CHALLENGER
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Demon
Occupation: Agent of Satan/Mephisto
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Satan/Mephisto (master); Legion (demon associate)
Enemies: Ghost Rider (John Blaze), Roxanne Simpson/Katy Milner
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Realm of Hell
First Appearance: Ghost Rider II#17 (April, 1976)
Powers: A variety of mystic powers, including formation of shields, creating illusions, inter-dimensional transport.
History: (Ghost Rider II#17-19) - Ghost Rider and the Son of Satan succeeded in exorcising the demons of Legion from Katy Milner, but then found her surrounded by an impenetrable force field. The Challenger appeared and told the Ghost Rider that he could save Katy's life only if he underwent a challenge without the help of any others. If he failed, he would lose his own soul as well.
The Ghost Rider undertook the challenge, which initially consisted of a variety of stunts, as well as reliving some of his past experiences. He then fought simalacruma of a number of his previous foes, including the Aquarius (The One Man Zodiac), the Miracle Man, Orb, Snake Dance, and the Trapster, and then of his allies, such as the Thing and the Champions of Los Angeles. Ghost Rider was defeated by a kiss from a doppelganger of the Black Widow, which siphoned away his energies.
Blaze awoke in the realm of the Challenger, who revealed his true form, and demanded that Blaze surrender his soul due to his failure. Blaze figured that if Challenger had the power to do so, he could just take Blaze's soul. He refused to surrender and attacked the Challenger. During the course of the battle, he also determined the Challenger was using illusions against him , and that the Challenger was only as powerful as Blaze believed him to be. Ghost Rider blasted the Challenger with hellfire and defeated him, allowing himself to return to Earth unscathed. Upon returning, the force field over Katy faded away, as did her illusionary self, revealing her to be Roxanne Simpson.
Comments: Created by Tony Isabella and Frank Robbins.
Clarifications: Challenger has no known connection to:
Appearances:
Ghost Rider II#17-19 (April, June, August, 1976) - Tony Isabella (writer), Frank Robbins (artist), Vince Colletta (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Last updated: 08/02/02
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters,
Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real
thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at:
http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!