In this feature, I examine comic book fights that were particularly notable in the wrong side winning (or at least that the fight wasn't won the "right" way). This really isn't a big deal, of course, as it doesn't really matter if the "wrong" person won a fight. But it's fun to talk about!
If you want to suggest a fight for future inclusion in this feature, drop me a line at bcronin@comicbookresources.com. Don't suggest a fight in the comments!
Reader David P. suggested the time Ghost Rider kicked the Avengers' collective asses...
As always, the first page spotlights their power levels and the second page examines the fight itself.
And as always, the first question we need to ask is...
How did these people do when they fought Spider-Man?
The original supernatural Ghost Rider really didn't fight Spider-Man much. They met each other a number of times, but they were all team-ups.
Their only slight fights came in Marvel Team-Up #58 (by Chris Claremont, Sal Buscema and Pablo Marcos), where Spider-Man tries to keep Ghost Rider from using his hellfire on the Trapster and fails completely...
And when Ghost Rider is brainwashed in Marvel Team-Up #91 (by Steven Grant, Pat Broderick and Bruce Patterson), where Ghost Rider acquits himself pretty well against Spidey...
As you might imagine, Spider-Man doesn't get many attempts to fight the Avengers, although he did pretty well against some mind-controlled Avengers in Amazing Spider-Man #687 by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli...
So how about Ghost Rider versus the Avengers?
It all went down in Avengers #214 by Jim Shooter, Bob Hall and Dan Green.
First off, Ghost Rider messes up his former Champion teammate Angel. This was during the time that Johnny Blaze was not in control of the Ghost Rider. So anyhow, the Avengers show up...
HE FORGOT TO CLOSE HIS EYE AND MOUTH HOLES!!! What the what?
The Avengers fare better in the rematch later in the issue, but even there, the key was to get Angel to appeal to Blaze and help him take control of the Ghost Rider again.
As you might imagine, I have an issue with how easily Ghost Rider took out Iron Man and Thor.
By the way, check out Tigra after their first fight against Ghost Rider. It sounds like she's talking about Spider-Man...
Thanks for the suggestion, David!
If anyone ELSE has a suggestion for future Wrong Sides, drop me a line at bcronin@comicbookresources.com!