Round-Up—Wolverine and Ghost Rider: Weapons of Vengeance
Benjamin Percy brings Wolverine and Ghost Rider face-to-face for a team-up that does not always find these two characters on the same side.
The new year is getting started with a an epic Wolverine and Sabretooth story that will be culminating in Wolverine #50. In Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze is taking his last ride of vengeance (at least for now) and a new character will be becoming the supernatural bringer of punishment.
Before jumping into either of those stories, it would be worth looking at the recent Wolverine and Ghost Rider crossover, Weapons of Vengeance written by Benjamin Percy with illustration by Geoff Shaw.
Benjamin Percy has been writing both Wolverine and Ghost Rider, while also writing the Predator versus Wolverine mini-series. Bringing them together is an exercise in multi-tasking while also providing consistency of character and some great storytelling.
The story was contained in four issues (and will no doubt find its way to a collected edition):
Part 1: Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons of Vengeance Alpha
Part 2: Ghost Rider #17
Part 3: Wolverine #36
Part 4: Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons of Vengeance Omega
If you’ve already read Predator versus Wolverine (a round-up on the series will be arriving soon) you know that Percy breaks up the story with flashback that impacting the current story. We get insights into the past and an immediate action-packed story.
Weapons of Vengeance provides the first meeting between Wolverine and Ghost Rider. A force of demonic evil is tearing part innocent victims and creating horrific sculptures out of their remains. It is not for the faint of heart or young readers.
The killer is knitting together freshly murdered corpses in some kind of messed up craft project.
When a young boy and his carer visit to Xaiver’s School of Gifted Youngsters, Wolverine is suspicious. Xaiver is unable to help the boy. Not only is the boy (his name is Bram, as in Bram Stoker) not a mutant, but Xaiver experiences massive feedback when he attempts to use his power on the boy.
When the boy returns to Xavier’s school after running away from a orphanage, a hideous demon attacks Xaiver. Wolverine pursues the fleeing demon and encounters Ghost Rider.
Years later, when the demon resurfaces, Wolverine and Ghost Rider team-up and go in search of the brutal murderer. Which is not to say the story isn’t filled with Wolverine and Ghost Rider fighting. For two character who like one another (kinda) they go full on hell-rage way too often.
So what is the significance?
The story brings in the recent Fall of X problems with mutant hiding across the country and being hunted down, in the case, by a demon. In addition to some classic X-Mansion story, there is also a couple of callbacks to the Weapon X program and Hellverine.
And if nothing else, it’s a good story about Wolverine and Ghost Rider trying to do the right thing, but making the situation worse just by being there.
Where next?
Percy will be taking Wolverine through the Sabretooth War, which is hailed as “The Most Violent Wolverine story ever told!” It’s a bold claim. As for Ghost Rider, Percy will be wrapping up his run with Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider and starting a new Ghost Rider #1 in March 2024 with a new Ghost Rider.