The Wrecker strikes back at his buddies in the Wrecking Crew
over the implication that cowardice made him teleport them all away from the
appearance of Mephisto (last issue). He orders them to find Ghost Rider so he
can destroy him….
Ghost Rider, meanwhile, wonders who that creature was that
appeared at the cemetery—and if what he is feeling is fear….
Because of the involvement of Mephisto, Loki must go and
work things out with the Lord of the Underworld. Mephisto gives Loki a tour of
his kingdom, stopping at the loom that creates his Soul Shrouds, this one displaying
the face of an immortal who is about to die and soon appear in Mephisto’s
realm. [It’s Thor, of course], prompting Loki to make a deal with Mephisto….
Eric Masterson has been confronted by Jerry Sapristi and
Susan Austin who believe they know Eric’s secret, the one causing his erratic behavior
of late: alcoholism. Eric is stunned. Ex-wife Marcy Masterson arrives with their
son Kevin who hugs his bewildered dad….
Loki returns from the Underworld to tell Ulik and the Enchantress
that he has made a pact with Mephisto, one which each side intends to break. He
changes the subject by concentrating on their efforts to capture the Wrecker….
Eric draws a picture of a bearded Thor for Kevin
(anticipating issue #432) and Marcy takes Kevin home, assuring Eric she still
cares about him. Susan is upset as it looks like she’s losing any chance she
had with Eric….
Confused, Eric turns into Thor and goes out for a fly.
Thunderball spots him and contacts Wrecker, who enlists the Wrecking Crew in an
effort to beat up Thor. Loki detects this and dispatches Amora and Ulik to capture
his quarry. Loki also locates Ghost Rider in his human form as Dan Ketch as part
of the deal with Mephisto, creating an illusion of the Wrecker to lure GR to
the proper location. The Wrecking Crew ambushes Thor and there is a scuffle,
with Thor beating Bulldozer and Piledriver but it’s the Wrecker whose power is
equal to Thor’s and things get difficult. Ghost Rider arrives….
Susan pours out her heart to her roommate Leena Morgan (Amora
in disguise) who suggests some drastic action….
Piledriver and Bulldozer try to stop Ghost Rider from
reaching Wrecker while he battles Thor. Thunderball, looking for a chance to
betray Wrecker, is seized by Loki and his Asgardian power drained. Piledriver
yanks on GR’s jacket and finds only skeleton underneath; he panics and runs
right into Loki’s clutches. Wrecker tries to blast Thor but Loki diverts the
power so that it opens a portal for demons to pour through and overwhelm Thor
and Ghost Rider. Loki and Ulik take down Bulldozer and Wrecker and vanish with
the latter prisoner. Thor sends back the demons, ties up three-quarters of the
Wrecking Crew, and GR bids farewell with his usual ominous tones….
In the Underworld, Mephisto sees the Soul Shroud completed,
with Thor’s face on it…. [Told ya.]