Posted By Dan Greenfield on Nov 4, 2021 | 1 comment

Johnny Blaze’s 50th anniversary is coming…

Of the many Marvel characters called Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze is the most resonant.

Well ol’ Johnny turns 50 in May 2022 — he debuted in 1972’s Marvel Spotlight #5 — and to mark the occasion, the House of Ideas is giving the flaming skull his first Epic Collection.

Dig this description from an Amazon listing:

Ghost Rider Epic Collection: Hell On Wheels, by Gary Friedrich, Tony Isabella, Mike Ploog, Tom Sutton, Jim Mooney

In 1972, one of the most iconic characters in comic book history, the flame-skulled Ghost Rider, burned his demonic presence into readers’ minds. Forevermore, a legion of fans were addicted to the Rider’s combination of hell-on-wheels drama and action-horror adventure. And it begins here when Johnny Blaze makes a deal with the devil to save his friend’s life. The payment due? Transformation into the Ghost Rider. The stories that follow will take the horror hero to Hell to battle Satan, pit him against the tempting Witch-Woman and team him with Daimon Hellstrom, Son of Satan. Written by Gary Friedrich and Tony Isabella and gloriously illustrated by Mike Ploog, Tom Sutton and Jim Mooney.

COLLECTING: Marvel Spotlight (1971) 5-12, Ghost Rider (1973) 1-11, Marvel Team-Up (1972) 15

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A few thoughts:

— It’s kind of surprising we haven’t had a Ghost Rider Epic Collection before, isn’t it?

— The 424-page paperback is due May 3, 2022. It lists for $39.99.

— Standard caveat: This has not been solicited by Marvel yet, so nothing is official until it’s official. Even then, things can change. Just keep coming to 13th Dimension for updates.

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MORE

— Byrne’s SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK to Get First EPIC COLLECTION. Click here.

–– Conway and Buscema’s THOR to Get Epic Collection. Click here.