GHOST RIDER #23-24 (1977): 1st Water Wizard

Don Heck? Really? This comic wasn’t bad enough already? Anyway, there’s a new villain named Water Wizard. His first appearance in the comic is above. He doesn’t announce his name. When he does, it’s like this:

Doesn’t an experienced artist like Don Heck know that the villain is supposed to get a full-body shot shouting their own name, the first time we see them? It’s a grand tradition.

The Enforcer decides to hire him to kill Ghost Rider, and together they knock him out and stage an accident so it will look like Johnny Blaze drove off a cliff—but he transforms before the fatal fall and then gets vengeance on his attackers. (Remember, Johnny Blaze can now control the time and circumstances of his transformations.)

I’m pretty sure this is the first time we’ve seen Ghost Rider in tatters, and the first time we know for sure he’s a full skeleton figure (because he fills out his leathers in all his appearances as if he has flesh underneath).

I love that picture of Water Wizard running while he’s on fire.

Also, he quits being on The Champions, and his teammates seem relieved. Interesting choice to have him quit a team in his own book, instead of in the team’s title.

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