The Hell-Rider was created by writer Gary Friedrich, from Ghost Rider & Sgt. Fury fame. Harry Rosenbaum painted the striking covers. It was a mature-audience magazine not covered by comic books' Comics Code Authority. Friedrich also wrote the co-features, The Butterfly & The Wild Bunch.
Hell-Rider starred the titular vigilante motorcyclist, a Vietnam War veteran, lawyer, and black belt martial artist named Brick Reese. With his tricked-out, flamethrower-equipped bike, and temporary super-strength courtesy of the experimental drug Q-47.
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| Hell-Rider #1 Australian edition! |
Hell-Rider #1 Right On with the Now Super-Hero!
Bios of Ross (Metal Men) Andru and Mike (Menthor) Esposito.
"Introducing...the Hell-Rider"
Origin of Hell-Rider. Hell-Rider battled The Claw, a masked, heroin-smuggling, secret society leader. All of the stories are linked by a common villain, the Claw.
African-American singer/superheroine Marian Michaels, whose costume is equipped with bright lights to blind adversaries, a jet pack for flying, and suction cups for climbing.
Art by John (Twilight Zone) Celardo & Mike Esposito.
"Introducing...The Wild Bunch"
A rough but basically goodhearted biker gang that Reese (Hell-Rider) had encountered, consisting of leader Animal; Afro-haired Deke; weaselly Slinker; tall, blond Curly and blond biker-babe Ruby.
Art by Dick (Sgt. Fury) Ayers & Syd (Captain America) Shores.
Q & A and motorcycle advice column.
Hell-Rider #2 Right On with the Cycling Superhero!
Bio and photo of Gary Friedrich.
"Night of the Ripper"
Hell-Rider faces a bestial rampager called The Ripper.
"Blood on Their Spokes"
The Wild Bunch story with art by Syd Shores & Mike Esposito.
"Against the Brothers of the Crimson Cross"
The Butterfly story with art by Rich Buckler.
"Shanghai 70's Style"
Final appearance of Hell-Rider
The never published, although advertised, third issue would have featured a cover by famed artist Gray (Space: 1999, Starlord) Morrow and a Hell-Rider story entitled ‘The Zodiac Killers’. Too bad, I would have loved to see the painted cover in color.
Live Large My Friends!
Thank You!
Man would I love to get a hold of those Hell-Riders! Ever since I saw it in the Encyclopedia of Super Heroes way back in the '80s.
ReplyDeleteYou don't see a lot of Ross Andru photos, like the one from the "About Andru and Esposito" page above. Interesting, Mike Esposito tells a different version of meeting Ross Andru for the first time, that's involves another student from the High School of Music and Art that knew them both. Wonder which story is correct.
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