TANK 666

Membership: Four unidentified crew

Purpose: To dispense vengeance against those who harm the innocent

Affiliations: Ghost Riders/Spirits of Vengeance

Enemies: Nazis, demons, Kid Blackheart, Zadkiel 

Base of Operations: Occupied Europe, formerly North Africa, circa World War II

First Appearance: Ghost Rider VI#33 (May, 2009) 

History: (Ghost Rider VI#33 (fb) - BTS) - Tank 666 was an M3 tank manned entirely by American Ghost Riders during World War II. It fought in North Africa and the Rhineland, spreading terror amongst the Nazis as it tore through concertina wire and rolled over German trenches and past burning Panzers, leaving terror and burning treadmarks in its wake.

(Ghost Rider VI#33 (fb)) - During one battle as the German infantry fled in horror at the sight of the hellish Tank 666 rolling towards them, Tank 666's commander noticed a German Panzer division heading their way and calmly told his crew to load another Hellfire shell. 

(Ghost Rider: Heaven's on Fire#6) - Like all past Ghost Riders, Tank 666's crew was revived to take part in defending Heaven from both the rogue angel Zadkiel and then Kid Blackheart's demon army.

Comments: Created by Jason Aaron and Tony Moore.

Like all the other Ghost Riders depicted in the flashbacks in Ghost Rider VI#33, there is limited information given about this character. The script confirms the make of tank and its name (which is also visible on the side of the tank), and this was in turn given in the Ghost Rider Index. The script also reveals that the two crewmen loading the shell are G.I.s.

It is uncertain whether each crewman had his own Spirit of Vengeance, or whether the tank itself housed a single Spirit who empowered all four men. If the Spirit(s) were in the crew, then presumably they could have utilized other vehicles, though possibly any tank they took command of would become Tank 666.

Profile by Loki.

Clarifications:

Tank 666 and her crew are definitely connected to, but should not be confused with

• all the other Spirit of Vengeance-empowered Ghost Riders

but has no known connections to

• the Haunted Tank - another World War II M3 tank with ghostly crew, @ DC Comics' G.I. Combat#87
• Phantom Riders - luminous lawmen of the Old West also known as Ghost Riders @ Ghost Rider I#1 - though some of them were apparently Spirit of Vengeance-empowered too, if Heaven's on Fire#6 is to be believed
• Ghost Wind Rider - Comanche Indian and former lover of Red Wolf @ Blaze of Glory#2
• Any other ghostly characters or characters who ride things

Tank 666's crew

Tank 666's crew consisted of a commander, a driver, and two G.I.s who loaded the Hellfire shells. It is uncertain whether each crewman had his own Spirit of Vengeance, or whether the tank itself housed a single Spirit who empowered all four men. Like most of the Ghost Riders, the crew presumably possessed superhuman strength and durability. 

--Ghost Rider VI#33, (Ghost Rider: Heaven's on Fire#6 - BTS

images: (without ads)
Ghost Rider VI#33, p7, pan3 (main image)
Ghost Rider VI#33, p7, pan4 (the crew)

Other Appearances:
Ghost Rider: Heaven's On Fire#6 (February, 2010) - Jason Aaron (writer), Roland Boschi (art), Sebastian Girner (editor)

Last updated: 03/16/14.

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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