THE APPARITION

Real Name: "Shocks" Marley

Identity/Class: Human, astral spirit

Occupation: Vengeance spirit, former stunt car driver

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Ghost Rider (John Blaze) Sonny Tremonts, Nora, Pete

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: California

First Appearance: Ghost Rider II#57 (June, 1981)

Powers: The Apparition possessed an astral form, which could phase through solid matter and fly. He could also project blasts of energy.

History: (Ghost Rider II#57 (fb))- "Shocks" Marley was a stock-car stunt man who worked for Sonny Tremont's Auto Circus, and dressed in a costume he found in Haiti, which a "voodoo witch-woman" claimed could bring him back from the dead. Shocks had a crush on one of Tremont's employees, Nora, but she was in love with Tremont's partner, Ned Pearson. Marley sabotaged Pearson's stunt car one day, and he was killed in a crash while performing for an audience. Tremonts, Nora, and Pete, their mechanic, testified against him, and he was sentenced to death.

(Ghost Rider II#57)- Marley continued to wear his uniform up until his death in the electric chair; immediately upon his death, he rose again as "the Apparition", apparently his own ghost, and set out to gain revenge upon Sonny and his friends.

On his first attempt, he was opposed by the Ghost Rider, who, as Johnny Blaze, was working for Sonny Tremonts. Blaze was driving Pete's car, and while he was able to survive the assault as Ghost Rider, the Apparition believed Pete was dead.

Blaze decided to impersonate Sonny for his auto circus, and make the Apparition believe he had killed Sonny as well just as he had Pete. It was successful, but the Apparition caught up to Nora, and slew her.

The Ghost Rider and Apparition fought, and the Apparition was finally slain when the Ghost Rider drove his motorcycle over his body, dissolving him into dust.

 

 

Sonny Tremont was the head of the Sonny Tremonts auto circus, and testified against Marley in court following Pearson's death. To escape his vegeance as the Apparition, he had Johnny Blaze take his place in a stunt car drive, and the ploy was successful. -Ghost Rider II#57

Nora was the lover of Ned Pearson, but was loved by Marley as well. She testified against Marley after Pearson's death, and was then hunted by the Apparition. She and Johnny Blaze fell in love, but Blaze did not suspect that Nora was one of the Apparition's intended victims until it was already too late-- the Apparition slew her in her trailer. -Ghost Rider II#57

Pete (top left) was a mechanic employed by Sonny Tremonts who testified against Marley in court. The Apparition assaulted Pete's car while it was being driven by Johnny Blaze, and mistakenly believed that Pete was dead. When Pete heard that Marley had risen from the dead, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. -Ghost Rider II#57

 

 

 

by Prime Eternal

Comments: Created by Michael Fleisher, Jim Shooter and Don Perlin.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Apparition should not be confused with:

Last updated: 09/07/02

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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