- "Why do I keep following him? Guess I'm just a sucker for a pretty face!"
- ―Johnny Blaze
| "Rise of the Midnight Sons" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ghost Rider | |
| Title: | "Rise of the Midnight Sons" |
| Volume: | 3 |
| Number: | 31 |
| Cover price: | $2.50 |
| Cover date: | November, 1992 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Tom DeFalco |
| Writers: | Howard Mackie |
| Pencilers: | Andy Kubert |
| Inkers: | Joe Kubert |
| Cover artists: | Andy Kubert |
| Cover inker: | Joe Kubert |
| Colorists: | Gregory Wright |
| Letterers: | Janice Chiang |
| Editors: | Bobbie Chase |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Ghost Rider #30 |
| Next: | Ghost Rider #32 |
"Rise of the Midnight Sons" is the thirty-first issue of the third Ghost Rider comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The story was written by Howard Mackie with artwork by Andy Kubert and inks by Joe Kubert. Andy & Joe also rendered the cover art illustration to this issue. Coloring was by Gregory Wright and lettering was by Janice Chiang. The story was edited by Bobbie Chase. This issue shipped with a November, 1992 cover date and carries a cover price of $2.50 per copy (US).
Synopsis[]
Lilith and her Lilin locate the body of their fallen demon, Meatmarket. Meatmarket recently met a grisly end at the hands of the Nightstalkers. Lilith decides that she wants to stage her final battle against the Mystic Nine at the place of her resurrection – Greenland. Pilgrim opens a portal, and the brood teleport thousands of miles away. Lilith takes the frozen remains of the two scientists she killed and fuses them with Meatmarket's corpse. She then uses her magic to call forth the lost spirit of Danny Ketch. She binds Ketch's soul to her composite Lilin creation and Meatmarket is born anew.
Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze meanwhile, ride across the countryside in the hopes of finding Doctor Strange. Ghost Rider is confident that Strange is the only man capable of stopping Lilith and saving Ketch's soul.
In Boston, Blade, Frank Drake and Hannibal King return to the offices of Borderline Investigative Services after their most recent run-in with the Lilin. As they open a door, an explosion erupts forwards blasting all three men backwards. They disappear from the scene soon after.
In New York City, Doctor Strange encounters the vampire Morbius during his nightly feeding. Strange requires Morbius' aid, and the living vampire tells him that "you only had to ask". Strange opens a portal that transports Morbius to the rest of the chosen Midnight Sons.
All nine of the chosen warriors simultaneously appear in the Arctic Circle, including Morbius, the Nightstalkers, the Spirits of Vengeance and the Darkhold Redeemers. Lilith and her brood stand ready to face them. Lilith commands Pilgrim to tear a hole in her throat with his fingernail, thus creating a dimensional portal within Lilith's own body. From this, she plans on resurrecting all of her Lilin. The Midnight Sons charge after her, but Meatmarket blocks their path. He attacks Ghost Rider, sending him sprawling from his motorcycle. Johnny Blaze is reluctant to turn his Hellfire shotgun against Meatmarket because he knows that Dan Ketch is part of the creature's genetic matrix now. Victoria Montesi clubs Meatmarket across the skull, but this does little good. Blade slices him across the stomach with one sword, and drives the other downward into his shoulder. Howling in pain, Meatmarket loses control of himself and wades through his own comrades to get to his foes. He attacks Pilgrim, causing the Lilin to create a dimensional rift inside himself. Ghost Rider gets back up and ensnares Meatmarket with his chains. Morbius meanwhile, attacks Fang and bites him across the throat. He suddenly realizes that Fang is responsible for the vampire's current physical state. Blade attacks Blackout, while Johnny Blaze turns his attention towards the rift. Ghost Rider attacks Lilith directly and holds her high above his head. He then forces Lilith into her own rift and the gateway instantly closes. Lilith and her Lilin are gone.
As things begin to quiet down, Doctor Strange arrives. He tells the Midnight Sons that he could not attack Lilith directly, for the use of his own powers would only serve to strengthen the rift, hastening Lilith's goals.
Some miles away, Lilith and the Lilin re-emerge on Earth. The battle has greatly weakened her, and she needs time and sustenance to gain her strength back. Seeking nourishment, Lilith attacks one of her own Lilin, Nakota, and begins drinking her blood.
Appearances[]
Featured characters
Supporting characters
- Blade, Eric Brooks
- Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange
- Frank Drake
- Hannibal King
- Johnny Blaze
- Louise Hastings
- Michael Morbius
- Sam Buchanan
- Victoria Montesi
Villains
Minor characters
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Danny Ketch, the Ghost Rider, was created by writer Howard Mackie and artists Javier Saltares and Mark Texeira. He first appeared in Ghost Rider, Volume 3 #1 in May, 1990 in a story titled "Life's Blood". He was the main character from that series and also had a co-starring role in the companion title Ghost Rider & Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance.
- The character of Johnny Blaze was created by writers Gary Friedrich & Roy Thomas and artist Mike Ploog. He first appeared as the title story in Marvel Spotlight #5 in August, 1972.
- This issue shipped poly-bagged and includes a mini-poster that, when combined from the other "Midnight Sons" crossover titles, forms a composite image.
- This issue is reprinted in the Rise of the Midnight Sons trade paperback collection, which was published in July, 1993. It is also reprinted in the Spirits of Vengeance: Rise of the Midnight Sons trade collection, released in October, 2016.
- This is the sixth chapter of the "Rise of the Midnight Sons" crossover storyline.
- This is the third appearance of Meatmarket, who is resurrected in this issue. Meatmarket was previously decapitated by Blade in Nightstalkers #1.
- The corpses of Adam Brigman and Phillip Henderson are shown in this issue. Brigman and Henderson were murdered by Lilith, Mother of Demons in Ghost Rider #28.
- Doctor Strange once temporarily cured Morbius of his vampiric tendencies, and has since earned Morbius' gratitude and respect. This took place in Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #10.
- Fang infected Michael Morbius with Lilin blood in Morbius: The Living Vampire #1.
Recommended Reading[]
See also[]
External Links[]
- Ghost Rider, Volume 3 #31 at MDP
- Ghost Rider, Volume 3 #31 at Comics.org
- Ghost Rider, Volume 3 #31 at Comic Vine
- Ghost Rider, Volume 3 #31 at Amazon.com
 This article relates to the "Rise of the Midnight Sons" crossover storyline, which ran through five different comic book titles published by Marvel Comics in the Summer of 1992. Chapters
Ghost Rider #28 (Part 1) • Ghost Rider & Blaze #1 (Part 2) • Morbius #1 (Part 3) • Darkhold #1 (Part 4) • Nightstalkers #1 (Part 5) • Ghost Rider #31 (Part 6) Titles
Characters
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