MIDNIGHT MASSACRE
Instigator: Switchblade (Eric Brooks)
Purpose: Destroy all supernatural beings
Allies: Chthon;
formerly Demogoblin
Opposition: John Blaze, Sam Buchanan, Demogoblin, Frank Drake, Ghost Rider (Dan Ketch/Noble Kale), Louise Hastings, "Healer", Jinx, Hannibal King, Modred the Mystic, Victoria Montesi, Morbius, Seer, "Sorcerer" (Arthur), Anne Toussant, Werewolf (Jack Russell)
Locations: Mobile from Boston to New York City, USA
First Appearance: Nightstalkers#10 (August, 1993)
History:
(Darkhold: Tales from the Book of Sins#11 (fb) - BTS) - Billions of years ago with the threat of the Demogorge looming over Chthon he created a spell that would turn the caster into a new Demogorge, but under Chthon's control. Chthon also created a counterspell to undo the Demogorge that could only be cast by a non-supernatural being. Both spells were inscribed on indestructible parchment and became part of the Darkhold.
(Nightstalkers#10 (fb) - BTS) - King and Drake learned from their answering machine backup of Boston resident Richard Regent's call, which Blade had previously erased. Regent wanted to hire Borderline Investigations to find his sister, who had gone missing after finding a page from the Darkhold that supposedly could destroy all the occult.
(Nightstalkers#10) - Blade found Samantha Regent recovering at Massachusetts General Hospital from a car accident and asked her for the black envelope she had found. Samantha told Blade that the criminal Maxxy had stolen the envelope from her. Blade left the hospital to go looking for Maxxy.
Meanwhile Drake and King called up Blaze to aid them in stopping Blade from gaining or even using the Darkhold page.
Blade called Richard Regent to tell him where his sister was. During the call Drake and King broke into Richard's home. King took the phone and told Blade to come back to his senses and stop going after the Darkhold page, but Blade didn't want to listen. King, Drake and Blaze kept going after Blade.
Blade soon found Maxxy and took the letter from the young criminal. Blaze rode in on his burning motorbike and took the page from Blade's grasp, tossed it up in the air and shot it with his Hellfire shotgun while King held Blade back. Blade escaped King's grip and got a hold of the page, which could not be destroyed by Hellfire and was already cooling down again. Blade fled with the page by holding on to the side of a streetcar. Inside the streetcar Blade read the Darkhold page and a manifestation of Chthon, posing as Blade's mother, appeared in front of him. Chthon offered Blade the power to destroy all occult beings. King got the streetcar driver off the train while Blaze and Drake caused the streetcar to derail. King took the Darkhold page, but it was too late. Blade agreed to Chthon's terms and the Darkhold page transformed Blade into the new Demogorge. Calling himself Switchblade now he used his vastly increased powers to drive a dagger through King's heart and then decapitated him with an axe. Following King's death Blade absorbed his supernatural abilities. Drake and Blaze now realized that the Darkhold page was not about eliminating all occult at once, but about hunting it down one by one. They tried to fight Blade in the streetcar, but Blade used King's vampiric abilities to avoid their attacks by turning into mist. Blaze lost his Hellfire shotgun when Switchblade hit him with an axe. Before he could reach his shotgun again Switchblade slaughtered him. After absorbing Blaze's powers Blade picked up the Hellfire shotgun and took Blaze's burning motorbike. Blade promised Drake to turn the world into a better place.
Some time after Switchblade had left Ghost Rider, who had felt Blaze's death, arrived in Boston to join forces with Drake to stop Switchblade.
(Ghost Rider III#40) - In NYC's Bronx Switchblade hunted down a "Healer". When her son accidentally walked into one his his swords, Switchblade allowed her to heal her son. Despite proclaiming that she had never used her powers for evil and only to help people Switchblade shot her dead with Blaze's Hellfire shotgun.
Meanwhile in Soho Demogoblin cornered the "Sorcerer" (Arthur) in an alley because he had sold his soul to demons for magic prowess. Arthur tried to make a deal with Demogoblin by telling him about the returned Demogorge catching Demogoblin's interest, who tortured Arthur until he had learned everything Arthur knew about the new Demogorge Switchblade. Demogoblin then slew Arthur, but Blaze and Drake caught him in the act and attacked him. During the fight Demogoblin revealed that he his knowledge of Switchblade's crusade and that he wanted to join him in his cause. Demogoblin escaped Ghost Rider and Drake.
Not far away Switchblade drove up to the Crown Cafe nightclub where he was going to kill the immortal Blood member Seer. When Demogoblin arrived in the club to ally himself with Switchblade, the latter asked Demogoblin to just throw himself on Switchblade's sword. Alerted to Switchblade's presence Seer fled from him. Ghost Rider and Drake arrived and fought Switchblade once again, but Demogoblin, despite Switchblade wanting him dead, protected Switchblade from Ghost Rider and Drake and took Switchblade to the building's roof.
Demogoblin caught Seer for Switchblade, but before Demogoblin could sacrifice her to Switchblade, who had completely turned on Demogoblin at this point, Ghost Rider arrived and ran over Demogoblin, freeing Seer from his grip. Switchblade attacked Ghost Rider, then stabbed him through the chest while Demogoblin was holding him. Though Ghost Rider survived Demogoblin wasn't so lucky. Seer escaped and teleported to the Blood's extradimensional Nightclub for safety while Switchblade added Demogoblin's powers to his repertoire. Switchblade chained Ghost Rider to an antenna on the roof and shot him several times with the Hellfire shotgun before Drake arrived and trapped Switchblade in a stasis field with a shot from the Exorcist gun. Drake then freed Ghost Rider and told him to find Louise Hastings and her team as aid against Switchblade. Ghost Rider drove off while Switchblade got back to his feet and swore to Drake that every occult being would soon be dead.
(Darkhold: Tales from the Book of Sins#11) - On their search for a Darkhold page Victoria Montesi had sensed in NYC the Darkhold Redeemers ran into Ghost Rider at the Transcorp Building in Manhattan. Ghost Rider, who was barely alive, told them that King, Blaze and countless others had been slain. Drake arrived moments later and revealed that the murderer was none other than Blade, who had been turned into Switchblade by the Darkhold page Hastings and her team came to NYC to retrieve. Victoria promised that they would still find a way to fix the situation. Switchblade then arrived and attacked, but Drake shielded Ghost Rider from Blade, who decided to just go after Louise's magic-using grandson Jinx instead. The Darkhold Redeemers' sorcerer Modred, who was last seen stuck on Maui (he took a pouch filled with sand from Maui with him to get around Dr. Strange's curse that had bound him to the island) teleported in and temporarily got rid of Switchblade. Modred then teleported Jinx back home to safety before Switchblade returned. Modred the Mystic and Switchblade the Demogorge fought ferociously destroying everything around them. Modred dropped a whole skyscaper on Switchblade and was confident that this was enough to kill him. Ghost Rider, Drake and the Darkhold Redeemers saved as many innocent bystanders as they could and Ghost Rider attacked Modred for murdering innocent people, but the sorcerer fought back. Switchblade, who was still alive, attacked once again. Louise convinced Modred to continue the fight in Central Park, hoping there would be less bystanders. Modred agreed and teleported himself and Switchblade there and the battle continued. When he realized that he couldn't defeat Switchblade Modred telepathically contacted Louise Hastings and told her about the Darkhold's counterspell to the Demogorge spell and that only a non-mystical being could use it. Modred promised her to buy her team time, planning to sacrifice himself and transferring his curse to Switchblade. Victoria Montesi, unaware of her own supernatural nature, arrived in Central Park to protect Modred from Switchblade, who had no qualms killing them both. While Switchblade absorbed their powers Modred dropped the Maui sand from his pouch and like he had predicted the curse transferred to Switchblade, causing him immense pain and weakening him enough to stop him from healing quickly from his current injuries. Louise stopped Ghost Rider from attacking the weakened Switchblade because Modred had told her how to stop Switchblade permanently and they needed to find the Darkhold before Switchblade, who had gained the knowledge of the Demogorge counterspell as well when he absorbed Modred's essence.
(Morbius: The Living Vampire#12) - Though they had a headstart on the way to Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum Drake had an idea to buy them more time and called Morbius to go to the Sanctum Sanctorum and intercept Switchblade in case he turned up before them.
Meanwhile on the way to the Sanctum Sanctorum Switchblade found the time to slay fortune teller Anne Toussant. After the call Morbius was visited by Werewolf (Jack Russell) and after telling him about Switchblade they waited together near Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum for Switchblade, who arrived heavily armed on Blaze's flaming motorbike. Switchblade slew them both before Hastings, Buchanan, Drake and Ghost Rider arrived to aid them. Switchblade told his old friend Drake to sever hies ties to the supernatural beings because Switchblade wouldn't let anyone stay in his way to turn the world into a better place.
(Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance#13) - Switchblade easily broke through the Sanctum Sanctorum's protective spells, a feat Ghost Rider was unable to repeat. Sensing the Darkhold Switchblade quickly found it, but Strange had put a powerful displacement spell on the Darkhold and when Switchblade tried to grab the book a vortex to another dimension opened and tried to pull the book through. The Darkhold itself fought the pull to the other dimension because it wanted Switchblade, whose powers were based on a spell from the Darkhold, to gain possession of it. Louise ordered Ghost Rider to stop Switchblade and keep the Darkhold in this dimension at the same time. Ghost Rider used his chain to grab the Darkhold and keep it in this dimension where Louise could reach it, then assaulted Switchblade. Switchblade slew Ghost Rider, but absorbing Ghost Rider's powers also gave Switchblade the power of the Penance Stare, which made Switchblade feel all the pain he had inflicted on others. Louise Hastings used Switchblade's distraction to her advantage. She grabbed the Darkhold and read the Demogorge counterspell, which removed Switchblade's Demogorge powers and returned all his victims back to life. Unknown to the others Louise Hastings sacrificed part of her soul to power the spell. After the spell was completete the Darkhold was finally pulled through the vortex. Modred sought to kill Blade, who was back to normal, and was stopped by Ghost Rider, who did not even allow his friend Blaze to harm Blade. Everyone present was rattled by the Midnight Massacre and most departed without exchanging words with the others.
Comments: Created D.G. Chichester (writer), Kirk van Wormer (pencils) & Mark Badger (inks).
The Midnight Massacre happened and then it didn't!
Profile by Markus Raymond.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Midnight Massacre should not be confused with:
The "Healer" could mystically heal others. She had a son, Richie, who defended her when the Demogorge-powered Switchblade attempted to slay her in his crusade to kill all supernatural beings. Richie ran right into Switchblade's sword. "Healer" pleaded with Switchblade to allow her to heal her innocent son, who had no supernatural abilities at all. Switchblade allowed her to heal Richie. Though she believed this feat proved to Switchblade that she only used her powers to help others, Switchblade still slew her by shooting her dead with Johnny Blaze's Hellfire shotgun.
--Ghost Rider III#40
(Ghost Rider III#40 (fb) - BTS) - Arthur had sold his soul to demons, who performed magical features for him and gave him magical powers as well.
(Ghost Rider III#40) - Demogoblin hunted Arthur through Soho and had him cornered in an alley. He was going to kill Arthur when the frightened sorcerer offered Demogoblin his help. He told Demogoblin about the returned Demogorge and, using spell of divination within a puddle, showed Demogoblin the new Demogorge Switchblade. Demogoblin recognized him as the true Demogorge, but to learn more about the new Demogorge he tortured Arthur.
After he had learned everything he deemed important about the new Demogorge from Arthur Demogoblin incinerated Arthur's body.
--Ghost Rider III#40 ([Ghost Rider III#40 (fb)], Ghost Rider III#40
Madame Toussant (Anne Toussant) was a fortune teller in NYC. She could tell the future and bring the dead forward to speak to her, but despite her clairvoyance she was unable to avoid her own fate. Switchblade broke into her parlor, slew Toussant with the Hellfire shotgun and then absorbed her powers.
--Morbius: The Living Vampire#12
images: (without ads)
Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins#11, inside cover (main image, Switchblade vs. Ghost Rider, Modred & Victoria Montesi)
Nightstalkers#10, p13, pan1 (Chthon offers deal to Blade)
Ghost Rider III#40, p18, pan2 (Switchblade needs no allies! Goodbye Demogoblin!)
Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins#11, p21, pan1 (Switchblade absorbing more power!)
Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance#13, p18 (Louise Hastings brings everyone back to life)
Ghost Rider III#40, p2, pan1 ("Healer" with son Richie)
Ghost Rider III#40, p4, pan1 (Arthur the Sorcerer)
Morbius: The Living Vampire#12, p5, pan2 (Madame Toussant)
Appearances:
Nightstalkers#10 (August, 1993) - D.G. Chichester (writer), Kirk van Wormer (pencils), Mark Badger (inks), Hildy Mesnik (editor)
Ghost Rider III#40 (August, 1993) - Howard Mackie (writer), Ron Garney (pencils), Chris Ivy (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins#11 (August, 1993) - Chris Cooper (writer), Rurik Tyler (pencils), Bob Downs (inks), Hildy Mesnik (editor)
Morbius: The Living Vampire#12 (August, 1993) - Gregory Wright (writer), Ron Wagner (pencils), Mike Witherby (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance#13 (August, 1993) - Howard Mackie (writer), Adam Kubert (pencils), Joe Kubert, Dan Green, Klaus Janson & Frank Spinks (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
First Posted: 06/06/2015
Last updated: 06/06/2015
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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