would soon kill both himself and the
Ghost Rider if they were not reunited. Unfortunately, Blaze was knocked
unconscious by Azaziah, who took over the form of the Ghost Rider. Eventually,
Blaze stabbed Azaziah with a Scimitar, but his connection with the Ghost
Rider caused him to perish as well.
-- What If? I#28 (#28d
Azaziah was a powerful mage who was centuries old. He managed to separate
Johnny Blaze from the demonic Ghost Rider, whose form he eventually took,
following an attack on him by Blaze. Once in the form of Ghost Rider, Azaziah
set out towards the Vatican in an attempt to kill the Pope. Once he captured
the Pope, Azaziah summoned the Scimitar of Ra-Mon-Beth to finish the job.
Unfortunately, Johnny Blaze had followed Azaziah and used the Scimitar to
kill Azaziah in the Ghost Rider's form.
-- What If? I#28 (#28d
images:
Any Additions/Corrections? please
let me know.
Last Updated: 11/22/06
Non-Marvel Copyright
info
JOHNNY BLAZE
GHOST RIDER
(AZAZIAH)
What If? I#28, p1, splash page (Johnny Blaze vs. Azaziah/Ghost Rider)
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